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St. Louis Family Law Blog

Supporting loved ones throughout the divorce process

Every divorce process plays out in unique ways. Therefore, it is impossible to know exactly what to expect when a family member or friend opts to divorce his or her spouse. However, it is safe to assume that your loved one will need various kinds of support throughout their divorce process. Unfortunately, knowing exactly how to support your loved one can be quite tricky.

If you have weathered divorce in the past, you may be tempted to treat your loved one exactly how you would have liked to have been treated during your process. However, it is important to understand that not everyone reacts to this process in the same way. As a result, it is important to personalize your support in accordance with your loved one's personality and your own personality as well.

New Missouri law aims to prevent bias in child custody decisions

Old assumptions about divorce and custody are changing. For many years, courts assumed that children would live with mothers and fathers would pay child support (and often alimony). But these assumptions don't jive with many modern families.

A new Missouri law in effect since the end of August seeks to make sure child custody decisions aren't based on outdated assumptions that mothers are always caretakers and fathers always breadwinners. What assumptions should courts make instead? The legislator behind the law - Rep. Kathy Swan - told the Southeast Missourian earlier this year that the goal of the law is to make joint custody the more typical default assumption.

Do grandparents have rights when parents divorce?

Divorce does not happen in a vacuum. While it seems that the people most affected by divorce are the parents and children, other family members can also be deeply affected.

Many grandparents wonder, especially in a contested or egregious divorce, if they will still see their grandchildren and have legal rights to see them. The short answer is yes, as we discussed in a 2012 article.

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