Divorce Law Attorney in Kansas City

Even if you have been through a divorce, no two divorces are exactly alike. If you are facing divorce in the Kansas City metro area, you need a divorce law attorney in Kansas City that will ensure you understand the laws of your state. At Evans & Mullinix, P.A., each divorce law attorney in Kansas City in our practice is well-versed in the family law guidelines for both Kansas and Missouri.

While your divorce law attorney at our firm will walk hand-in-hand with you through your divorce, the following is a simplified outline of the divorce process:

After the divorce petition and answer are filed, you may have to endure a waiting period depending on the state in which you live. This period offers time for you and your spouse to reconsider your divorce.

During divorce, the court will likely enter a series of temporary orders on different issues to preserve the marital property, make sure your household bills are paid, provide assistance to a spouse without an income source and cover the children's needs. Temporary orders are applicable only while your divorce is pending and will dissolve once the divorce petition is finalized.

If your spouse is causing problems, your divorce law attorney can apply for a temporary restraining order to prohibit your spouse from contacting you or ordering your spouse to pay certain bills.

The discovery process permits the parties to gather detailed information from each other about assets, income, fitness for child custody, extramarital affairs and any other issue relevant to the divorce. Discovery is typically not contested, and the parties will exchange relevant information as required by the rules of procedure. If your spouse resists turning over relevant information, your divorce law attorney in Kansas City can seek an order from the court compelling your spouse to do so and ordering that he or she pay the fees you incur from your divorce law attorney.

In most divorces, the court will push the parties to work toward alternatives to divorce court. Excessive litigation may antagonize the parties, harm the children and increase costs for everyone. The final decision of whether or not to settle is always up to you—not your divorce law attorney. The policy in favor of divorce settlement is strongly held by so many states that provisions are often made for a kind of divorce by agreement. For couples who can get along well enough to hammer out an agreement, this approach can dramatically speed up the divorce process, minimize the stress on the children and save costs for everyone.

If you and your spouse cannot reach a divorce settlement, a trial will be scheduled. You and your spouse address the judge with your own stories, call witnesses to support your side and cross examine the other spouse's witnesses. After the trial, a final divorce decree is entered by the judge resolving all of the issues in the divorce. The losing party, however, can appeal the divorce decree.

Evans & Mullinix, P.A.
7225 Renner Road, Suite 200
Shawnee, KS 66217-3043
Kansas City Metropolitan Area
T: 913-962-8700
F: 913-962-8701

E-mail: JBS@evans-mullinix.com
www.evans-mullinix.com