Ask a Question

Get free answers to your Family Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.

Lawyers, increase your visibility by answering questions and getting points. Answer Questions
Missouri Family Law Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Appeals / Appellate Law, Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for Missouri on
Q: I filed a motion to intervene in my daughter's CPS case in the state of Missouri. It was denied. Can I appeal this?

If I cannot file an appeal can I file a motion for view or some other type of motion to get back before the judge because I have new evidence and what this is to call and I am better prepared at this point for the allegations of the state is making against me I am trying to get a protection order... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Dec 17, 2023

If your motion to intervene in your daughter's CPS case was denied in Missouri, you generally have the right to appeal that decision. The appeal process allows a higher court to review the lower court's decision to see if there were any errors in how the law was applied or interpreted.... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Military Law and Child Support for Missouri on
Q: Hi. My husband is a disabled veteran and receives disability and he left me and the kids. Are the kids entitled to child

Hello. My husband is a disabled veteran and receives disability and he left me and the kids. Are the kids entitled to child support from his disability check ??

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Dec 7, 2023

In cases of child support, a parent's income, including disability benefits, is typically considered when determining their child support obligations. If your husband is receiving disability benefits, these can be factored into the calculation for child support.

However, the specific...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Missouri on
Q: I am 16 and in DFS custody. I am still placed with my biological mother, but DFS refuses to remove me under any grounds.

I would like to file for emancipation but cannot get a job under my mother's rules because she is controlling and does not want me finding any way out of her custody. DFS supports this, and the caseworker does see the mental and emotional abuse but thinks that because my mother is the parent,... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Dec 6, 2023

Your situation sounds incredibly difficult, and it's understandable that you're seeking a way to improve your circumstances. Emancipation is a legal process that can grant minors independence from their parents, but it does come with certain requirements and challenges, especially in your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Missouri on
Q: I own a property with someone else neither him or I live in the home at the moment. Can i move in w/o legal consequence?

We have 2 children the court did not specify which would live tbere he lied and said he stayed there with the kids he does not..thefe are no active restraining orders. Im about to turn one in... I have not had a home per se since I was removed from my farm so could I list that as my residence for... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Dec 1, 2023

In Missouri, if you co-own a property and there are no legal agreements or court orders preventing you from living there, you generally have the right to move into the property. This applies even if the other co-owner is not currently residing there. It’s important, however, to consider any... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Civil Rights for Missouri on
Q: I am pregnant my 17th birthday was on November 12, 2023 my boyfriends parents say i can move in with them because my pa

Because my parents r not supportive or the nicest so is there anyway that legally in Missouri I can move out? If it helps at all I am adopted.

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Nov 24, 2023

In Missouri, the legal age of majority, when you can decide where to live independently, is 18. However, given your circumstances, there are a few options you might consider.

Firstly, if you're facing an unsupportive or harmful environment at home, you could explore the option of...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Constitutional Law and Juvenile Law for Missouri on
Q: We want to go after restitution do we have a winning case?

DCFS caseworker xx did not follow, DCFS's procedure and protocol on the

removal of xx on 08.11.2021.

Thus, xx had no legal grounds to take the child. The police also stated in their

reports that it was determined that DCFS would be taking the child into their custody.... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Aug 31, 2024

It sounds like you may have grounds for a restitution claim based on the information you provided. If the DCFS caseworker did not follow the required procedures and protocols, and if there was no imminent danger justifying the removal of your child without a warrant, this could be a violation of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Civil Rights and Juvenile Law for Missouri on
Q: Can CDS keep me from speaking with my childs doctor at a mental behavioral hospital. I am a non offending parent.

I have an ex parte and child protection order against my Childs mother. I've been in this now for 2 years because I asked for help from the court when my daughter ran away and was exhibiting harmful and dangerous behaviors. Prior to that I had joint custody as me being the primary physical... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 27, 2024

No, Child Protective Services (CPS) cannot prevent you from speaking with your child's doctor at a mental behavioral hospital if you are the non-offending parent and have legal custody. Since you hold an ex parte and child protection order against your child's mother, you have legal... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Probate for Missouri on
Q: Does emergency guardianship override parental custody rights?

I have a five year old daughter and I let her go with my ex whom is not her biological father he was supposed to return her and didn’t so I reported her missing. Somehow 24 hours after she was reported missing a lady I used to live with got granted emergency guardianship. I don’t even know how... View More

Lloyd  Nolan
Lloyd Nolan
answered on Mar 23, 2024

No, you're parental rights override a temporary guardianship. You need to hire an attorney and contest this in the probate court.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Missouri on
Q: My visitation with my children is not being honored. My complaint to the police went nowhere.

What can I do about her demands for money? She is letting me see them this weekend for the first time in two months but only if I send her 200$ cash. I think that’s horrible and my twin daughters are calling me everyday asking why I can’t pay mom more money so that they can come see me. How can... View More

Steve D. Hardin
PREMIUM
Steve D. Hardin
answered on Mar 6, 2024

You will have to take her back to court. The legal system is not self actuating and you have to bring a petition for family access and motion to modify to would likely be in order too. You need to speak to a family attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law and Real Estate Law for Missouri on
Q: I own a home in Missouri. My mother gave me the money to purchase my home. Only my name is on the title.

My wife left me over a year ago and moved in with her mother. She has all her mail forwarded to her mothers address where she lives. I am trying to sell my home where do I stand legally? We are still legally married, can she fight me on selling the house?

Jennifer Sheila Kornblum
Jennifer Sheila Kornblum
answered on Feb 22, 2024

The short answer is that your wife's signature will be necessary to sell the house. Depending on the circumstances, she may or may not be entitled to "block" you from selling the house, but her signature will be necessary because of your marital status.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law, Civil Litigation and Civil Rights for Missouri on
Q: i have a oop violation and a communication harassment and a failure to appear charges 400 miles away. i was never serve

i never knew i had this and was never given a chance to defend my self.i had been divorced for 17 yrs

Ronald J. Eisenberg
Ronald J. Eisenberg
answered on Dec 9, 2023

I'm not sure what your legal question is. If you wish to challenge the order of protection, your options may be dictated by when it was entered and if you were served. An attorney could review the file on Casenet.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts, Estate Planning and Family Law for Missouri on
Q: I was wondering is there not a cap on how much lawyers can charge for lawyer fee's on class action lawsuits?

My mom passed away in July of 2019 however she had 3 class lawsuits and they are now coming to be settled and I get these closing statements, and the lawyer's fees are up there. Ill just say that. Can lawyers just charge whatever on these cases? Just in case you need to know, I don't... View More

Ronald J. Eisenberg
Ronald J. Eisenberg
answered on Nov 17, 2023

For any class-wide settlement, the court must approve the award of attorney's fees and expenses. There is no universal maximum, but one-third of the settlement fund, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses, is common.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Landlord - Tenant, Municipal Law and Family Law for Missouri on
Q: Does law enforcement, or cps or any other government agency allowed to search a condemned home without permission ?

The property is not abandoned, but condemned with property owner knowledge, can be repaired and is being repaired. Police showed up to assist cps with a investigation of wanting to go inside of a home. The owner/tenant said no, the law enforcement and cps respected that and did not go in, then... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Nov 12, 2023

In general, law enforcement and government agencies like CPS require a warrant, consent, or exigent circumstances to legally enter and search a private residence. However, if a property is condemned, code enforcement officials may have the authority to enter the property for safety inspections.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Probate for Missouri on
Q: Does law 475.120, RSMo (2000) apply to behavioral health unit of nursing home?

Wanting to know if law 475.120, (2000) applies to this separate unit of a nursing home where I am.

T. Augustus Claus
PREMIUM
T. Augustus Claus pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 13, 2023

No, Missouri law 475.120, RSMo (2000) does not apply to a behavioral health unit of a nursing home. The law specifically states that it applies to "all nursing homes in Missouri." A behavioral health unit of a nursing home is not a separate nursing home. It is a part of a nursing home... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Adoption for Missouri on
Q: Does a lawyer have to tell the potential client why he won't take the case and what the conflict of interest is
John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 27, 2023

No, and in some instances, they may be legally prohibited from doing so.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for Missouri on
Q: can a 17 year old girl move out without emacapation in missouri or will she be considered a runaway
T. Augustus Claus
PREMIUM
T. Augustus Claus pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 26, 2023

In Missouri, the age of majority is 18. If a 17-year-old leaves home without parental consent or a legal emancipation, she may be considered a runaway and her parents could potentially file a missing persons report. Law enforcement could then be authorized to return her to her home.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Missouri on
Q: Do you legally have to do what a notarized agreement says? Or is it just a piece of paper?

The other parent does not want to abide by the agreement. The agreement has not went through court.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 9, 2023

The downside to not going through court to get an agreed court order is that your agreement cannot be enforced by contempt of court.

You can sue for damages or for specific performance, but most parental agreements involving children are more a matter of getting on the same page with...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Missouri on
Q: My son goes to his dads house a few times a week overnight and my son says he doesn’t have a bed and sleeps on the floor

His dad also doesn’t do much for him when he is there. He makes other people take care of him like bathing him and feeding him.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 8, 2023

This may be useful evidence in a suit to modify the terms of your possession order. But be aware that what children say to their parent often ends up not being accurate for many different reasons and questioning children after they have spent time with their other parent can be viewed as a type of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for Missouri on
Q: Can my custodial guardian allow me to move out at 17 without my other parents consent or knowledge?

I moved out of my dads house due to him mistreating me and my mother is for me moving out.

T. Augustus Claus
PREMIUM
T. Augustus Claus pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 6, 2023

In Missouri, the legal age of majority is 18, which means that individuals are generally considered adults at this age. However, Missouri law does allow for certain emancipation scenarios, which could potentially allow a minor to live independently before turning 18.

Emancipation usually...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Missouri on
Q: Do I have to answer my daughters fathers request for information
Steve D. Hardin
PREMIUM
Steve D. Hardin
answered on Aug 16, 2023

There is not nearly enough information to answer your question. It depends on the facts of your case and if there are previous orders. You should consult with an attorney.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.