Is Your Spouse Spying on You and Is It Legal?
I recently had a case where the husband, unbeknownst to wife, had downloaded “spy phone software” directly to her cell phone. This software enabled the husband to listen to his wife’s actual phone...
View ArticleLate-in-Life Divorces: A Trend That is Here to Stay?
The Wall Street Journal reported in ”The Gray Divorcés” in its March 3-4, 2012 issue that the divorce rate for people age 50 and over has doubled in the past two decades. Interestingly, one in 10...
View Article5 Tips to Reduce the Cost of Your Family Law Case
How much a family law case will cost is the number one fear of clients. When asked how much something will cost, family law attorneys have a tendency to reply with: “I’m not sure, it depends on… (fill...
View Article10 Steps to Take Before You File for Divorce
If you are contemplating divorce, financial advisor Lisa M. Gabriel of Axius Financial believes that there are concrete steps you can take before initiating a divorce to help lessen the turmoil of the...
View ArticleTips on Summer Vacations in Families of Divorce
I recently had the opportunity to post “Divorce, Summer, Kids, and Vacations,” an article about dealing with children and summer vacations in families of divorce, on MacaroniKid.com. Macaronikid.com is...
View ArticleDivorce and Social Security Benefits
Divorced individuals filing for Social Security benefits are often unaware they may qualify for benefits based on marriage to an ex-spouse, even after divorce. Because the strict guidelines and rules...
View ArticleGuardianship vs. Third-party Custody: What’s the Difference?
Co-authored by Sophya Qureshi Raza and Misty A. Watson Often, a situation arises where neither of a child’s biological parents is able to care for the child. It then becomes necessary for a non-parent...
View ArticleHoliday Tips for Divorced Parents
Unfortunately, for many divorced families, the holidays can be a stressful and emotional time. The joyfulness of the holidays can be replaced with feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness…not...
View ArticleWhen You Cross a Line: Spying and Stalking
Recently I was interviewed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on the topic of stalking or tracking a spouse using technology. In the article “Stalkers find friend in GPS technology,” I share what I have...
View ArticleHow Do You Want to Get Divorced? An Overview of Your Process Options
When you have made the decision to divorce, it’s important to realize that you have several options in moving forward. Be wary of an attorney who has a “one size fits all” attitude – your case is...
View ArticleGetting Divorced? Don’t Forget These Assets
This article in Forbes is very good advice, not only for women, but also for men getting divorced. Many of these assets are often overlooked. Divorcing Women: Don’t Forget These Marital Assets –...
View ArticleMissouri is a “No-fault” State for Divorce But What Does it Mean?
Divorces in Missouri are granted on a “no-fault” basis. In order for a Missouri family court to grant a divorce, it must find that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” with “no reasonable likelihood...
View ArticleThe Child’s Wishes: Custody vs. Guardianship
Where the custody or guardianship of a child is at issue, the child commonly will have a preference as to who should get custody or guardianship rights. However, a child’s wishes as to who she lives...
View ArticlePreserving Text Messages for Use in Court
In family law, parties frequently have to prove what information has been exchanged between two spouses. When the parties communicate via letter or e-mail, it is easy to produce reliable evidence:...
View ArticleHow Does A Party Get “Served” in a Missouri Divorce?
What people going through a divorce in Missouri sometimes don’t realize is that a divorce is litigation, with one spouse suing the other. When people are sued, they must be given formal notice that...
View ArticleHow to File Your Taxes During or After a Divorce
It can be difficult to determine how to file your taxes during and after a divorce. Depending on your filing status, there are differences that can significantly impact the amount of tax you owe or...
View ArticleIf My Ex-spouse is Not Paying Child Support, Can I Receive My Payments...
In most cases, the answer to this question is “Yes.” If your ex-spouse is more than 30 days late on a child support payment (this applies to maintenance payments as well), you can apply to the court...
View ArticleDivorcing Parents: How to Recognize When Your Child May Need Therapy
Parents involved in the divorce process or who have recently divorced often notice changes in their child’s behavior. This is natural, since divorce is inherently and uniquely difficult for children....
View ArticleDivorcing with Children – How to Be “Loving Divorced Parents”
It is no secret that divorce is difficult for those going through it. Unfortunately, issues between the couple cause many parents to lose sight of what is best for their children during and after a...
View ArticleThinking About Reading Your Spouse’s Emails? Think Again
I am often asked whether it is illegal in Missouri to access your spouse’s email account. I have previously written about the potential consequences of tracking your spouse’s actions via spy software....
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