Divorce

St. Louis Family Law and Divorce Lawyer

Divorce is rarely easy, and many things must be considered. It can be an emotional period. Some couples just want an uncontested divorce, and do not want to spend a lot of money litigating. At Carla J. Zolman, L.L.C., we represent couples getting a divorce in the St. Louis metro area. A non-contested divorce can be completed in approximately six weeks, at a fraction of the cost of a contested divorce. 

Dividing up your marital property and money

Divorcing couples must determine how to divide their assets and liabilities. The court considers anything earned during marriage to be "martial property" that may be subject to division. If there are tax concerns about your retirement assets, we will bring in a tax professional if needed.

You may be eligible for spousal maintenance (alimony). Some parties agree to the amount before coming into court. Under maintenance law, courts will examine the parties’ needs and their ability to pay, when awarding spousal support.

Utilizing Collaborative Law to Settle Issues Out of Court

Divorce is different for each couple. Depending on how cooperative the parties are, you may use divorce mediation.

If the parties are cooperative, you may want to consider collaborative law. Spouses will sit down with each other and their attorneys to reach an agreement. Before beginning this process, they agree that if they fail to reach an agreement, their current attorneys will not represent them in court. The goal of collaborative divorce is to settle and sign all the agreements and avoid an appearance in court.

Reach an Agreement Concerning Your Children

If the parties are amicable, you can sit down with the other spouse to agree upon a parenting plan. The parenting plan is a "safety net" that spells out custody and visitation, should the parties disagree in the future. If you cannot agree on a parenting plan, the court will award either sole (primary) or joint custody. Courts require that custody agreements be determined by examining the best interests of your children.

An award of child support is based on Form 14 of Missouri’s statutory guidelines. There are many ways to interpret the guidelines. What income should be counted and how can you get variances from the guidelines? We can represent you to get a fair agreement.

Call or contact us to set up an initial consultation concerning your children and divorce.

Carla J. Zolman, L.L.C.

Carla J. Zolman, L.L.C., is a family law attorney serving St. Louis, Missouri and the surrounding areas of St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County, including Ballwin, Brentwood, Chesterfield, Clayton, Crestwood, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Ellisville, Kirkwood, Frontenac, Ladue, Manchester, Maplewood, Maryland Heights, Mehlville, Oakville, St. Louis, Town & Country, University City, Webster Groves, and Richmond Heights.