Missouri costs hinge on issues to resolve, conflict level, and how quickly you exchange financial information. Family Court practices and parent-education requirements can affect timelines and fees.
Plan for a court filing fee, plus service of process, copies, and certified judgments. If you use professionals, costs may include mediation, limited-scope legal review, document preparation, and financial experts for valuation, tracing, or tax planning. Parents often pay for parent education programs.
Costs rise with complex property and high-conflict parenting or with late/incomplete disclosures. Costs fall when parties organize bank, pay, credit, and tax records, agree on valuation dates, work from a single shared settlement draft, and start with mediation to narrow disputes.
Start with mediation, then have a lawyer review your settlement. Use legal help strategically for coaching and document checks. Exchange clean, labeled disclosures early. For real estate, define an appraisal method and refinance/buyout timeline in your agreement.
Hello Divorce can prepare all your Missouri divorce forms for you with our divorce plans.
Can I get a filing fee waiver in Missouri?
Yes. You may request an indigency waiver if paying is a hardship.
Does filing first increase cost?
Not usually. Cost depends more on conflict, organization, and the pace of disclosures and settlement.
Do I have to appear in person?
Many uncontested cases finalize on paperwork or brief hearings; remote options may be available depending on the court.