Practice Areas
Divorce and Separation
Columbia, Missouri Divorce Lawyer
Ending a marriage is one of the hardest things you will ever go through, and you should not have to face it alone. As a divorce lawyer in Columbia, Missouri, I help clients across Boone, Callaway, Randolph, Howard, and Cooper Counties work through every part of the process, including property division, child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance.
Uncontested Divorce Attorney in Mid-Missouri
Divorce can be simple. When you and your spouse agree on the major issues, an uncontested divorce is often the fastest and least expensive way to move forward. Many people try to file on their own, only to get stuck on Missouri’s forms and procedures.
Military Divorce Attorney Serving Mid-Missouri
Divorce raises unique issues for military families, including the division of military pensions and benefits, deployment, and jurisdiction questions that civilian divorces never touch. These cases require an attorney who understands how the rules work.
Legal Separation Attorney in Mid-Missouri
For some couples, a legal separation is a better fit than divorce, whether for financial, religious, or personal reasons. It addresses many of the same issues as a divorce while leaving the marriage legally intact.
Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer in Missouri
More people today marry after building careers or after a prior marriage, and a prenuptial agreement can protect both partners in the event of a divorce. A well-drafted prenup brings clarity and peace of mind to the start of your marriage.
Family Law Mediation in Mid-Missouri
Are you tired of having your life in limbo? Mediation gives you a way to resolve your family law dispute without leaving the outcome to a judge. Reaching an agreement with your ex can give you control and certainty about your future, often faster and at lower cost than litigation.
Custody and Support
Columbia, Missouri Child Custody Lawyer
Few things matter more than your children, and feelings run high when custody is on the line. As a child custody lawyer in Columbia, Missouri, I help parents build strong parenting plans and protect their time with their kids in courts across Boone, Callaway, Randolph, Howard, and Cooper Counties.
Child Support Attorney in Mid-Missouri
Child support helps make sure your children are cared for after a separation or divorce. In Missouri, support is set using state guidelines that consider each parent’s income and the number of overnights, and it generally continues until the child turns 18, or 21 if the child attends college.
Custody and Child Support Modification in Missouri
Life does not stand still after your case ends. A change in income, a move, or a shift in your children’s needs may mean your custody or child support order no longer fits. Missouri law allows you to ask the court for a modification when circumstances change.
Paternity and Fathers' Rights Attorney in Mid-Missouri
Establishing paternity is an important step in protecting your child’s right to support and your rights as a parent. When parents were never married, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided through a paternity case.
Grandparent Visitation Rights in Missouri
In Missouri, grandparents may be granted reasonable visitation with their grandchildren when certain legal requirements are met. These cases are sensitive and fact-specific.
Child Relocation Attorney in Mid-Missouri
A Missouri custody order requires a very specific process before a parent can relocate with a child, including at least 60 days’ written notice. If the other parent wants to move, you have custody rights that need to be protected, and strict deadlines apply.
Other Family Matters
Guardianship Attorney in Mid-Missouri
Establishing a guardianship is an important step when a family member cannot make their own legal or personal decisions. The process can be complicated and usually involves a court hearing.
Guardian ad Litem and Child Representation in Missouri
When children are caught between warring parents or have been abused or neglected, a Missouri family court can appoint an attorney to represent the child, called a Guardian ad Litem. This attorney protects the child’s rights and speaks for the child’s best interest.
Missouri Adoption Lawyer
Adoption is one of the happiest events in family law, and it deserves a guide who treats your family with both care and precision. As an adoption lawyer serving Columbia and Mid-Missouri, I help families navigate Missouri’s adoption laws so nothing stands between you and welcoming your new family member home.
Surrogacy and Family Planning Attorney in Missouri
Building a family through surrogacy or IVF involves legal steps that protect everyone involved. Missouri allows surrogacy arrangements, though they are handled through related laws rather than a single surrogacy statute, so careful drafting matters. The non-biological parent may need to complete additional steps so the birth certificate accurately reflects the intended parents.
Legal Name Change Lawyer in Mid-Missouri
Changing your name may feel overwhelming once you realize it involves several documents and a court hearing. The process does not have to be confusing.
Protection and Enforcement
Domestic Violence and Order of Protection Lawyer in Mid-Missouri
Legal matters involving domestic violence are among the most stressful and emotionally exhausting a family can face. Whether you have experienced abuse and need an order of protection, or you have been accused and need to defend yourself, you need an attorney who will help you proceed in the safest way possible.
Contempt of Court and Order Enforcement in Mid-Missouri
A court order only works if both sides follow it. Contempt of court is a way to enforce an order when someone knows what they are required to do, is able to comply, and chooses not to.