Frequently Asked Questions

You can find the qualifications here or call with any specific questions regarding qualifications.

You can find the divorce fees here or call with any specific questions regarding fees.

Yes. Your spouse will have to sign an Affidavit of Defendant saying that he or she agrees to the divorce.

A separation agreement is a legal contract between spouses that addresses the division of assets and debts, as well as support, maintenance, custody or visitation issues. A separation agreement is enforceable by the courts. If you and your spouse have children or any significant assets and/or debt, it is advisable to have a separation agreement detailing the terms of your split.

How quickly depends upon how organized, accurate, and complete you are. If you did everything to the “T,” we will have your documents ready for your review one week from the date of receipt. You print off the final copy from our private and secure portal. You and your spouse sign and notarize the documents. When we receive the originals, we file them by the next business day. If you are local, you may use our notary services without extra charge. If you both sign and notarize the documents at our office, you could have your divorce filed within 7 business days.

No one knows that. I have seen ads for law offices that claim they will have you divorced in 30 days. No way. Not ever. Not possible. Here is the truth:

1. The court clerk must first file stamp the documents and create a court file. We have seen delays there from time to time, lasting up to a week, and even more.
2. After the court file is set up, I have seen some judges immediately approve the document and enter judgment. Usually, judges will not review the documents until after 31 days passed by because many believe that is required. But there is no rule that says they must sign the documents on the 31st day. One sure way to not getting them signed is to call or write and ask why they are not doing their job, timely. I have seen judges wait as long as sixty days from the date of filing.
3. Your divorce is not final until 31 days after the judge enters the judgment.
4. That is why it is not possible to be divorced in 30 days. If we drafted your documents, you and your spouse signed and notarized them, and we filed them on the same day, there is still a period that some advertisements do not account for.
5. Count on about 90 to 120 days until you have a final judgment from the date you give us the documents.

With our processes, most courts will not require you to attend court to get approval of your divorce. For example Christian, Greene, Taney and Stone County Courts do not usually require the parties to appear. Some counties—Dallas, Laclede, Camden, Miller, Moniteau, and Morgan—require the parties to appear. You may appear alone. But when possible, we will find local counsel to appear with you (if you consent) at no charge to you.

A very good question. We want you to avoid putting together a divorce agreement that a judge will not approve or would obviously cause you problems in the future due to it being incomplete. If we see a problem, we will not file your agreement until it’s in proper form. That makes us different from many law offices. Some promise and don’t deliver. Others just don’t care.