Divorce Lawyers in Cape Girardeau, MO

Family Law Attorneys in Cape Girardeau MO

When a marriage comes to an end, it is a difficult and stressful time for everyone involved.  Gone are your hopes and dreams for a happy home life, at least for the present.  When you reach that place where you realize that divorce is the next step, it’s important to take time to think it through and begin looking at divorce lawyers in Cape Girardeau, MO to find the one that is the best match for your situation.

Birk Law Firm has years of experience representing clients in divorce, with both firmness and compassion.  We will aggressively represent the wishes of our client while still remembering that there is a family involved – often children – and the divorce process need not cause further damage.  Attorney Kelvin Birk holds not only a law degree, but he is also a Certified Public Accountant.  That means he can look out for both your legal and financial interests.  There is no substitute for legal knowledge and savvy financial know-how.

If you are at a crossroads and feel it is time to file for divorce, or if your partner has filed for divorce and it’s time for you to respond, a skilled divorce lawyer in Cape Girardeau should be your next phone call.  Attorney Kelvin Birk can answer your questions, advise you about your options, and give you information that will help you determine your next steps.  For a free initial consultation, call us at 573-332-8585.

How Do I Choose the Best Cape Girardeau Divorce Lawyers?

Choosing a divorce lawyer will be one of the most important decisions you make.  It will affect not only the divorce proceedings now but also the financial resources available to you in the future.  You want a divorce lawyer in Cape Girardeau with a sharp legal mind and also a head for money and business.

That’s what you get with attorney Kelvin Birk.  Because he is both a lawyer and a CPA,he wears dual hats.  As one of the premier divorce lawyers in Cape Girardeau, MO he looks at your case through the eyes of a lawyer, exploring the ins and outs of the law to achieve the best outcome possible for division of property, child custody and visitation.  He also looks at your case through the eyes of a CPA, using accounting best practices to locate all sources of income and analyze retirement, brokerage and bank accounts.  He leaves no stone unturned to understand the entire financial picture when handling a divorce.

Very few divorce lawyers in Cape Girardeau, MO can say they hold degrees in both law and certified public accounting.  When you choose attorney Kelvin Birk, it’s like getting two highly experienced professionals in one.

Divorce Attorney Understands Family Law

Birk Law Firm offers representation in all matters involving family law. Clients going through a marital dissolution work with our team of an attorney and paralegals so there is always a point of contact available. Working this way helps to make the best of a challenging time in your life.  The family law issues that Birk Law Firm handles include:

• Divorce
• Spousal support/maintenance/alimony
• Child Custody
• Visitation
• Child support
• Child support enforcement
• Grandparents’ rights
• Motions to modify
• Adoption
• Determining paternity.

A skilled and experienced child custody lawyer can help guide you through the often difficult decisions about visitation, child support and custody.  An attorney for divorce can also fight for alimony.  These are often some of the most contentious negotiations during a divorce.

Experienced High-Asset Divorce Lawyers

Our business and trial experience make us particularly adept at handling divorces involving business or farm owners and high net-worth individuals.  As one of the top divorce lawyers in Missouri, we have handled numerous cases involving farm or business owners and successfully negotiated a settlement in which the spouse that controlled the farm or business retained ownership and control of the business or farm after the divorce.

Attorney Kelvin Birk grew up on a farm and owns a ranch.  He understands the sweat and tears that go into building a farming enterprise or business over many years.  It’s a tragedy to have to liquidate a farm or business during a divorce, and it can often be avoided with swift and effective legal planning.  Kelvin Birk is one of the most unique divorce lawyers in Cape Girardeau, MO because he’s a lawyer, CPA and experienced farmer.  He knows how to argue these cases.

A Divorce Lawyer Will Help Navigate the Steps in a Divorce

There are several steps to consider when you are making decisions about divorce.  Kelvin Birk, one of the best  divorce lawyers in Cape Girardeau MO, recommends contemplating each of these carefully.

1. Be Certain You Want to Get Divorced.

Don’t make a rash decision to get divorced in the middle of a heated argument.  Spend some quiet time thinking about the pros and cons before filing.

2. Hire a Family Law Attorney That Will Fight for You.

Divorce is not a time to worry about the other party’s feelings.  This is your one chance to get the resources and child custody arrangements that you will have to live with going forward.  You want a skilled attorney who will fight aggressively for you.

3. Gather Financial Documents.

The best offense is a great defense.  Be prepared.  Gather all financial documents, including mortgage and rental documents, as well as account statements for bank, brokerage, IRAs, 401(k)s, and retirement plans.

4. Know the household budget and expenses.

Your attorney will be better prepared to argue on your behalf if he is armed with accurate household budget and expense information.

5. Determine Your Goals for Custody.

Are you interested in sole custody, shared custody or a modified arrangement?  What about visitation?  Knowing these things ahead of time will position you better to get what you want.

6. Make Necessary Purchases or Sales.

Before filing, buy any necessities like appliances or a vehicle and sell anything that you need to.  Immediately after you file, a judge will automatically issue an order that prohibits you or your spouse from buying, selling, or otherwise encumbering or disposing of property that would deplete the marital estate.

7. Figure Out Your Living Situation.

You want to make sure you land on your feet.  Know where you will live once you split with your partner.  This is especially true if children are involved. What can you afford?  Do you want to remain in the marital home or do you want to move out?

8. Consider Joint Bank Accounts and Credit Cards. 

Consult your attorney about whether to close out joint credit cards and bank accounts or leave them alone, depending on the facts in the case.  Your action in these matters could harm your case if not guided by someone who knows the law.

9. Don’t Live Like You’re Single. 

Until the divorce is final, refrain from getting involved romantically with another person.  Doing so could hurt your case.

10. Inventory Your Assets and Liabilities. 

Get a firm idea of your assets and liabilities and create a balance sheet.  Knowing what you possess and what you owe will enable your attorney to negotiate effectively.

By following these simple but important guidelines, you will be better prepared to pursue a divorce that provides protection for you in the future.  Without accurate information, you could wind up with a divorce decree that is hard to live with.  All divorce lawyers are not created equal.  Find a great one.  If you are interviewing divorce lawyers in Cape Girardeau, MO, be sure to have a free consultation with Birk Law Firm by calling 573-332-8585.

Divorce Attorneys Can Shield You from Unpleasant Interactions with Your Partner

Not only is a skilled Cape Girardeau divorce lawyer your legal advocate, but he can also serve as your go-between when communicating with your partner and his or her attorney.  There is a great deal of relief in not having to communicate regularly with your partner during the divorce process, thereby avoiding arguments and hurt feelings.  Your attorney can interact calmly and dispassionately with the opposing side, avoiding emotional decisions.  That’s what he’s there for.  By avoiding direct communication with a partner and allowing all interactions to go through your attorney, you are shielded and will ensure that all communication benefits your goals and outcomes. 

We can help with other difficulties during a divorce, too.  As one of the top divorce lawyers in Cape Girardeau, MO we can help grandparents file a lawsuit to establish visitation with your grandchildren.  We have represented multiple grandparents who were being denied their rights to see their grandchildren.  In some cases, grandparents have rights enforceable by the Missouri courts.  We also help grandparents who believe grandchildren are being neglected or abused after divorce.

We can also help parents who are frustrated with ex-spouses who are not paying child support. You and your children deserve enough to live on.

With all clients, we listen to what is going on in your life and how we can make it better. As your lawyer, we will try to resolve the situation amicably, but we are ready to take action when necessary.  To understand more about how we can help, call us at 573-332-8585.

Cape Girardeau Divorce Attorney: Legal Help from Initial Decree to Modifications

A divorce is rarely 100 percent over; it is often subject to being modified. In Missouri, two years passage of time and a 20 percent change in income is usually required to modify an original child support judgment. This threshold is used for determining whether the change in circumstances is significant enough to go back to court and modify child support, alimony and other provisions. However, often the maintenance (alimony) is not modifiable per the original agreement or judgment.

Change in circumstances can mean change in job and title, resulting change in salary, moving to a new home or out of state, or a new marriage.  All of these can affect custody arrangements, support and visitation.

Call a Skilled Cape Girardeau Divorce Lawyer Today

Divorce is an extremely difficult time in anyone’s life.  We know there are a lot of divorce lawyers in Cape Girardeau, MO to choose from, and that’s why we strive to be the very best.  We spend hours poring over a client’s financial documents, property, custody desires, alimony requirements and other matters to create an effective divorce strategy.  We will negotiate effectively and collaboratively when appropriate, but we are also prepared to get tough and argue aggressively in front of a judge when a situation requires it.  To learn more about how we can help you achieve a successful divorce, call us for a free initial consultation at 573-332-8585.

 

Client Testimonial

“I would highly recommend Birk law firm for any potential litigation. Kelvin was professional, responsive, and realistic. Kelvin doesn’t tell you what he thinks you want to hear, but tells you the reality of your situation and guides you to the best possible outcome. No matter your case, I would highly recommend Birk law firm. – Zachary GRAYSON” (Google Review)