Family Law Services in Kansas and Missouri

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Our firm is proud to serve clients in Kansas and Missouri in matters of divorce, paternity, child custody issues, adoption, guardianship, grandparents’ rights, and more. No matter the nature of your domestic matter, it is imperative that you retain a knowledgeable family law attorney. Joseph, Hollander & Craft is ready to work for you. Find out how we can help you protect what matters most.

What Does Family Law Include?

Family law covers a number of matters related to domestic and family life, for both married and unmarried couples or those who have separated. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s family law attorneys serve clients in Kansas and Missouri who anticipate or are going through any of the following:

Divorce

Divorce is the termination of a marriage, but in most cases it involves much more than just that. Spouses must usually decide whether and how to pay spousal support (alimony) and divide their property. If they have children, they will have to address child custody and child support as well.

Paternity

A paternity action is used to officially establish the biological father of a child or children born to unmarried parents. A paternity action can be filed by either parent, and it is the court proceeding required to determine child support, custody and parenting time.

Child Custody

People often use the term child custody to refer to a number of things, including child custody, visitation, and parenting time. A detailed parenting schedule should account not only for which parent will have the child during a given week, but also how birthdays, holidays, and vacation time will be shared between the parents. Courts must decide all child custody matters according to the best interests of the child.

Child Support

Both Kansas and Missouri use child support guidelines that take into account a variety of factors, such as:

• The parents’ respective incomes
• How many children there are
• How much time each child spends with both parents
• The children’s basic financial needs like child care and medical expenses

Judges will apply child support guidelines to most cases, although they can deviate from them under limited circumstances. Deviation is more common in high-income child custody cases.

Guardianship & Adoption

Guardianship proceedings can involve both children and adults. A person can be granted a guardianship to manage another person’s daily care, financial matters, or healthcare decisions. For children, guardianship may be particularly helpful if the child’s parents are unavailable and someone is informally taking care of the child. For adults, a guardianship can protect an incapacitated individual who cannot make decisions.

Adoption comes in many forms. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s family law attorneys primarily focus on step-parent adoptions, grandparent adoptions, and kinship adoptions by extended members of a family.

Other matters

We assist clients in Kansas and Missouri with a number of other family law issues as well, including:

• Annulment
• Temporary and emergency orders
• Modification of prior court orders
• Enforcement of prior court orders
• Prenuptial agreements & postnuptial agreements
• Legal separation and separation agreements
• Grandparents’ rights

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How We Approach Family Law Cases in Kansas and Missouri

The team at Joseph, Hollander & Craft understands the challenges inherent in family law cases. When you retain us to represent you, we immediately start working on your case by:

• Listening to you about your goals and concerns
• Learning the key facts and issues in your family law case
• Drafting appropriate documents and conducting hearings related to your case
• Using discovery effectively and efficiently
• Advocating for your interests in out-of-court negotiations whenever possible
• Litigating your case in court

We take these matters seriously because we realize how impactful they may be on your family for years, even generations. Our promise is to treat your family law matter with the professionalism and commitment you expect and deserve. It’s the level of service that we would want for ourselves if we were in the same position.

Family Law Attorneys: Frequently Asked Questions

What information is needed to calculate child support?

Whether the case is in Kansas or Missouri, both parents should be prepared to provide:

• Their income information
• How much time each child spends with both parents
• The children’s health insurance, child care, and other costs
• Other support obligations (child support and alimony)
• Proof of anything the parent paid directly if they wish to receive a credit

How much child support will I get?

Most cases in Kansas and Missouri are calculated according to set guidelines that take into account the factors listed above, among others. A court cannot deviate and require more than the guidelines would permit unless there is a good reason to do so. Ask your attorney for more details about the guidelines, approximately how much support you should expect to receive, and deviation.

Can I still see my child if I am not paying child support?

Yes. Your right to see your child is independent of whether you are paying child support. The other parent can take you to court for contempt and seek enforcement of the child support obligation, but they cannot legally deny your visitation rights. If this is happening to you, talk to an attorney.

Can I get sole custody?

You can request sole legal custody (only one parent makes major decisions for the child) or sole physical custody (the child only resides with one parent) if you can prove that it is in the child’s best interests and there is a good reason to do so, such as abuse. Courts in both Kansas and Missouri prefer to award joint custody, however, so you will need a compelling argument.

Can I prevent the other party’s significant other from being around my children?

Yes, if there is a good reason to do so. For example, if the significant other is presenting a safety or health concern for your child. Simply not liking the person is not enough. Courts may impose supervised visitation if there is evidence that a romantic partner or new spouse is harming the child in some way.

What is a Guardian ad Litem?

This is a court-appointed person, usually a lawyer, who represents the best interests of the child. The Guardian ad Litem or GAL advocates for the child, not the parents. A court will often appoint a GAL in custody cases involving high conflict, abuse allegations, and ongoing disputes. The GAL investigates various matters pertaining to the child, interviews key witnesses, and presents their custody and visitation recommendations to the judge.

If I don’t know my assets/debts, or my spouse’s, how do I figure that out?

You may have various tools available. First, you can use discovery methods like interrogatories, requests for documents, and depositions to learn key information about your spouse’s finances. Second, you can subpoena records from financial institutions like banks. Third, you may be able to hire a private investigator. Fourth, you may hire a professional like a forensic accountant to track missing asset and debt information.

Talk to your attorney if you are uncertain about your or your spouse’s financial situation.

Contact Joseph, Hollander & Craft in Kansas or Missouri

Regardless of the type of domestic case you have, find out how the family law attorneys of Joseph, Hollander & Craft can assist you in seeking the best possible outcome. We have offices in Kansas City, Lawrence, Overland Park, Topeka, and Wichita for your convenience. Get started by contacting us today.