Divorce Services in St. Louis

Divorce is one of the most emotionally and financially significant events a person can experience. Attorney Baro approaches divorce cases with the professionalism, sensitivity, and directness that have defined her 35-year legal career — helping clients understand their rights, protect their interests, and move forward with their lives.

Dissolution of Marriage in Missouri

Missouri is a "no-fault" divorce state. This means that neither spouse is required to prove wrongdoing — either party may seek a dissolution of marriage simply by stating that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." While fault (such as adultery or abuse) can be considered in some determinations, you don't need to prove it to obtain a divorce.

Missouri law requires that at least one spouse have been a resident of Missouri for at least 90 days before filing. Once filed, there is a 30-day waiting period before a divorce can be finalized.

Uncontested Divorce

An uncontested divorce is one in which both spouses agree on all major issues — including division of property and debts, spousal maintenance (alimony), child custody, child support, and parenting arrangements. When both parties can agree, the process is significantly simpler, faster, and less expensive.

Attorney Baro can draft a separation agreement, marital settlement agreement, and all required court filings to formalize the parties' agreed arrangement. Even in an uncontested divorce, having an attorney review the agreement before signing is important to ensure your rights are protected and the terms are legally enforceable.

Contested Divorce

When spouses cannot reach agreement on one or more issues, the divorce becomes contested and court involvement is required. Contested divorce issues in Missouri can include:

• Division of marital property and debts — Missouri is an "equitable distribution" state, meaning property is divided fairly (not necessarily equally) based on a variety of factors.
• Spousal maintenance (alimony) — Either spouse may seek maintenance based on need and the other's ability to pay.
• Child custody and visitation — Missouri courts determine custody arrangements based on the best interests of the child, considering factors such as each parent's relationship with the child, willingness to co-parent, and stability of each household.
• Child support — Missouri uses an income shares model to calculate child support based on both parents' incomes and the parenting time arrangement.

Property Division

Missouri divides "marital property" — assets and debts acquired during the marriage — between the spouses. "Separate property" (assets owned before marriage, or received as gifts or inheritance during marriage, with limited exceptions) generally remains with the owning spouse. Property division can involve real estate, retirement accounts, bank accounts, businesses, vehicles, and debt.