Three Common Questions About Divorce
The three most common questions concerning divorce are: How much is it going to cost? How long will it take? Why do I need a lawyer?
Divorce cases involve attorneys' fees, court costs and service fees (the process of serving the other party with court papers). Generally, court costs and service fees must be prepaid to the attorney who pays them directly to the court when the case is filed. At the initial consultation with an attorney, you will be provided with a written statement showing the exact cost to handle your divorce. There should be no extra fees or hidden costs to handle your case. If your case involves children, each parent must take a mandatory parenting class. In Missouri, the cost of the parenting class ranges from $25 to $45. Other fees, such as newspaper publication fees, cost around $200, but such fees would only be necessary if the other person is not served despite good faith attempts or if you simply just do not know where the other person is located.
Divorce begins when a petition is filed in court. How long this will be from the date of our first visit will depend largely on your ability to provide all of the details and documents we need to prepare your petition. In Missouri, you must wait at least 30 days after the date that the petition is filed before the divorce can be finalized, because 30 days is the amount of time that the other party has to respond to the petition. The divorce is not on track to be finalized until the court reviews the petition and related agreements, which means we move fast starting on day 31 to get your case to the judge. The judge will review your petition and the related agreements filed with it. If the judge doesn't have any issues with what he or she sees in the documents, the judge will sign the divorce decree (judgment). This document is filed with the court, but the judgment will not become "final" until another 30 days has passed.
Too many clients come to us after they realize they are unable to handle the legal process on their own. Divorce is a lawsuit, and filing a lawsuit means navigating through the court system. You will discover quickly that the court is not in business to help you with each of the steps and legal issues involved in your case. In frustration, people are forced to give up and lose all of the nonrefundable fees paid to the court plus money paid to forms providers or documents preparers. Save yourself the expense and heartache and do it right the first time. Our compassionate and caring attorneys have over 15 years of experience handling thousands of cases. We can and will help you through the divorce process quickly. We don't want it to drag on any longer than you do.
Let's get started. The first thing we have to do is get together and review your case. There is no cost to you; our first meeting is free. During this meeting you will be informed what will happen in your case and what we will need from you to proceed, such as personal facts, property facts, details about the children, if any, and details concerning income and expenses. If you decide to hire us to represent you but you are unable to pay right away, we can set you up on a payment plan that is convenient for you. You will have the opportunity to review and approve all of the documents before anything is filed with the court. This provides you and your spouse a chance to confirm that all of the details of your agreement to separate are current and accurate and there are no anticipated changes before we go to court and begin your uncontested divorce. Your signature will be required on the initial documents as well on final papers. We respond cheerfully and quickly to your questions through email or phone calls.
If you are ready to begin, call Smith Montgomery at (417) 881-9000 to make an appointment for your free first visit and evaluation. You can make your own appointment by using the Contact Form on our website. Just click and select a date and time that is convenient for you. Morning, afternoon and lunchtime appointments are available. Same day and next day appointments are no problem. Our automated appointments system means you don't have to wait for our office to open. You will receive an instant email confirmation of your appointment date and time. Start feeling better by turning over your legal matter to an experienced lawyer who wants to help you.
This article discusses divorce in general terms only, and nothing in this article should be considered as legal advice. No attorney can guarantee the outcome of a case; however, if you have a legal problem, please take advantage of a free visit to review your situation. For decades Smith Montgomery has been helping people in Southwest Missouri make informed decisions about financial and family matters. If you need help deciding, see what our clients have to say about our legal services.