Christopher
You absolutely will not find a more professional attorney to represent you. His communication is refreshingly timely and the information Gerald provided was always thorough and tailored specifically to my needs. He’s a genuinely good guy and cares about his clients. The man knows his craft and will treat you like gold. You simply cannot go wrong with him.
For nearly fifteen years, Linnenbringer Law has dominated the flat-fee divorce
market in Missouri, offering professional, affordable uncontested divorce representation. Using a
systematic, efficient approach to amicable divorce cases, Linnenbringer Law is able to process cases
quickly and in high volume, all while maintaining exceptional customer service and the highest quality
of work.
If you and your spouse are able to come to the same conclusion that just because a marriage ends in
divorce, that does not mean you have to abandon rationality, then consider saving your money, time, and
energy by having your divorce handled by an attorney who has made a living by providing roughly 4,000
couples throughout Missouri with professional and personalized uncontested divorce services. This site
has an abundance of information on Missouri uncontested divorce, so please take your time and look
around. Of course, if you have any questions at all, I am always a phone call, text message, or email
away.
I'm busy, you're busy, we're all busy. You want to know what you want to know, but you may not have time to read through all of the rich uncontested divorce content I have painstakingly penned here. Well, you are in luck, because here we have Just the Essentials. After doing a few thousand uncontested divorces, I have a good idea of what the most common concerns and questions potential clients have as they determine whether the service fits their needs.
An uncontested divorce is a dissolution of marriage case in which both parties are in complete agreement as to every aspect of their divorce, including asset distribution, debt allocation, maintenance, and, if children are involved, custody and support. You may have also heard terminology like non-contested divorce, amicable divorce, or cooperative divorce used when describing this type of dissolution case, all of which are synonymous with my preferred wording, uncontested divorce. To aid in determining whether your divorce is uncontested, I have compiled a bullet point rundown of the issues needing to be resolved in an uncontested divorce, as well as a comprehensive uncontested divorce FAQ, which aims to answer some of the most common questions that I come across.
Easily under two months, some as little as 31 days. I can't control how long it takes the spouses to review the paperwork I have prepared to facilitate their divorce, of course, but once I have all of the signed pleadings in my office, along with the filing fee, you'll be about 45 days away from being divorced. I have completed quite a few "easy" cases (divorces with no children and no property) in less than 35 days from the date I am hired, but the possibility of that speedy of a turnaround has been lessened with the implementation of electronic filing. My page dedicated to the uncontested divorce process in Missouri breaks down in more detail the steps involved in completing an uncontested divorce, as well as the time associated with each step.
Linnenbringer Law's goal is to provide high-quality, professional uncontested divorce services at rates that are affordable to almost anyone. Representation for an uncontested divorce without children starts at $750. If children are involved, the fee starts at $950. Either way, there is also a filing fee (usually $150) that will be paid at a later date, when we are ready to file the case. For more information, please visit my page dedicated to the costs involved with a Missouri uncontested divorce.
Anywhere, really, so long as one party is a resident of Missouri. If either you or your spouse have been a Missouri resident for at least ninety days, you can take advantage of my uncontested divorce service. My office is located in St. Louis, but I've helped clients from across the world facilitate their uncontested divorce quickly and at an affordable flat rate, without ever having to step foot inside my office or a courtroom. My most popular service areas are Kansas City, Springfield, and, of course, St. Louis and its surrounding counties, like St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin. Quick response times and clear, step-by-step instruction makes for a positive client experience, regardless of how far away the client may be. This is also helpful for active duty military who are currently serving overseas.
Good question, and it's a question I hope to help you answer as you read through this site. My name is Gerald Linnenbringer and I'm a St. Louis divorce lawyer. You'll see me all over this site, often in avatar form, and for good reason, as I coded much of it from scratch, wrote all of the content, and even created some of the cool graphics. You won't see any stock photos of lawyers pontificating in front of fireplaces or hanging out in law libraries, and there aren't any claims of how aggressive I may or may not be. Instead, the focus of my site is to build rapport while discussing directly with you the process of uncontested divorce, as well as the benefits of handling your amicable divorce through my flat fee service. This one-to-one interaction is much like the representation you will receive should you choose to hire me for your divorce, as I personally handle every inquiry from every client and prospective client, from start to finish.
. . .
see if my divorce uncontested.
For that, I'd head straight to the Uncontested Divorce
Checklists. They provide you with a way to determine which issues you and your spouse agree
on, and which still need to be discussed further.
. . . get more
information.
Great, I do appreciate a well researched client. My Missouri Uncontested Divorce
Frequently Asked Questions page not only has a catchy title that rolls off the tongue, it's
also filled to the brim with helpful uncontested divorce info.
. . .
learn about this Gerald guy.
Before hiring an attorney, make sure you know a
little about them. You can find a little background on me over on the Attorney Profile page, and you can read what
others think about me on the page dedicated to Client Reviews.
. . . get
started, immediately.
If you've got all the information you need, then jump
straight to the getting started page of the site. Whether you use the Online Submission or the Intake Packet, you'll be well on your
way to the greener grass.
. . . do
everything online.
Well, you are in luck, because Linnenbringer Law has an Online Uncontested Divorce
service. No office visits, no court appearances, quick and easy divorce, as convenient as I can
possibly make it.
. .
. find your office.
All of my contact information, as well as my hours of
operation, can be found on the Hours & Contact page. Please remember, all in office visits are by
appointment only, as I'm often out in court, or meeting with a client.
How does Linnenbringer Law make uncontested divorce representation so affordable? Since the time demanded of contested divorces generally does not allow for a high volume of cases, many traditional divorce lawyers may handle only a few cases at a time. On the other hand, I complete hundreds of uncontested divorces each year for residents across Missouri.
Over the course of handling over 3,000 uncontested divorces since 2008, I have streamlined the process and created efficiencies that allow me to produce high-quality, comprehensive uncontested divorce pleadings, all drafted with the detail and specificity necessary to eliminate ambiguity and reduce confusion. These pleadings are professionally drafted, but also effectively organized, and written in real-world, easy to understand terminology, to ensure that both parties are confident that the documents reflect their agreement. The seamless integration of technology, including email, file sharing, texting, or whatever may be required to effectively handle your particular situation, allows for the quick and consistent communication necessary for a service oriented, systematic, and stress free process.
A common complaint for litigants going through a contested divorce is that they often feel in the dark as to the status of their case, and completely powerless in dictating the speed in which the case is resolved. In short, they feel out of control, helplessly plodding along until the attorneys eventually (often after months of in-court settlement conferences) settle the case.
This experience will be the opposite of what it is like going through an uncontested divorce with Linnenbringer Law. Using a step-by-step, systematic approach for uncontested cases breaks the process down, allowing for better understanding of the procedure through the use of clear objectives for each step.
The cornerstone and essential element of my uncontested divorce service is not something often associated with legal work, and that is efficiency. I move cases quickly using a systematic approach that allows me to produce high-quality, accurate, and personalized dissolution pleadings at an affordable flat rate. This uncommon approach to divorce representation eliminates much of the financial and emotional trauma associated with going through a divorce.
As most know or have heard, a traditional divorce case can drag on for months, if not years, and can be extremely expensive. If however, you and your spouse can agree on all terms of your divorce, you can use my uncontested divorce service to promptly and professional facilitate your dissolution of marriage. The reasonable flat-fees I offer provide parties with a financial incentive to reach a fair and amicable resolution to their marriage.
3,000 and counting
Experience matters when it comes to effectively handling uncontested divorces. Since 2008, I have successfully handled over 3,000 uncontested divorces. Many, if not most, attorneys are capable of plodding an uncontested divorce through the system, but far fewer have built a practice on being able to do it faster and better than the competition.
$800 or so
The average cost for an uncontested divorce is about eight hundred dollars, with most uncontested cases being right around $750 or $950, depending on whether children are involved. There is also a filing fee, which is usually about $150.
45 days, give or take
Most cases are final within 45 days or so of me receiving payment and the information I need to complete your uncontested divorce pleadings. This varies a bit, unfortunately, as some of the timeline is out of my control, like how long it takes the Judge to sign off on everything after it is submitted.
Two or Three days
If there is one thing that sets my service apart from all other uncontested divorce providers, it is the speed in which I prepare high-quality pleadings. I get to work immediately upon being hired, and I work as efficiently as possible.
5 out of 5
I'm throwing a perfect game when it comes to online reviews from past uncontested divorce clients. Unfortunately, I now live in constant fear of receiving a four out of five star rating and being forced to update this five star graphic that I made.
Zero
In the ten plus years my practice has been open, I have had zero Better Business Bureau grievances, zero fee disputes, and zero Bar complaints. Treating clients with dignity and respect, taking phone calls, and responding to emails in a timely fashion is the Linnenbringer Law way.
About 25
The legality of same-sex marriages in Missouri means that all citizens now have an equal right to take advantage of the fast and affordable uncontested divorce services provided by Linnenbringer Law. Of course, the infancy of same-sex marriages has kept the number of same-sex divorces low, so far, but if you're looking for an attorney who has handled a few same-sex uncontested divorces, look no further.
Seven
Having a large family doesn't mean that you can't take advantage of Linnenbringer Law's uncontested divorce service. I've handled uncontested divorces for families of all sizes, with the largest consisting of seven children. Even with seven children, the client's flat fee was no different than it would have been had they had one child, and their divorce was completed just as quickly. Children are expensive, but an uncontested divorce can help reduce the financial strain that a dissolution of marriage can put on a family.
Four
There have even been a number of celebrities (or, at the very least, local St. Louis personalities) that have taken advantage of the fast and affordable way in which I am able to complete uncontested divorces. Strict confidentiality rules prevent me from unveiling the names of these heavyweight stars, but take my word for it, you would be impressed.
Divorce Analytics
Everyone loves analytics and statistics. That being the case, here is some data compiled from the thousands of uncontested divorce cases I have handled:
This site is chock full of uncontested divorce information. So much so that, taken as a whole, it may seem overwhelming. That being the case, I have broken the site down into three topical sections. Each section addresses a broad topic, with the individual pages within touching on the specifics. You'll see what I mean, take a look.
Attorney Profile. My name is Gerald, and I hope to one day be your attorney for your uncontested divorce case. On the lawyer profile page you can peruse my resume, learn a little about me on a personal level, and discover my practice's rich history. From there, you can read what - in my opinion - sets Linnenbringer Law apart from the competition.
Client Testimonials. Making your divorce as quick, easy, and painless as possible is my job, and I take that job seriously. A positive client experience is at the heart of Linnenbringer Law's business philosophy, which I hope is reflected in the testimonials left by my past clients on various internet sites. Who you hire for your ucnontested divorce matters. Please take a moment to read a few of the 100% genuine testimonials and reviews from past uncontested divorce clients that I have compiled here.
Dare to Compare. Are you thinking of proceeding with a self-represented pro-se divorce? Or maybe you're ready to spend thousands on a two (or more) attorney contested case? Before jumping into anything, please take a moment to review the Dare to Compare page. You have choices when it comes to how you handle your divorce. Let me break down the costs and benefits of each option for you, while, hopefully, presenting compelling evidence that proceeding with your case through Linnenbringer Law's uncontested divorce service is a winning decision.
Uncontested Divorce Checklists. You can only use my flat-fee uncontested divorce service if your case is truly uncontested. In general, this means the spouses agree on every aspect of the divorce, including property division and debt allocation (i.e, who takes what and who pays what), as well as spousal support / maintenance (i.e., who pays who), and, if children are involved, child custody and child support. Take a look at the Uncontested Divorce Checklists page for a more comprehensive look at what details will need to be worked out prior to commencing with this service.
Frequently Asked Questions. Considered by many to be the crown jewel of the site, Linnenbringer Law's Missouri Uncontested Divorce FAQ provides straight-forward, down-to-earth, and easy to understand answers to some of the most common uncontested divorce questions. From property division, to spousal support, to child custody and support, this FAQ has it all. New for 2019, it even has a section aimed to help make the unrepresented spouse more comfortable in proceeding with a one-attorney uncontested divorce.
Divorce by Publication. Don't let a missing spouse keep you from getting divorced. Linnenbringer Law has helped hundreds of clients divorce spouses who have gone MIA. A divorce by publication isn't as fast as an uncontested divorce where both spouses are cooperating, of course, and there are certain limitations as to what you can request when using service by publication, but it can still be completed in a relatively quick fashion, and at an affordable rate. The divorce by publication page has a full rundown of the timeline and expenses associated with a divorce by publication, as well as what you can and can't ask the court for in such a case.
Uncontested Divorce Process. Starting a divorce case - even an uncontested one - can leave you feeling puzzled as to what to expect. Linnenbringer Law's step-by-step, highly systematic approach, helps ensure that you will not have this experience. A well-guided client makes the process smoother and the client's experience better. Find out what to expect, and the time involved with each step, by taking a look at Linnenbringer Law's rundown of the uncontested divorce process.
Fees & Expenses. Linnenbringer Law strives to make your uncontested divorce as affordable as possible. On the Fees and Expenses page, you can find a rundown of the flat-rate attorney fees I charge, as well as information regarding the filing fee and other possible expenses you may encounter with an uncontested divorce (specifically, deed work and Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, if applicable).
Getting Started. Ready to go? I'm ready too. This page will provide you a complete rundown of how to initiate your uncontested divorce with Linnenbringer Law. Options include an Online Uncontested Divorce submission, as well as an Uncontested Divorce Intake Packet.
If you're looking for information on Missouri uncontested divorce, but don't have time to peruse the voluminous content found in the Missouri Uncontested Divorce FAQ, you can find answers to some of the most common questions, right here.
How much does an uncontested divorce cost?
You will be responsible for paying an attorney fee, as well as a filing fee. Attorney fees vary depending on whether children are involved and the complexity of your property and debt distribution, but will generally fall in the $750 to $950 range. The filing fee will usually be $145.
What is the lawyer's role in an uncontested divorce?
Simply put, my role in your uncontested divorce case is to get you divorced along the terms previously agreed upon by you and your spouse. I don't help work the terms out, and I don't provide advice as to whether the terms are favorable to one party or the other. I will, however, point out when the parties have agreed to something that is impractical to live with or impossible to enforce, or if I believe a particular part of your plan could raise a red flag with the Judge.
Should you use do-it-yourself forms?
On my Dare to Compare page, you will see why I think do-it-yourself divorce forms are a bad idea. The pleadings required for self-represented divorces are time-consuming, confusing, and, in my opinion, they inadequately protect the interests of both parties. On top of that, when filing pro-se, at least one court appearance will be required. When such an easy, reliable, and affordable alternative - like my uncontested divorce service - is available, there really isn't a good reason not to have your uncontested divorce handled by a seasoned professional.
Do you have to live in St. Louis to use this service?
No, you don't even have to live in the United States. In order to file your divorce in Missouri, I need one party - either you or your spouse - to be a resident of the state. Even if your physical location precludes you from visiting my office, that doesn't prevent us from handling your uncontested divorce quickly and professionally through email, mail, and telephone correspondence.
Will you have to go to court?
Almost certainly, no. I have not had the parties to an uncontested case be required to appear in court in four years. I appear in court, of course, in order to file the case and then later to finalize it, but a court appearance is almost certainly not required by either spouse.
What payment methods are available?
Pretty much anything. Checks, money orders, and cash are fine, of course, and I take all major credit/debit cards. Payment can be made in-person at my office (by appointment only), over the phone, or online, through a secure payment link that I can email to you after we have discussed your case and you have received a price quote. To better manage linking incoming payments to the particular case, you will not find a link on my website to make payments, instead, please email me.
How long is Missouri's waiting period?
Missouri's waiting period is thirty days, which, it's worth noting, is one of the shortest waiting periods in the country. The waiting period begins when the case is filed, and ends after 30 days have passed. This is calendar days, including weekends and holidays. So if your case is filed with the court on August 1st, for example, the first possible day that the final Judgment could be submitted to the Judge would be August 31st. From there, it's usually about a 5-10 day wait for the Judge to sign off, and for the clerk to update the system with that news.
Where is the same-sex divorce information?
So far as pricing and procedure are concerned, a same-sex uncontested divorce is no different than any other uncontested divorce. Likewise, the information and analysis found on my webpage applies to all uncontested divorces, same-sex or not. The gender of the parties is not a factor when determining what the pricing will be for a prospective client's uncontested divorce.
If you think you may have an uncontested divorce, but you're not quite sure exactly what all needs to be ironed out in order to confirm that is the case, then my Uncontested Divorce Checklists are a good place to start. Here's a small sample of the issues that need to be resolved in order to continue on with Linnenbringer Law's flat-fee uncontested divorce service. Make sure to check out the checklist in its entirety for a deeper dive into the issues needing to be resolved in order for your divorce to be considered uncontested.
If you're going to use Linnenbringer Law's uncontested divorce service, you and your spouse have to agree to divorce. In other words, your spouse must agree to sign off on the paperwork necessary to facilitate the divorce, which will reflect the terms you and your spouse have already agreed upon. You may have nothing to dispute, and nothing to fight about, but if your spouse is not willing to cooperate in order to get the divorce handled, then your divorce is not eligible for my flat-fee uncontested divorce service.
In order for your divorce to be uncontested, you and your spouse need to agree on every aspect of your divorce, including who will take what assets, and who will pay what debts. This includes cars, houses, boats, planes, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investments, and anything else you can think of. If you own it or owe it, and you want to proceed with an uncontested divorce, then you need to figure out which party gets it or pays it.
Parties to an uncontested divorce will need to have an agreement regarding spousal support. While it is true that an overwhelmingly large percentage of my uncontested divorce cases do not involve a maintenance obligation, that does not mean it isn't appropriate in some cases. If maintenance is appropriate for your case, you and your spouse will need to agree on how much of the monthly maintenance payment will be paid, and for how long that obligation shall last.
Divorces that involve children require that a parenting plan be filed with the court. That parenting parenting plan will outline, among other things, child custody and visitation. It will contain an exchange schedule, which controls when each parent takes custody of the children. The exchange schedule details who will provide transportation to each exchange, what time the exchange is to occur, and where the exchange occurs. It is fairly meticulous and specific, but for good reason, as those details reduce ambiguity, which reduces the likelihood you end up back in court. All of the details required by the parenting plan must be agreed upon in advance, for the parties to use my uncontested divorce service.
Your options for child support are three-fold: (1) Someone pays the Form 14 Missouri child support calculator amount; (2) Someone pays an amount that deviates from the Form 14 by agreement (in other words, you and your spouse come up with your own child support amount); or (3) No one pays child support. Whatever you and your spouse agree to, there must be an agreement as to how much child support will be paid, as well as who will pay it, of course, in order to proceed with an uncontested divorce. You and your spouse will also need to have an agreement as to a few other financial details surrounding the children, which are explained in the full uncontested divorce checklists.
The spouses to an uncontested divorce must be agreeable as to the level of involvement the lawyer will have in the case. An uncontested divorce attorney does not investigate claims, resolve disputes, or act as a mediator. The representation provided to the Petitioner / client is of limited scope. I won't conspire with the client to pull one over on their spouse, and I will not lie to the client's spouse to further their cause. I'm as neutral and robotic in this process as possible. I'm paid to look for issues the parties may have in their agreement, prepare high-quality pleadings, and to move the case through the courts. I won't be looking for hidden assets, discussing strategy, or providing legal analysis of which party is getting too much, or too little, in the divorce.
COMING SOON!
Or at least relatively soon.
I'm doing the best I can here.