Family law arbitration · St. Louis, Missouri
Arbitration lets divorcing spouses hand a dispute to a private decision-maker they choose, instead of waiting for a court date. An arbitration lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri helps you decide whether that trade is worth it, and represents you if you go forward.
Bardol Law Firm practices family law and nothing else, so our arbitration work is about divorce and family disputes, such as dividing a business or retirement accounts, valuing property, maintenance, and disagreements under a prenuptial agreement or settlement. We represent clients in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County.
What Is Arbitration?
Arbitration is a private alternative to trial. The spouses agree in writing to submit some or all of their disputes to an arbitrator, often a retired judge or an experienced family lawyer. The arbitrator hears testimony, reviews documents and issues a written decision called an award.
Missouri’s Uniform Arbitration Act makes a written agreement to arbitrate an existing dispute valid and enforceable, with narrow exceptions (RSMo 435.350). Once an award is issued, a party can ask the court to confirm it, and the court will unless timely grounds are raised to vacate or correct it (RSMo 435.400).
Most people sign an agreement to arbitrate before they ever talk to a lawyer.
Which issues go to the arbitrator, who it is, what rules apply, how appeals are limited. One hour with an experienced Bardol Law Firm attorney before you decide can save you from choices that are hard to undo later. You will leave understanding your rights, your options, and what to do next.
$300 · One full hour · No obligation to hire us
What Can Be Arbitrated in a Missouri Divorce
- Valuing and dividing a business or professional practice
- Retirement, investment and real estate division
- Maintenance amount and duration
- Disputes over a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement
- Disagreements over an existing settlement
- Custody and parenting time
- Child support
- Anything involving a child’s safety
Missouri judges must independently find that custody, visitation and support terms serve the child’s best interests, so they are not simply bound by an agreement or award on those issues (RSMo 452.325).
Arbitration of property and maintenance does not end the divorce on its own. The court still has to enter the judgment of dissolution, and the arbitration award becomes part of it.
How Family Law Arbitration Works
The spouses sign a written agreement defining which issues go to the arbitrator, the rules, the schedule and how fees are split. This is the most important document in the process.
Unlike a judge, the arbitrator is selected by the parties. Family law experience and, for business issues, financial experience matter most.
The agreement sets how documents and valuations are exchanged. Experts such as business appraisers often play a central role.
Each side presents evidence and witnesses in a private, less formal setting, on a date that fits the parties’ schedules.
The arbitrator issues a written award, which the court can confirm and include in the judgment.
Arbitration vs Litigation
| Arbitration | Court litigation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides | An arbitrator you choose | The assigned judge |
| Scheduling | Set by the parties, often sooner | Set by the court’s calendar |
| Privacy | Private hearing | Public courtroom and file |
| Cost | Arbitrator fees are paid by the parties | No judge fees, but more hearings |
| Review | Very limited grounds to vacate | Full appeal rights |
The trade is real. Arbitration can be faster and more private, but you give up most of your ability to appeal a decision you disagree with. That is why the agreement to arbitrate and the choice of arbitrator deserve careful attention.
Challenging or Correcting an Award
A request to vacate an award must generally be made within 90 days after the award is delivered (RSMo 435.405). The same 90-day limit applies to correcting an award (RSMo 435.410).
- Corruption, fraud or other undue means
- Evident partiality or misconduct by the arbitrator
- The arbitrator exceeded their powers
- A hearing conducted unfairly, such as refusing to hear material evidence
- No valid agreement to arbitrate
- An evident miscalculation or a mistake describing a person or property
- A decision on a matter not submitted
- A defect in form that does not affect the merits
Disagreeing with the result is not, by itself, a ground to vacate. Missouri courts give arbitration awards strong deference.
One hour. Your dispute. A clear read on arbitration versus court.
For $300, sit down one-on-one with an experienced Bardol Law Firm family law attorney. We will dig into your specific situation, explain your rights and options in plain English, and map out practical next steps. This is a working strategy session, not a sales pitch, and you leave with real value whether or not you hire us.
$300 · One full hour with an attorney · No obligation to retain our firm
How Bardol Law Firm Helps
We help you decide whether arbitration fits your case, draft or review the agreement to arbitrate so it covers the right issues, help evaluate arbitrators, prepare evidence, experts and witnesses, represent you at the hearing, and handle confirmation or any challenge to the award. We also compare arbitration with other paths, including mediation, collaborative divorce and contested litigation. For complex property, see our business owner divorce and high net worth divorce pages.
Your case is handled by one of our attorneys, Ann Vatterott Bruntrager, Denise N. Gabel, Mikayla Butler or Anna Palmer, with a named paralegal who knows your file. We generally return calls within one business day. Contact Bardol Law Firm to talk through your options.
Not sure how this applies to your situation?
Bardol Law Firm handles family law and nothing else, in St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County and Jefferson County. We generally return calls within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arbitration in Missouri Family Law
Should I hire a lawyer for arbitration?
In most cases, yes. Arbitration is less formal than court, but the result is usually binding and hard to undo. An attorney helps you set the terms, prepare evidence and present your case.
Can custody be decided by arbitration in Missouri?
Not with final effect. A Missouri court must independently decide that custody and support terms serve the child’s best interests, so those issues remain subject to the judge’s review.
Is an arbitration award final?
Usually. The court will confirm it unless a party shows one of the narrow grounds to vacate or correct it, generally within 90 days after the award is delivered.
How is arbitration different from mediation?
A mediator helps you agree, an arbitrator decides. Mediation is not binding unless you sign an agreement. Arbitration ends with an award that is usually binding.
How much does family law arbitration cost?
It depends on the issues and the arbitrator. The parties pay the arbitrator’s fees, but a focused hearing on a set date can cost less than months of court proceedings. We discuss fees openly from the start.
This page provides general information about Missouri arbitration and family law and is not legal advice. Every situation is different, and outcomes depend on the specific facts. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.