Family Law
Divorce, child custody, support, adoption, and guardianship, all handled with discretion by attorneys who have resolved more than a thousand family matters.
What is family law?
Family law governs the legal relationships within families, including dissolution of marriage, division of marital property, child custody and parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, adoption, guardianship, and orders of protection. In Missouri, most of these matters are heard in the family court division of the circuit court.
Handled with discretion
Because of their very personal nature, family law issues are often a source of high tension. Our aim is to reduce that tension where we can and protect your interests throughout, without letting the process become more expensive or more painful than the dispute warrants.
S. Beau Broussard handles divorce, custody, support, and protective orders and is frequently appointed Guardian ad Litem to represent children’s interests.
What we handle
Divorce and separation: dissolution of marriage, legal separation, division of marital property and debt, spousal maintenance, and post-judgment modification.
Children: custody and parenting plans, parenting time, child support and modification, relocation, paternity, termination of parental rights, and Guardian ad Litem appointments.
Family formation and protection: adoption, guardianship and conservatorship, and orders of protection.
Our approach
We tell clients early and honestly what a realistic outcome looks like. Settle what can be settled; try what cannot. In matters involving children, that usually means finding an arrangement both parents can live with, because the two of you will be co-parenting long after the file is closed.
Common questions
How long does a divorce take in Missouri?
Missouri requires that at least 30 days pass between filing the petition and the entry of a judgment, so no divorce concludes faster than that. An uncontested case with a written settlement agreement often resolves in roughly two to four months. Contested cases involving custody disputes, business or retirement valuation, or significant property commonly take a year or longer. One party must generally have resided in Missouri for 90 days before filing.
How does Missouri decide child custody?
Missouri courts decide custody according to the best interests of the child, weighing statutory factors that include each parent's proposed parenting plan, the child's relationship with each parent and with siblings, each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent, the child's adjustment to home and school, the mental and physical health of everyone involved, any history of abuse, and the child's wishes where appropriate. Missouri distinguishes legal custody, meaning decision-making authority, from physical custody, and each may be joint or sole.
Is Missouri a 50/50 property state?
No. Missouri is an equitable distribution state, meaning marital property is divided fairly rather than automatically in half. Courts consider each party's economic circumstances, contributions to acquiring the property including as a homemaker, the value of separate property, the conduct of the parties during the marriage, and custody arrangements. Property owned before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance is generally separate, though it can lose that character if commingled.
What is a Guardian ad Litem?
A Guardian ad Litem is an attorney appointed by the court to represent a child's best interests in a contested custody case or where abuse or neglect is alleged. The GAL investigates independently, may interview the child, parents, teachers, and providers, and makes a recommendation to the court. S. Beau Broussard is frequently appointed to serve in this role.
Do we have to go to trial?
Most cases do not. Many resolve through negotiation or mediation, which lets the parties decide their own outcome rather than have one imposed and generally costs far less. The firm can pursue either path. That said, some matters must be tried, and we prepare every case as though it will be.
Talk with a lawyer who knows this community.
Tell us what you are facing. We will point you to the right attorney and explain your options in plain language. No obligation.