Child Custody in Missouri - Rules and Guidelines For Parenting Plans and Custody Agreements
Title 30 in the Missouri Revised Statutes deals with Domestic Relations.
Included under this section are the laws and rules about child custody.
Parents who are divorcing or separating in the state of Missouri would do well to look into this section of the law and learn all they can about custody issues.
Knowing these laws and guidelines are a great help as a parent prepares a parenting plan or custody agreement.
If a parent is unfamiliar with the requirements of the law, it is unlikely that they will create a plan that is up to par.
Here is some of the important information in the Missouri Revised Statues that parents should know and understand as they make a parenting plan.
Chapter 452 in the Missouri Revised Statutes is the specific chapter that deals with divorce and child custody.
In this chapter, the law explicitly states that parents must file a parenting plan with the court if they divorce or separate.
This is because the state of Missouri has a vested interest that children of divorced or separated parents still receive the same standard of care that they had when the parents were together.
If the parents cannot reach a mutual agreement on the parenting plan, the state of Missouri gives the county court the power to determine the plan.
The court will make the decision about the parenting plan based on what is in the child's best interest.
To determine the child's best interest, the Chapter 452 in the Missouri Revised Statutes contain a list of factors that the court is to consider.
These factors include: the wishes of the parents concerning custody; the needs of the child for a frequent, continuous, and meaningful relationship with each of the parents; the relationship of the child with parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests; which parent is more likely to allow the child frequent, continuing and meaningful contact with the other parent; the child's adjustment to home, school, and community; the mental and physical health of everyone involved; any history of domestic abuse; the intention of either parent to relocate the principal residence of the child; and the wishes of the child.
Parents who are not willing to cooperate and submit a custody agreement together to the court must each submit a plan separately.
Missouri law specifically states that the plan should contain information about custody and visitation, decision making rights, dispute resolution processes, and how the expenses of the children will be handled.
Parents can also add provisions and stipulations that they think will help the custody situation work better.
Once each plan has been submitted, the judge will review both options and hear the parents explain why the plan is in the best interest of the child.
The court then determines what the plan will be.
Missouri law punishes a parent who does not abide by the terms and conditions of the agreement, so it is imperative that both parents follow the plan.
If a parent wants a change to the agreement, the court has a system of modification.
Included under this section are the laws and rules about child custody.
Parents who are divorcing or separating in the state of Missouri would do well to look into this section of the law and learn all they can about custody issues.
Knowing these laws and guidelines are a great help as a parent prepares a parenting plan or custody agreement.
If a parent is unfamiliar with the requirements of the law, it is unlikely that they will create a plan that is up to par.
Here is some of the important information in the Missouri Revised Statues that parents should know and understand as they make a parenting plan.
Chapter 452 in the Missouri Revised Statutes is the specific chapter that deals with divorce and child custody.
In this chapter, the law explicitly states that parents must file a parenting plan with the court if they divorce or separate.
This is because the state of Missouri has a vested interest that children of divorced or separated parents still receive the same standard of care that they had when the parents were together.
If the parents cannot reach a mutual agreement on the parenting plan, the state of Missouri gives the county court the power to determine the plan.
The court will make the decision about the parenting plan based on what is in the child's best interest.
To determine the child's best interest, the Chapter 452 in the Missouri Revised Statutes contain a list of factors that the court is to consider.
These factors include: the wishes of the parents concerning custody; the needs of the child for a frequent, continuous, and meaningful relationship with each of the parents; the relationship of the child with parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests; which parent is more likely to allow the child frequent, continuing and meaningful contact with the other parent; the child's adjustment to home, school, and community; the mental and physical health of everyone involved; any history of domestic abuse; the intention of either parent to relocate the principal residence of the child; and the wishes of the child.
Parents who are not willing to cooperate and submit a custody agreement together to the court must each submit a plan separately.
Missouri law specifically states that the plan should contain information about custody and visitation, decision making rights, dispute resolution processes, and how the expenses of the children will be handled.
Parents can also add provisions and stipulations that they think will help the custody situation work better.
Once each plan has been submitted, the judge will review both options and hear the parents explain why the plan is in the best interest of the child.
The court then determines what the plan will be.
Missouri law punishes a parent who does not abide by the terms and conditions of the agreement, so it is imperative that both parents follow the plan.
If a parent wants a change to the agreement, the court has a system of modification.
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