Is My Spouse’s Business Valued at Separation or at Trial? At trial. The Supreme Court of Missouri settled the business valuation date in 1987 and the rule has not moved since, which means growth in the company during a long separation is generally still on the...
How Long Does a Guardian ad Litem Investigation Take? There is no statutory deadline. Missouri sets no time limit on a guardian ad litem investigation, and in practice the work runs alongside the case rather than on its own clock, which in a contested custody matter...
How Are Stock Options Divided in a Missouri Divorce? Options granted during the marriage are marital property even if you cannot exercise them yet, and Missouri has said so since 1984. Options granted after the decree are not, because by then there was nothing to...
Are Unvested Stock Options Marital Property in Missouri? Yes, where they were granted during the marriage. Missouri settled this in 1984 on facts where most of the options could not be exercised yet, and the reasoning is that the option was already earned when it was...
Can You Modify a Divorce Decree in Missouri? Partly. Support and custody terms can be modified on the right showing. The property division cannot be, because Section 452.330.5 RSMo makes it a final order not subject to modification. That split is the single most...
