Child Custody & Support

Child Custody & Support

Providing Your Family With Needed Legal Divorce Counsel

Child Custody and Support Attorneys in St. Louis

Establishing Effective Parenting Plans in St. Louis County

The creation of a child custody arrangement can be challenging for parents. They have to figure out a plan that aligns with their schedules and must also configure a plan that is in their child's best interests. With the help of a St. Louis child custody attorney from Lake Munro, you and the other parent of your child will have a custody arrangement that fits your life's unique needs and challenges. Our attorneys also handle child support cases if needed.

For detailed information on how our St. Louis custody lawyers can help you, call our office today at 314-863-0077.

Child Custody in St. Louis County – Your Child's Best Interests

Like most states, Missouri requires child custody plans in a child's best interest. This means that if parents can't agree, a court and/or judge decides what plan would be the most beneficial to the children based on many factors specific to their case.

Common factors a judge considers include, but are not limited to:

  • The child's emotional attachment to both parents
  • The child's wishes (who they would rather spend more time with)
  • Each parent's parenting plan while they have custody of the child
  • Each parent's ability and willingness to care for the child
  • Each parent's mental and physical wellbeing
  • If there is any history of neglect or abuse in the home

Usually, the court favors joint custody to the parents as it is widely considered in a child's best interest to maintain a relationship with both parents. However, in some cases, it may be more beneficial for one parent to receive sole custody of the child.

What are the Types of Child Custody in Missouri

Child custody can be broken down to two categories: physical and legal.

Physical custody is the time a child spends with their parent. Legal custody is the ability to make important decisions on the child's behalf. These decisions usually concern healthcare, religious affiliations, after-school programs, and other situations that affect a child's well-being and daily life.

While each custody situation is as unique as the parties involved, the judge may grant a few common custody arrangements to the parents.

These custody arrangements include:

Joint Physical and Legal Custody

This means that both parents can spend time with their children and make important decisions on their behalf.

Joint Physical Custody and Sole Legal Custody

This means that both parents can spend time with their child, but only one can legally make decisions on the child's behalf.

Sole Legal and Physical Custody

This means that the court believes it would be the most beneficial to the child for one parent to spend time with the child and make decisions on their behalf.

If the judge determines that it would be in the child's best interests for one parent to receive sole custody of the child, it doesn't mean the other parent is restricted from maintaining their parent/child relationship. In situations like this, the judge will grant the other parent weekly visitation so they can continue to be present in the child's life.

Visitation occurs if the other parent is deemed unfit to properly care for the child. For example, if the other parent is struggling with substance abuse, the judge may decide to grant them visitation until they can prove they are able to properly care for the child without supervision.

Child Abuse - St. Louis, MO - Lake Munro Attorneys at Law

Child Abuse and Neglect in Missouri

Child abuse or neglect is a serious matter that needs to be reported and investigated. While some individuals such as physicians, teachers, and social workers are mandated reporters and, therefore, required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect, any person can report suspected incidents of abuse or neglect 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline Unit at 1-800-392-3738.

While you can non-mandated reporters can call anonymously, individuals reporting child abuse should consider identifying themselves, so the Children's Division can contact you to complete their investigation. Regardless of your choice,significant safeguards are in place to keep the reporter's identity confidential. Continue reading to learn more about the procedures involved in reporting child abuse in Missouri.

Establishing a Fair Payment Plan for Clients in St. Louis County

Parents are equally responsible for maintaining a standard of living for their children that allows them to flourish in life. One way to ensure a child's well being is to financially care for their medical and daily needs. Parents who share a home have an advantage in this aspect of childcare as they can easily divide this responsibility between them.

For parents who are recently divorced or never lived in the same residence, this aspect of caring for their child can be difficult. St. Louis child support attorneys are dedicated to helping parents create a fair support arrangement for all parties involved.

Typically,the parent who cares for the child most of the time (custodial parent) receives a support payment from the other parent. This is because it is assumed that the custodial parent directly pays the childcare expenses and would like to make the child support process as easy on the parents as possible. Once the judge finalizes a child support order, it is legally binding.

Schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys by calling 314-863-0077 today!

Hand Of A Lady Holding The Hand Of A Baby - St. Louis, MO - Lake Munro Attorneys at Law

How is Child Support Determined in St. Louis?

The amount of child support depends on various factors that will be unique to each party's situation. These factors commonly include:

  • The number of children in each household
  • The income of each parent
  • The amount of money the child needs to maintain their standard of living
  • Education Expenses
  • Medical care expenses
Mother Teaching Her Son - St. Louis, MO - Lake Munro Attorneys at Law

Missouri Form 14 Child Support Guidelines

The state utilizes a child support calculator, generally referred to as Form 14, to determine the financial responsibility of each parent. This calculator requires both parties to supply the court with their monthly gross income (wages, salary, benefits, etc.), and the court determines their support obligations based on these numbers.

For example, if the custodial parent makes more money than the noncustodial parent, they will be required to spend more of their income on the child than the other parent or vice versa. This is to ensure that each parent is financially responsible for the child while maintaining their stability.

If either party violates the terms of the order, they could face repercussions. For example, if the noncustodial parent is late on payments, the other parent is not permitted to retaliate by withholding visitation. They must take the matter to court, where a judge will address the issue.

Modifying Child Support in St. Louis

Either parent can change the child support order at any time after the finalization of the decree. However, they must have good reason to do so.

Common examples of acceptable reasons include:

  • The child's financial resource needs have increased or decreased
  • The parent's financial resources have significantly increased or decreased
  • The custodial parent is having trouble meeting the child's standard of living
  • The child's physical or emotional condition has significantly changed
Child Support Word In Wooden Letter - St. Louis, MO - Lake Munro Attorneys at Law

Our St. Louis Child Custody & Support Lawyers Are Here to Help!

Schedule your complimentary consultation with a child custody attorney in St. Louis. Fill out our online contact form or call the office at 314-863-0077.

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