If you are considering divorce, you are not taking the decision lightly. Once you have determined it is the right option for you, there will be a long and emotional road ahead. The divorce process is a legal one and it essentially dissolves the marriage contract between the two parties. Even those getting a simple uncontested divorce will have to become involved in a legal process to some degree. When a divorce involves issues or disputes surrounding alimony, child custody, or child support, the matter may have to go to court.
Many people going through a divorce have never had to deal with the legal system before. A divorce lawyer near you can help you through the process, and make sure you are prepared every step of the way.
Most of the states throughout the country follow either fault or no-fault divorce laws. In Missouri, couples can choose between the two. In a no-fault divorce, the filing spouse only needs to state that the marriage has broken down and that there is no chance that the spouses can reconcile. The filing spouse does not have to accuse their spouse of wrongdoing, nor do they have to prove any allegations.
A fault divorce, on the other hand, does involve allegations of marital wrongdoing. The spouse filing can allege that their partner was at fault for the breakdown of the marriage, such as if they had an affair. The spouse making the accusations must also prove them. There are certain grounds that can form the basis of a divorce case in Missouri. These are as follows:
Regardless of whether or not a person accuses their spouse of marital wrongdoing, couples must wait at least 30 days before their case can be finalized. The clock on the waiting period starts ticking the day divorce papers are filed with the court.
Many people put off the divorce process because they envision a costly and lengthy courtroom battle. Fortunately, not all divorce cases require this. Couples can agree to all terms of the divorce and when they do, they can get an uncontested divorce. This is the quickest and most affordable way to get a divorce.
Couples who cannot agree to just one term of the divorce must obtain a contested divorce. Even when an agreement is not reached, it does not mean the couple has to let a judge make all the decisions in their case. Collaborative law and mediation are two options that allow couples to resolve their disputes without the need for litigation. If these methods are unsuccessful, a divorce trial may be necessary, which can become very costly and will take much longer.
Scott A. Hamblin is a divorce lawyer near you that can help you through the legal process and ensure you receive the full and fair settlement you are entitled to. Call us today or reach out to us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more.
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.
Scott Hamblin is simply put - the best! Scott deserves 10 stars! He has all the qualities a person could ask for with legal representation and more. I even had a lawyer from another county tell me, Mr. Hamblin is an excellent lawyer. That remark alone told me how respected he is, by his peers.…
Scott Hamblin is the best lawyer that I have ever met. He really cares about his clients and does not sugar coat anything. He works very hard to help his clients, and knows the law very well, and he will work with you on your tab if he can. The staff there is very helpful…
I am very pleased with Mr. Hamblin. I needed an attorney for my custody case and I did not know who to use. I found Mr. Hamblin on the internet. All the reviews I read and now my experiences with him and his team are spot on. I was being denied reasonable time with my…
I was thoroughly impressed with Scott Hamblin and his team, Madasyn and Cameo, as they represented me in a very difficult case, involving multiple businesses and complexities. Scotts knowledge and expertise was invaluable. He and his team involved me every step of the way throughout the entire process. I was included in email correspondences, as…
Finding an attorney is not easy, and in my case I was in a child custody modification that was being dragged out and messy. This went on for a full 3.5 years. I had other representation at the time that I didn’t feel was doing what was best for me and my kids. I reached…
My divorce was with a difficult person, Mr.Hamblin handled every aspect of the divorce, professionally and quickly, his experience and knowledge was extremely helpful. thank you, Mr.Hamblin for your support.
Scott helped us with a very difficult situation with utmost professionalism and expertise. He was at all times very professional and considerate of our needs. He provided excelent advise.
Scott will forever be regarded by myself as the best divorce lawyer in Jefferson City bar none. His service, expertise, knowledge and dedication to all of his clients is top notch. I hope that no one ever finds themselves in a position of his services, but if you do, you cannot make a wrong choice…
I originally hired a family attorney in Columbia, who said he would fight to keep my rights with my young daughter. After a month, this Columbia attorney stated that I should just settle and do 50/50 custody with my daughter's biological father. I was not satisfied with this response so I hired Scott Hamblin instead.…
I would highly recommend attorney Scott Hamblin. Mr. Hamblin was very easy to work with, explaining all my options as the case progressed. He took into consideration my priorities, what was most important to me, and skillfully negotiated them into an ideal settlement agreement. And his legal assistant, Madasyn, is such a delight to interact…
For accessible and experienced representation, contact attorney Scott Hamblin today.