How long do you have to be separated to get a divorce in Missouri?

How long do you have to be separated to get a divorce in Missouri?

Missouri also allows a marriage to end if the two parties have lived apart for at least two years before they file for divorce. Legal separation \u2013 Missouri does recognize legal separation. This means you can legally separate from your spouse without actually ending the marriage.

How does divorce work in Missouri?

Missouri has limited \u201cno fault\u201d divorce, making it unnecessary to prove cruelty, adultery, etc, to obtain a dissolution. The usual ground is irreconcilable differences with your spouse. In a few cases it may be appropriate to allege other grounds.

Do you have to go to court for a divorce in Missouri?

Only a judge may grant a divorce. If you and your spouse do not agree on all of the issues in your case, you will have to go to court to have the judge decide those matters.

What is the fastest way to get a divorce in Missouri?

You may file in the Circuit Court in the county where either party resides. The simplest procedure is an uncontested divorce using a joint Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, where you and your spouse file together after reaching an agreement on all issues.

Does infidelity affect divorce in Missouri?

Although Missouri is a no-fault divorce state, that does not mean that having an affair can’t impact your divorce agreement and hurt you financially. As adultery is looked down on by many judges, if you can prove that your spouse has been unfaithful, it might help you to get more than you would otherwise.

Can my wife go to jail for cheating?

Adultery isn’t just a crime in the eyes of your spouse. In 21 states, cheating in a marriage is against the law, punishable by a fine or even jail time. States with anti-cheating laws generally define adultery as a married person having sexual intercourse with someone other than their spouse.

Is it illegal to cheat on your spouse in Missouri?

So even though adultery is not used as a grounds for divorce in Missouri, it can have an impact on divorce proceedings. If one or both spouses cheated, it is something the court will want to hear about, but even still, the court will have to balance adultery with the other facts of the case.

Do you have to pay alimony if you cheat?

If you committed adultery, but your spouse permitted it or forgave you and carried on with your marriage even once the affair ended, your instance of adultery will not likely prevent you from receiving an award of alimony.

Is Missouri an alimony state?

Alimony is supposed to provide the means to obtain a fresh start for a person who previously relied on their spouse. In Missouri, “alimony” is now known as spousal maintenance or spousal support. It found that state law only allows courts to award spousal support “prospectively.” Archdekin v.