I am a Cole County Divorce Attorney. I regularly represent clients in divorce proceedings in Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri. I believe it’s important to hire an attorney who regularly appears before the judges in Cole County. Every judge has a particular view or philosophy in presiding over a divorce case. By appearing regularly before the Cole County judges at least weekly and sometimes multiple times a week, I am able to use that experience to my client’s advantage. The insight I have obtained allows me to better advocate my client’s arguments to the court.
Any lawyer licensed to practice law in Missouri can appear before any judge in any court in Missouri. I believe hiring a local Cole County Divorce Attorney is important. While the statutes and case law don’t change from county to county, the local court rules do vary. Also, by appearing regularly before the local Cole County judges, I have developed credibility and a reputation for excellent legal work. While every case is unique, it helps to have developed a working relationship with the judges which then serves to benefit my clients.
Hiring a lawyer outside of Cole County can also result in additional expenses to the client. Most lawyers in divorce cases charge for their time. Attorney fees can include travel time. This can increase the cost of the divorce. Divorce cases usually involve multiple court appearances. Rarely is a contested divorce case resolved with one court appearance.
As an experienced Cole County Divorce Attorney, I can help my client with legal issues. One of the most important functions of a divorce attorney is to provide legal advice. Legal advice can range from explaining the court process to answering my client’s questions, preparing the legal documents, and representing my client in court.
Legal advice – One of the most important functions of a divorce lawyer is to provide a client with legal advice. Before I can provide my client with legal advice, I must first understand my client’s situation and circumstances. I need to obtain as much information as possible to better understand my clients’ desires and goals.
Document preparation – Document preparation usually begins with drafting the petition for dissolution of marriage. The petition for dissolution of marriage is the legal document that begins the divorce process. It’s the document that is accepted by the court, which starts the divorce process. It’s in this document that a client’s wishes are first presented to the court, along with pleading the facts to support the court granting the divorce.
Court appearances – Many divorce cases are resolved in court. Usually, it takes several court appearances and hearings before a trial occurs. I appear regularly before Cole County judges. I understand what judges expect and how they would like the case presented.
Negotiation – Negotiation is a mechanism that allows me to assist my client in obtaining a resolution of their case without having to proceed to trial. Many clients prefer to avoid court and trial, if possible. Negotiation can lead to a settlement which saves my client significant sums of money.
Mediation – Mediation is a recognized alternative dispute resolution program. Mediation is a confidential mechanism to resolve a divorce without a trial. I generally prepare for mediation similar to preparing for trial. What is discussed in mediation cannot be shared with the judge unless there is an agreement.
Trial – A judge listens to the evidence presented at a trial and then makes a decision based upon that evidence. Spouses no longer decide what happens after a trial. Instead, the decision rests solely with the judge. Sometimes, clients want to avoid a trial to eliminate the risk of how a judge may rule. Generally though, trial occurs when the parents or spouses have been unable to reach an agreement.
I represent individuals who live both inside and outside Cole County, Missouri. A person does not have to live in Cole County to obtain a divorce, but generally, at least one of the spouses must live in Cole County. Centertown, Jefferson City, Taos, and Wardsville are cities and towns located in Cole County. Many of my clients also reside outside of Cole County because they may have moved before the petition for divorce was filed.
For more than twenty years, I have represented clients in divorce cases in Cole County. I have substantial experience trying cases. My representation, though, focuses on what my clients want to achieve. If you need help with your Cole County divorce, please contact me to assist you. I can be reached at https://scotthamblinlaw.com.
A Jefferson City man faced DUI charges following a field sobriety test. Charges against the defendant were dropped after Scott successfully maintained the client’s claims that the test results were inaccurate. While the client initially appeared to be in a difficult situation, Scott was able to push investigators to determine the sobriety test results as invalid, so the charges were dismissed.
A mother was seeking sole custody of her children following a divorce. The father refused to cooperate, leaving the client in a difficult situation as she felt as though her children didn’t have a voice. Scott recognized her need for an advocate and carefully listened to the children’s wishes, which conclusively helped the client achieve sole custody of her children and protected their best interests.
A client from Fulton was accused of drug possession as a result of a home search. While drug charges may potentially be filed as a Class C felony involving severe consequences, Scott was able to help the client receive a reduced sentence. Ultimately, the client faced significantly smaller penalties compared to the initial charges.
Scott assisted a defendant in a particularly challenging divorce case in which the other spouse was not cooperating. Scott was able to help the client avoid court through an aggressive legal approach to resolve all outstanding disagreements while maintaining the client’s long-term needs.
One client sought legal assistance after an altercation with another individual in Jefferson City. The client was arrested on assault charges despite allegedly not starting the fight. Since an arrest can lead to life-altering penalties such as being terminated from employment and serving jail time, Scott was able to build a solid legal defense in the client’s favor and argued in favor of the client’s innocence.
A grandparent sought visitation rights to his grandchild after the parent tried to block him. Scott takes grandparents’ rights very seriously, and so he devised a strategy to help the grandparent set a visitation schedule. Scott developed a strategy to show that the child’s best interests were fulfilled through the grandparent’s ability to visit the child, helping push the case towards a resolution in the client’s favor.
Scott assisted a client who was injured in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence. The defendant claimed that the opposing party using their phone at the time of the crash, and Scott emphasized this claim to show that the other driver was at fault for the client’s injuries. The case concluded with the client receiving the necessary compensation for medical bills following a long hospital stay due to injuries.
I cannot say enough good things about Scott Hamblin and his team. From the beginning, Scott was extremely organized, thorough, and realistic. He was always honest with me about my options and what to expect, and he never made promises he couldn't guarantee. At the same time, he was confident, strategic, and fully prepared. Going…
If you are looking for an attorney who always strives to win, Scott is your number one choice. He is here for you and is there to win the case. I believe he has the best of intentions to do the job he is hired for every time. Best of all, he takes pride in…
Going to court is, without a doubt, the scariest and my stressful thing that I have ever done. All the legalities and unknowns are all you can think about, and having a good attorney to ease some of those worries is essential. From the first day we met Mr. Hamblin, he has been kind, understanding,…
This is where I found myself about a year ago – reading Scott Hamblin’s Google reviews and wondering who I should turn to for help. My ex-wife (a former family law attorney) was trying to relocate our two children out of state. I’m not an attorney. I didn’t yet live in Cole County. I read…
When first starting out I wasn't sure who could handle my situation I was in I did some research on Google and found Scott Hamblin and read the reviews I ended up hiring Scott Hamblin and I was in a situation where the Mom was making really bad allegations and alienating me from my Child…
Attorney Hamblin is extremely professional, kind, and caring. We hired him for a family law case. We won!! He was prepared for the case and did an excellent job. I would highly recommend him. I trust him so much that I’m planning to have him help us with our will next. I deeply appreciate how…
I was going through a contested divorce case and custody battle. When I hired Scott I felt my world was crashing around me. Scott jumped in and handled the case very professionally and to the point. He argued the facts and made sure that my rights was not violated. I am happy to report that…
I hired Scott in the middle of my 2 yearlong custody modification case. After discussing with Scott about how I felt I did not have an aggressive enough lawyer with my first lawyer for the case, I was fighting against ex-husband, Scott gladly took the case. Scott and Madysn were extremely responsive with questions that…
Scott was knowledgeable and efficient, expertly guiding us through the process. He took the time to explain every step clearly and made sure we felt informed and confident in our decisions. Beyond his professionalism and attention to detail, Scott was also incredibly kind and personable, which made working with him a genuinely positive experience. His…
Scott and his office were so helpful, thorough and professional during a very adversarial divorce. He offers good solid advice. He does not pursue options which will more than likely not yield a good result ( unless the client insists). He strives to give his clients the best results for their money. He's personable but…
For accessible and experienced representation, contact attorney Scott Hamblin today.
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