Tuesday, January 12, 2016

What are the Basics of no Fault and Fault Divorce Law

Divorce laws vary from state to state where some do not mandate that the filing spouse provide any grounds for a divorce. If you happen to reside in the state of Missouri it is important to understand that it is purely a no-fault divorce state where you are not required by law to prove that your spouse is at fault the time of filing for a divorce.

St. Louis, MO divorce lawyers can explain to you that all you need is a reason such as irreparable breakdown of marriage or irreconcilable differences. These are just legal terms that indicate that the couple is no longer willing to make their marriage work. If your spouse is the one who has filed for a no-fault divorce you have no ground to object. Should you choose to do so, your objection will be seen as a result of irreconcilable differences.

No one in this business in the St. Louis area is better than Behrens Law Firm. This law firm know this law in and out and keeps their clients informed every step of the way.

North Eastern Missouri and St. Louis divorce attorneys such as Behrens Law Firm caution that it is important to be aware that most states have residency requirements. For example, one of the spouses must be a resident of Missouri for at least 90 days prior to filing a divorce petition. In addition, the couple must have lived separately for at least 12 months by mutual consent.


Most states do not recognize fault divorce. In states that do, you can file a fault divorce requesting the courts to grant a divorce based on specific grounds. These include:
  • Adultery
  • Confinement in Prison
  • Abandonment for a good length of time
  • Sexual intercourse impairment
  • Physical and emotional pain inflicted by a spouse
In a fault divorce the spouses are not required to have separated for a period of time and this means you can file for a divorce while living under the same roof. Moreover, if you can prove that your spouse is guilty on specific grounds then you may also be eligible for a larger share of property than what is granted in no-fault divorces.

What is Comparative Rectitude?

There are cases where both the spouses have filed for a fault divorce and seek to prove that the other is at fault. In such a situation, the court will weigh the evidence presented by both sides in order to decide which one of the spouses is more at fault. The divorce decree will then be granted to that spouse that is least at fault. This is legally called comparative rectitude.

Getting a divorce is not cheap. Getting a divorce without a St. Louis divorce lawyer such as those from the Behrens Law Firm (http://barbarabehrensdivorceattorney.com/) could cost you about everything you think is important in life. Make the call. The other side, your soon to be ex spouse, has already made their call, you need legal representation too. 
Fault Divorce Defenses

If your spouse has filed a fault divorce you can put up your defense challenging it. A fantastic St. Louis, MO divorce lawyer will be able to highlight potential defense strategies based on your circumstances.

Connivance: If your spouse has accused you of adultery, you can prove that your spouse agreed to infidelity. You can also prove that he/she even participated in the infidelity. This means that if you and your spouse have voluntarily had group sex, your spouse cannot claim infidelity. If your spouse forced you into prostitution he/she cannot claim adultery at a later date.
Condonation: Complaining spouses cannot claim adultery if they have forgiven adulterous behavior and continued marital relations after the incident. 
Recrimination: In addition, spouses cannot seek divorce on grounds of adultery when both of them are committing infidelity. 
Provocation: Your spouse cannot claim abandonment if his or her physical and verbal abuse forced you to leave your home.
Collusion: This happens when your spouse has fabricated grounds for divorce.

To learn more about divorce laws in your state, make sure to seek help from a St. Louis divorce lawyer well versed in family law which Behrens Law Firm certainly is. 

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