PERSONAL INJURY
CALL FOR YOUR FREE TELEPHONE CONSULTATION 636-861-1111 1190 Meramec Station Rd, Suite 203 First Bank Building Ballwin, MO 63021
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West County Family Law
1190 Meramec Station Rd.
First Bank Bldg., Suite 203
Ballwin, MO 63021
636-861-1111
636-861-1127 fax
www.westcountyfamilylaw.com
Contact West County Family Law online or call us at 636-861-1111 to schedule your initial consultation with one of our attorneys so that you can learn more about your rights and options.
West County Family Law
CALL FOR YOUR FREE TELEPHONE CONSULTATION 636-861-1111
|
West County Family Law
Ballwin, Mo. Office
Types of Divorce Proceedings
In Missouri there are a number of different types of divorce proceedings available. Determining which type of divorce is right for you will be
based on individual factors, such as your relationship with your spouse, the structure of your assets (property) and liabilities (debts), how well
you and your spouse are able to communicate other factors. No matter which type of divorce you choose to pursue our attorneys can help
you. To learn more about each type of divorce proceeding call West County Family Law at 636-861-1111.
- Contested divorce
- Uncontested divorce
- Mediated divorce
- Legal Separation
Going through a divorce can be very stressful. Emotions run high and there are many difficult decisions to contend with. The outcome of a
divorce proceeding has long-lasting ramifications that can affect the rest of your life, as well as the lives of your family. At West County
Family Law, our attorneys understand that you are going through a difficult transition and we know you may have many questions and
concerns. With years of experience handling divorce cases in the St. Louis area, attorneys Case & Rajnoha will provide you with the legal
guidance you need to make informed decisions and the legal representation necessary to ensure that your interests are properly protected.
There is no denying that the divorce process can be challenging, painful and difficult, but the understanding that you are not alone and that
you have experienced representation of attorneys Case & Rajnoha to guide your decisions and protect your best interests is an important
step in getting back on track to a brighter future.
Free Divorce Phone Consultation
West County Family Law is located in Ballwin, Missouri, and serve the cities of St. Louis, Chesterfield, Fenton, Valley Park, Clayton, Creve
Coeur, Kirkwood, Des Peres, Webster Groves, Manchester, Eureka, Hillsboro, Maryland Heights, Town and Country, Ellisville, Frontenac,
Wildwood, Ladue and Crestwood. We also serve other communities in St. Louis County, Jefferson County, St. Charles County, West County
and South County.
We offer free, no-obligation divorce phone consultations, providing you with the opportunity to ask questions and obtain more information,
helping you determine what type of divorce proceeding best fits your needs. This allows you to enter into the divorce process with necessary
knowledge that can affect your future and helps you better determine how we can best meet your needs.
Contact Joel Case & Sally Rajnoha Divorce Attorneys
If you are considering initiating a divorce or have already been served with divorce papers, call the Case & Rajnoha divorce attorneys at 636-
861-1111. We can provide you with solid legal guidance, answer the many questions you may have, and schedule a divorce consultation
during which you can further discuss the unique aspects of your case. If you prefer, you can fill out the form on the side of this page and one
of our experienced divorce attorney’s will call you.
Essential Facts About Divorce Everyone Should Know
- One of the parties must be a Missouri resident for at least 90 days before filing a divorce petition.
- Missouri is a modified no-fault state, meaning that the party filing for divorce is not required to declare grounds in the petition. The
petition only needs to state that the marriage is "irretrievably broken."
- There is a 30-day waiting period following the filing of the petition before the divorce can be granted.
Understanding the Process
- If both parties agree on relevant child custody, child support, maintenance (alimony), and division of property issues, the divorce is
considered "uncontested." In many instances, the parties then submit a written agreement to the court for approval. If any issues are
"contested," the parties can either negotiate an agreement or resolve them through court proceedings.
- Along with the divorce petition, the person who files for divorce must submit a statement of the parties' separate and marital
property and debt, as well as a statement listing his or her own income and expenses.
- Please note: A divorce cannot be finalized if the wife is pregnant. It can only be finalized after the baby is born. If the future ex-
husband is not the father of the baby, the baby's father must be added as a third party in the divorce suit.
- In Missouri, all parents seeking divorce must attend a parenting class. Attorneys Case & Rajnoha will provide you with the
necessary information you will need to enroll.
Mediation
If the divorcing parties agree to mediation, we will refer you to a mediator to handle the resolution of your divorce issues.
At the West County Family Law, we work with either parent involved in divorce proceedings or other issues in child custody and support, such
as paternity. Our knowledgeable attorneys Case & Rajnoha will help identify your rights and negotiate a parenting plan that fits your
individual circumstance.
Parenting Plan Negotiations
With more than 60 years of experience in family law, Case & Rajnoha has successfully handled many child custody cases. Our lawyers
work in close consultation with you throughout the process so you understand all your options. As your advocate, we will negotiate with the
other parent's attorney on key issues.
- Child Custody & Child Support
- What Is Marital Property & Debt?
- Division of Retirement Assets
- Pensions & Employee Benefits
- Maintenance
- Hidden Assets & Unreported Income
- Division of Investments
West County Family Law Divorce Attorneys
Joel Case & Sally Rajnoha

Why is an uncontested divorce less expensive than a contested divorce?
In uncontested divorces, both parties are in agreement about all issues related to the dissolution of the marriage, including such aspects as property division, child custody and child support, spousal support and
other related issues. This means that a divorce lawyer just needs to draw up the paperwork so that the divorce can be finalized and must then present the documentation during a very short court hearing that
usually only lasts a few minutes. Documentation that must be drawn up includes a petition for the dissolution of marriage, a settlement agreement (based on the agreed upon issues from both parties) and financial
affidavits. This process is typically far less time consuming (and therefore less expensive) than when a couple enters into a contested divorce, in which both sides need to repeatedly communicate in order to iron out
differences. The longer it takes for agreement to be reached in a contested divorce, the higher the legal fees both parties typically incur. If participants in a contested divorce cannot reach an agreement, then at
some point, the case is brought to trial before a judge, which can increase the cost of this type of divorce proceeding even more.
If you are looking for a less expensive and less traumatic way to end your marriage through divorce, it is best to try to agree to as many issues as possible in advance so that negotiations do not have to be carried
on by opposing divorce attorneys. The more both parties can work out their differences on their own, the less resulting time and money (not to mention aggravation) will be expended.
What are some of the decisions that need to be made during divorce?
When a couple splits up, many decisions need to be made related to the distribution of assets, liabilities and property. Spousal support, or alimony, is another aspect of the process that needs to be agreed upon.
If children are involved, the situation becomes more complicated, since issues such as time-sharing (child custody and visitation) and child support must be considered. Aside from day to day finances for dependent
children, considerations related to health insurance, life insurance, college education funding and other financial matters must be agreed upon. Every divorce case is unique and the types of considerations that
need to be made in each case will differ depending on circumstances.
Division of Property
When people think about divorce one of the questions they almost always get around to asking is who gets to keep the (insert valuable or sentimental item here). Property division is an important consideration in
every divorce even if you don't always feel great about bringing it up. The court has the responsibility to fairly distribute the marital and non-marital property of the spouses. Marital property is generally any items
acquired during the marriage. And no, it doesn't matter whose name the property is titled in. On the other hand, non-marital property is pretty much everything that you owned before you got married. Keep in mind
that a division of property does not necessarily have to be "equal". Courts often make what may at first seem like an unequal distribution based upon the specific circumstances of the marriage. Several factors are
taken into account here. Courts generally consider each spouse's contributions to the marriage, both monetary and non-monetary. The ultimate goal is to arrive at a fair solution which takes into account the whole
of the marriage. Division of property is often the most troublesome issue in a divorce proceeding.
Experienced Service and Legal Counsel
Our goal at West County Family Law is to provide the highest quality of experience, service and legal counsel. With more than 65 years of experience, attorneys Case & Rajnoha are capable of handling many
types of legal matters. Founded in 1975, West County Family Law's trademark has been prompt, personal attention. Our success has been our dedication to our clients and protecting their best interests and rights.
Our clients deserve to be well-represented, with quality legal services provided by a dedicated team of attorneys and paralegals. We pride ourselves in our personal service by making sure we are available for our
client throughout the legal process.
We're Here to Help You
We seek to help you through the legal problem confronting you. The first step is an easy one: call us for a free telephone consultation at (636) 861-1111 to speak with our Ballwin family and criminal law attorneys.
You can also contact us online. We accept Visa and MasterCard.
West County Family Law is located in Ballwin, Missouri, and serves the cities of St. Louis, Chesterfield, Fenton, Valley Park, Clayton, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Des Peres, Webster Groves, Manchester, Eureka,
Hillsboro, Maryland Heights, Town and Country, Ellisville, Frontenac, Wildwood, Ladue and Crestwood. We also serve other communities in St. Louis County, Jefferson County, St. Charles County, West County and
South County.