Divorce Resources in Missouri: Court Forms, Legal Aid & Filing Guide

To file for divorce in Missouri, you must meet the 90-day residency requirement under RSMo §452.305. At least one spouse must have lived in Missouri — or been stationed there as a member of the armed services — for 90 consecutive days immediately before filing. File your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form CAFC001) in the circuit court of the county where either spouse resides. The petition must be verified under oath before a notary public as required by RSMo §452.310.1. Along with the petition, you must file a Statement of Income and Expenses (CAFC050), a Statement of Property and Debt (CAFC040), and the Confidential Filing Information Sheet. If minor children are involved, both parents must also file a Parenting Plan (CAFC501) that includes a Form 14 child support calculation.

After filing, you must serve the respondent with official notice called service of process. The respondent may voluntarily sign an Entry of Appearance and Waiver of Service before a notary, eliminating the need for sheriff service. Alternatively, personal service can be accomplished through the county sheriff or a court-appointed process server. Missouri law under RSMo §452.305 imposes a mandatory 30-day waiting period after filing before the court can enter a judgment of dissolution. During this period, the respondent has 30 days from service to file an answer. The court must find the marriage is irretrievably broken with no reasonable likelihood of preservation before granting the dissolution.

Self-represented litigants must complete the free Litigant Awareness Program at selfrepresent.mo.gov and file their Certificate of Completion with the circuit clerk, as required by Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.09. When minor children under age 18 are involved, both parents must attend a court-approved parent education program per RSMo §452.600, which covers the effects of dissolution on children and benefits of mediation. Filing fees vary by county — typically $102.50 to $233.50 depending on the circuit — plus a service of process fee of approximately $25 to $45. Qualified individuals may request a fee waiver by filing a Motion and Affidavit to Proceed as a Poor Person with the court.

Missouri requires both parents to attend a court-approved parent education program in any dissolution of marriage proceeding involving minor children under age 18. Under RSMo §452.600, each circuit court must establish an educational sessions program — or designate an approved private or public entity's program — covering the effects of dissolution on minor children and the benefits of alternative dispute resolution including mediation. The companion statute RSMo §452.605 further specifies curriculum requirements including divorce as a loss, co-parenting skills, child development, communication, abuse recognition, legal concepts, visitation, mediation, and community resources. Some circuits allow online completion; others require in-person attendance. Contact your local circuit court clerk for approved providers and local rules regarding program format. Failure to complete the program may delay entry of the final judgment.

Missouri does not impose a universal statewide mandate for mediation in all divorce cases. However, individual circuit courts frequently require mediation for contested custody and visitation disputes through local court rules. Under RSMo §452.372, courts may order alternative dispute resolution in family law cases. Many circuits require at least two hours of mediation with a trained professional when parents cannot agree on custody or parenting time arrangements. The court may waive the mediation requirement for good cause, including documented domestic violence. Mediation costs are typically shared by the parties. If mediation produces an agreement, the mediator prepares a Memorandum of Understanding that can be reviewed by attorneys and incorporated into the final judgment. For details on your circuit's specific mediation requirements, visit courts.mo.gov mediation information.

Missouri requires both parties to file comprehensive financial disclosure documents in every dissolution proceeding. Under RSMo §452.330, the court must consider all relevant factors when dividing marital property and debts, which necessitates complete financial transparency. Each party must file a Statement of Income and Expenses (Form CAFC050) detailing monthly gross income from all sources, payroll deductions, and itemized monthly living expenses. Additionally, both parties must file a Statement of Property and Debt (Form CAFC040), also known as the Statement of Marital and Non-Marital Assets and Debts (Form CV105), which categorizes all real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investments, personal property, and debts as either marital or non-marital. Missouri is an equitable distribution state — property is divided fairly but not necessarily equally. Failure to disclose assets can result in sanctions and may be grounds to reopen the judgment.