Select a city or county to find Missouri Child Custody lawyers near you
102 West Jefferson Street, Clinton, MO 64735
220 Main Street, Warsaw, MO 65355
901 E. St. Louis, Suite 404, Springfield, MO 65806
129 E. Main St, Fredericktown, MO 63645
720 Market Street, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670
112 Marshall Road, PO Box 377, Platte City, MO 64079
1034 S. Brentwood Blvd., Suite 1555, St Louis, MO 63117
218 NE Tudor Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64086
20 Manor Dr., Troy, MO 63379
13321 N. Outer 40 Road, Ste 100, Town And Country, MO 63017
8151 Clayton Rd., Suite 200, Saint Louis, MO 63117
1795 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017
1650 Des Peres Rd., Suite 220, St Louis, MO 63131
320 Lafayette Street, Washington, MO 63090
In most states, family courts determine child custody arrangements based on what is in the best interests of the child. The courts look at several factors in making this determination, such as the parents’ desire and ability to care for the child, the emotional bond between the child and both parents, the adjustment needed if the child must move to a new area, and, if old enough, the child’s wishes. Courts consider each case on the individual needs of the children, including:
Separating parents' rights will vary depending on the type of child custody and visitation. Legal custody is the court-granted right to make major decisions on behalf of the child. This includes choice of schools, religious education, health care, and discipline. Physical custody determines where the child will live and what visitation rights will be awarded.
Most child custody arrangements are "joint custody," or "shared custody." Both parents have joint legal custody, even if one parent has more time with physical custody. For example, a child may live primarily with one parent. But this does not necessarily mean the parents do not have joint legal custody. Both parents have the right and responsibility to make major decisions in the child’s life and adhere to a parenting plan that outlines the specific arrangement.
There are specific legal procedures that are needed to modify an existing child custody or visitation order. The process may vary from state to state and on the specific circumstances of each case. Consulting with an attorney is important to understand the laws in your area. Generally, steps include:
FindLaw's Lawyer Directory is the largest online directory of lawyers. Browse more than one million listings, covering everything from personal injury to criminal defense to estate planning.
Detailed law firm profiles have information like the firm's area of law, office location, office hours, and payment options. Lawyer profiles include the biography, education and training, and client recommendations of a lawyer to help you decide who to hire.
Use the contact form on the profiles to connect with a Missouri lawyer for legal advice.
There are two common types of custody in terms of parental rights and the best interests of the child: sole custody and joint custody. Beyond this, there are also two different categories in which custodial rights can fall — physical and legal.
In most states, family courts determine child custody arrangements based on what is in the best interests of the child. The courts look at a number of factors in making this determination, such as:
Frequently, parents or other adults who have raised a child will be required by the court to take part in mediation. In mediation, you can discuss what you want, any problems you've had exchanging the child from one home to the next, and anything else that's relevant to the situation. Hopefully, you can come to a resolution everyone can live with. Otherwise, the judge may make a parenting plan that neither parent is happy with. However, it's important to note that if there was domestic violence in your relationship with the other parent, you may be able to skip mediation.
Make informed decisions with useful legal information.
Learn About the Law articles clearly explain what you need to know about a wide variety of legal issues. You'll also find answers to common legal questions and case summaries to explore.
Read about choosing and retaining legal help with FindLaw's Guide to Hiring a Lawyer.
Our Guide to the U.S. Legal System explains legal basics including federal and state court systems.
Browse options in our legal directory of over 1M firms
Enter information in one or both fields. (Required)