| Title 30 in the Missouri Revised Statutes deals with | | | | include: the wishes of the parents concerning custody; |
| Domestic Relations. Included under this section are the | | | | the needs of the child for a frequent, continuous, and |
| laws and rules about child custody. Parents who are | | | | meaningful relationship with each of the parents; the |
| divorcing or separating in the state of Missouri would | | | | relationship of the child with parents, siblings, and any |
| do well to look into this section of the law and learn all | | | | other person who may significantly affect the child's |
| they can about custody issues. Knowing these laws | | | | best interests; which parent is more likely to allow the |
| and guidelines are a great help as a parent prepares a | | | | child frequent, continuing and meaningful contact with |
| parenting plan or custody agreement. If a parent is | | | | the other parent; the child's adjustment to home, school, |
| unfamiliar with the requirements of the law, it is unlikely | | | | and community; the mental and physical health of |
| that they will create a plan that is up to par. Here is | | | | everyone involved; any history of domestic abuse; the |
| some of the important information in the Missouri | | | | intention of either parent to relocate the principal |
| Revised Statues that parents should know and | | | | residence of the child; and the wishes of the child. |
| understand as they make a parenting plan. | | | | Parents who are not willing to cooperate and submit a |
| Chapter 452 in the Missouri Revised Statutes is the | | | | custody agreement together to the court must each |
| specific chapter that deals with divorce and child | | | | submit a plan separately. Missouri law specifically |
| custody. In this chapter, the law explicitly states that | | | | states that the plan should contain information about |
| parents must file a parenting plan with the court if they | | | | custody and visitation, decision making rights, dispute |
| divorce or separate. This is because the state of | | | | resolution processes, and how the expenses of the |
| Missouri has a vested interest that children of divorced | | | | children will be handled. Parents can also add |
| or separated parents still receive the same standard | | | | provisions and stipulations that they think will help the |
| of care that they had when the parents were | | | | custody situation work better. Once each plan has |
| together. If the parents cannot reach a mutual | | | | been submitted, the judge will review both options and |
| agreement on the parenting plan, the state of Missouri | | | | hear the parents explain why the plan is in the best |
| gives the county court the power to determine the | | | | interest of the child. The court then determines what |
| plan. The court will make the decision about the | | | | the plan will be. Missouri law punishes a parent who |
| parenting plan based on what is in the child's best | | | | does not abide by the terms and conditions of the |
| interest. | | | | agreement, so it is imperative that both parents follow |
| To determine the child's best interest, the Chapter 452 | | | | the plan. If a parent wants a change to the agreement, |
| in the Missouri Revised Statutes contain a list of | | | | the court has a system of modification. |
| factors that the court is to consider. These factors | | | | |