What Do I Need to Know About Filing Divorce in Missouri with Help Yourself Divorce?
Help Yourself Divorce is a no-fault divorce service, for those who agree on the terms of the divorce and are both willing to sign the papers. The following is a list of requirements and information about what to expect from the process. Please note that this will only apply if you use the services of Help Yourself Divorce. Those seeking to use another route for their divorce should perform their own research about what to expect from the process.
Grounds for Divorce in Missouri.
When Help Yourself Divorce prepares your divorce papers, your divorce will be filed on the no-fault grounds that “there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved and that therefore the marriage is irretrievably broken.”
Missouri Residency Requirements.
In order to use our services, either you or your spouse must have been a resident of the state of Missouri, or a member of the armed services who has been stationed in the state of Missouri, for 90 days immediately before you file the papers.
If you and your spouse have minor children, the court must have jurisdiction over them. Generally this means your children must have lived in Missouri for at least six months and currently live in Missouri, or have lived in Missouri within six months of filing.
Filing for Divorce.
The divorce papers can be filed in the Missouri county where either spouse resides.
Missouri Divorce Filing Fees.
When you file the papers, you will have to pay a separate filing fee to the Courts. Please check with your local court clerk to find out how much the current filing fee is.
Service.
You are required to prove to the court that you served your spouse with copies of all the divorce papers. The way you provide service is by mailing or hand-delivering a copy of the papers to your spouse. Your spouse will then sign a legal document indicating receipt of the papers. Either you or your spouse will file this form with the court.
Waiting Period/Final Hearing.
Your divorce can be finalized once at least 30 days have elapsed since filing the petition. Your divorce is finalized during a brief uncontested divorce hearing. Both spouses are typically required to attend.
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We are sorry but we cannot prepare divorce papers for St. Louis County or St. Charles County.
You may download and print the forms for St. Louis County at no cost from the St. Louis County Court’s website.
You may download and print forms for St. Charles County at no cost from the Missouri Court’s website. These forms also work in many other Missouri counties.
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If you have any questions about whether our service is right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
IMPORTANT: Help Yourself Divorce is a paralegal service, not a law firm. Please don’t rely on this information for legal advice. Seek help from an attorney if you need legal advice.