Our firm practices all types of family law, including the following:
Divorce
If you are facing a divorce, we can help resolve it using one of the following three methods:
a contested divorce, mediated divorce, or non-contested divorce.
Custody
Family law breaks custody into two categories: legal and physical custody. Legal custody is the decision-making power of parents. On the other hand, physical custody is the actual schedule of when the children are with each parent.
Visitation
Child Support
In Missouri,family law uses Supreme Court Form 14 to calculate child support. The basic child support amount covers a portion of the child’s housing, food, and clothing. The payor of the support receives a credit for the number of overnights the child lives with the payor, which can lower the payor’s amount of child support.
Parenting Plans
A parenting plan is a roadmap for how you will parent your children post-divorce. It includes:
- When each parent has the children in their home, including holiday schedules, and vacation schedules
- Who pays for child support
- The amount of child support
- How to divide costs not calculated into child support
Paternity
Paternity is the recognition by the court of the legal parentage of the father without the father and mother marrying.
Division of Assets and Debts
In Missouri, a Judge divides the marital estate, which includes the marriage’s assets and debts, in an equitable division. While equitable division does not necessarily mean “equal,” many times it does result in equal distributions.
Maintenance
Maintenance is the amount one spouse pays to the other spouse to ensure the receiving spouse can financially meet their needs after the divorce.
Enforcement of Judgment
If one party does not do what the court order states they must do, then the other party may file a motion for contempt. As a result, the other party must comply with the terms of the judgment.
Orders of Protection
In family law, an order of protection is a court order that prevents another individual from having any contact by any means with the protected person. This type of order is used mainly in domestic violence cases.
Motions to Modify
Child custody and child support may be modifiable by the court. If a continuing and substantial change in circumstance has occurred with one of the parents or the child, the court can order a change in the custody plan and/or the child support amount. Also, maintenance payments are sometimes adjustable. For these instances, we use a motion to modify maintenance if needed.
LGBTQIA
Same-sex couples have the same rights and abilities to pursue family law matters as heterosexual couples. This means they have the right to marry as well as divorce. If they divorce, we address the same main decisions with the couple, including:
- Division of marital assets and debts
- Maintenance
- Child support
- Parenting plan
High-Net-Worth Divorces
Divorces between couples with lots of assets and financial resources are complex. At Marta J. Papa Law Firm, we specialize in these types of divorces. Through our many resources in the financial community, we can protect high-net-worth clients.
Divorces Involving A Business
Dividing a business is as emotionally and financially challenging as marital dissolutions. Such divorces are especially challenging, but we are experts in divorces involving business.