Family law
Divorce, child custody, child support, modifications, adoption and protection orders in Kansas and Missouri.
Matters we handle
- Divorce, contested and uncontested
- Child custody and parenting plans
- Child support and spousal maintenance
- Modification of existing orders
- Paternity
- Stepparent adoption
- Protection from abuse and protection from stalking orders
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Grandparent visitation
Consultation
$150 for 45 minutes with an attorney, in person or by video. Credited to your retainer if you hire us within 30 days. Please bring any existing court orders, and a summary of income, assets, and debts if you have it. We cannot consult with you if we have already spoken with your spouse or the other parent.
Fees
Family law is billed hourly against a retainer. Attorney rates are $275 to $375 per hour; paralegals $125. Retainers: uncontested divorce with an agreement, $2,500 flat. Contested divorce or custody, $5,000 retainer to start. Modification or enforcement, $3,500 retainer. Protection order, $1,500. You receive an itemized statement monthly and any unused retainer is refunded.
Common questions
How long does a divorce take?
Kansas requires a 60-day waiting period after filing. Missouri requires 30 days. An uncontested divorce is usually final in two to four months. A contested divorce with custody or property disputes typically takes nine to eighteen months.
Do I have to go to court?
For an uncontested divorce, usually one brief hearing, sometimes none. Contested cases involve several hearings and mediation before any trial. Both Kansas and Missouri require mediation in custody disputes.
Can I keep the house?
That depends on equity, income, and what else is being divided. Both states divide marital property equitably, not necessarily equally.
If you are in danger
Call 911. Then call us; we file protection orders the same day, and the Johnson County and Jackson County courts hear emergency petitions daily. The Kansas Crisis Hotline is 888-363-2287 and the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.