The most important fact about every divorce case is that it is as unique as the divorcing parties. For many people, the breakup of their marriage is the worst time of their life. It’s a failure of a major commitment and the stress level is through the roof. When children are involved, it becomes even more painful. Vague phrases such as “equitable distribution” and “the child’s best interests” are intended as general guidelines, but divorcing couples seldom agree as to exactly what that means in their particular divorces.
The usual reason given for a divorce in Kansas is ‘incompatibility’. If one spouse asks for a divorce, the court is obligated to grant it. The only residency requirement for filing a divorce in Kansas is that the divorce case cannot be filed until one of the spouses has lived in the state for 60 days. The length of time that the divorce will take to complete varies widely. An uncontested divorce can be final in 3 months or less. If there are children involved and various contested issues, it may be several months before the case is heard.
People who have been involved in a common law marriage and wish to permanently separate need to be legally divorced. (This does not apply to people who have been living together, but did not tell people that they were married.) Property division and child custody will fall under the same guidelines as for legally married couples.
Gilby and Haynes Law Firm, LLP provides high quality legal representation to residents of the Kansas City area. Their practice focuses on family law, as well as on criminal and DUI/DWI cases. When representing clients in divorce cases, they believe in having clients play an active role in the planning and implementation of the case.
The attorneys, Adrian Gilby and Melanie Haynes, were both law enforcement officers prior to graduating from The University of Kansas School of Law. This gives them a unique insight into the legal system, a real value-add for their clients. They are members of the Kansas Bar Association and the Johnson County Bar Association. Anyone needing the services of an experienced divorce attorney in Kansas City should call this reputable firm for a free initial consultation.
