When filing for divorce in Missouri, understanding which Missouri divorce forms you need and how to complete them properly ensures your case proceeds smoothly. The state of Missouri provides standardized forms for people representing themselves in family law matters, making it possible to handle uncontested divorce cases without hiring an attorney.
Missouri's Standardized Divorce Forms
The Missouri Supreme Court has approved specific forms that must be used by anyone representing themselves in dissolution of marriage cases. These standardized Missouri divorce forms ensure consistency across all counties while providing clear instructions for self-represented parties. The forms are available free of charge on the Missouri Courts website and are designed to be completed by people without legal training.
Every party not represented by legal counsel who participates in a family law case must use these approved forms. Your local court may require additional documents specific to your county, so checking with the circuit clerk's office where you're filing remains important before submitting your paperwork.
The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is the most important of all Missouri divorce forms because it officially starts your case. This form requires detailed information about you, your spouse, your marriage, and what orders you want the court to make.
You'll provide both spouses' full names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and employment information. The petition asks about your marriage date, where you married, and whether either spouse has been a Missouri resident for at least ninety days. You must state that your marriage is irretrievably broken with no reasonable likelihood that it can be saved.
The form requires information about any children born of the marriage, including names, ages, and current living arrangements. You'll indicate whether you're seeking custody and what type of custody arrangement you prefer. The petition also asks you to list your requests regarding property division, debt allocation, spousal maintenance, and other relief you want from the court.
Completing the Petition for Dissolution requires careful attention to detail. Mistakes or missing information can delay your case or cause the circuit clerk to reject your filing. Take time to review the instructions provided with the form and ensure every section is completed accurately before filing.
Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage
The Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage is a vital records document that provides basic statistical information about your divorce. This form requires less detail than the petition but must be filed along with your initial paperwork.
The certificate asks for both spouses' full names, including any previous married names, dates of birth, race, ethnicity, education levels, and the number of previous marriages. You'll provide information about any children born during the marriage and the date your marriage ended.
This form requires careful completion because the information becomes part of Missouri's vital statistics records. The Bureau of Vital Records uses this data to maintain divorce certificates that people can request in the future when they need proof of divorce for remarriage, Social Security benefits, or other official purposes.
Statement of Income and Expenses
The Statement of Income and Expenses provides detailed financial information that the court needs to make decisions about child support, spousal maintenance, and property division. This form requires documenting all sources of income and itemizing monthly expenses for yourself and your household.
Income sections include wages, self-employment earnings, rental income, retirement benefits, Social Security payments, unemployment compensation, and any other money you receive regularly. You must provide gross income before taxes and deductions, then show net income after taxes, insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and other withholdings.
The expense section requires listing monthly costs for housing, utilities, food, transportation, insurance, medical care, childcare, education, entertainment, and other regular expenditures. Be thorough and realistic when completing this section because the court uses this information to determine support obligations and your ability to meet financial needs post-divorce.
Both spouses must complete their own Statement of Income and Expenses. The court compares both forms to understand the complete financial picture of your family when making decisions about support and property division.
Statement of Property and Debt
The Statement of Property and Debt documents all assets and liabilities that must be addressed in your divorce. This comprehensive form requires listing every piece of property you and your spouse own, along with all debts either of you owes.
Property sections include real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investment accounts, business interests, household furnishings, collectibles, and any other assets of value. For each asset, you indicate the current value, whose name is on the title or account, and whether you consider it marital or separate property.
The debt section lists mortgages, vehicle loans, credit card balances, personal loans, student loans, medical bills, and other obligations. For each debt, you show the current balance, who signed for the debt, and whether you consider it a marital or separate obligation.
This form also includes your proposed division of property and debt. You indicate which spouse should receive each asset and which spouse should be responsible for each debt. This proposed division shows the court how you think assets and liabilities should be allocated between you and your spouse.
Parenting Plan for Cases with Children
When minor children are involved, the Parenting Plan becomes one of the most important Missouri divorce forms you'll complete. Missouri law requires detailed parenting plans that address physical custody, legal custody, decision-making responsibilities, and parenting time schedules.
The form requires outlining when children will live with each parent, including regular schedules, holidays, school breaks, and summer vacation arrangements. You must specify times and locations for exchanging children between parents and how you'll handle requests to temporarily modify the schedule.
Decision-making provisions address how parents will communicate about important matters and who makes final decisions about education, healthcare, extracurricular activities, religious upbringing, and other significant issues. The plan should specify whether you'll share joint legal custody with shared decision-making or whether one parent will have sole decision-making authority.
Financial provisions in the Parenting Plan address child support calculations, health insurance coverage, how uncovered medical expenses will be divided, and who pays for childcare and extracurricular activities. The plan must include procedures for resolving future disagreements about children without returning to court for every minor issue.
Creating a detailed, workable Parenting Plan requires thinking through many scenarios and being specific about expectations. Vague language leads to disputes later, so taking time to address details thoroughly prevents future conflicts.
Judgment and Decree of Dissolution of Marriage
The Judgment and Decree of Dissolution of Marriage is the final order that ends your marriage and incorporates all agreements or court decisions about your case. This form summarizes the court's orders regarding property division, debt allocation, custody, support, and any other issues addressed in your dissolution.
While this document is prepared early in the process, it isn't signed until your case concludes. When both spouses agree on all issues in an uncontested divorce, the Judgment and Decree reflect your settlement agreement. When disputes require court hearings, the judge completes this form based on decisions made after considering evidence and testimony.
The Judgment and Decree specifies the date your marriage ends, the names of both parties, and detailed orders about every aspect of your dissolution. These orders are legally enforceable, meaning both parties must follow them. Violations can result in contempt of court proceedings and penalties.
Filing Information Sheet
The Filing Information Sheet provides administrative information that the circuit clerk needs to process your case. This relatively simple form requires names of both parties, case type, whether you're filing with or without an attorney, and contact information for receiving notices about your case.
This form helps the court track your case through the system and ensures notices about hearings, deadlines, and other important matters reach you properly. Providing accurate contact information, including address, phone number, and email address, prevents missing critical information about your case.
Additional Required Documents
Beyond the core Missouri divorce forms, several other documents may be required depending on your circumstances. The Litigant Awareness Program completion certificate must be filed showing that you completed the required educational program about representing yourself in family law cases.
If you have minor children, you'll need a Parent Education Program completion certificate showing you attended an approved course about helping children adjust to divorce. Many counties require these certificates within forty-five days of filing or being served with divorce papers.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may submit a Motion and Affidavit in Support of Request to Proceed as a Poor Person requesting a fee waiver. This form requires detailed financial information demonstrating your inability to pay court costs.
County-Specific Forms
While Missouri has standardized forms for most divorce matters, some counties require additional local forms. The circuit clerk in the county where you're filing can tell you about any local requirements specific to that court.
St. Louis County, Jackson County, Greene County, and other larger jurisdictions sometimes have their own supplemental forms or local rules about how documents must be formatted and filed. Checking with your local court before filing prevents having your paperwork rejected for not meeting local requirements.
Completing Forms Accurately
Accuracy is essential when completing Missouri divorce forms. Mistakes can delay your case, result in unfavorable court orders, or require filing amended documents and paying additional fees. Take time to read instructions carefully before starting each form.
Use black ink when completing forms by hand, or type information directly into fillable PDF versions available online. Write or type clearly so the circuit clerk and judge can read your information easily. If a section doesn't apply to your situation, write "N/A" rather than leaving it blank so the court knows you didn't simply skip that question.
Double-check all names, dates, addresses, and numbers before filing. Social Security numbers, account numbers, and financial figures must be completely accurate. Having someone else review your completed forms catches errors you might miss when reviewing your own work.
Notarization Requirements
Several Missouri divorce forms require notarization before filing. The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Statement of Income and Expenses, and Statement of Property and Debt typically must be signed before a notary public.
Notarization verifies your identity and confirms you signed the document voluntarily. Bring valid photo identification when visiting a notary. Banks, credit unions, and many businesses offer notary services, often at no charge for customers. Some circuit clerk offices also provide notary services.
Never sign forms requiring notarization until you're in the notary's presence. The notary must watch you sign the document to properly notarize it. Pre-signing documents makes them invalid and requires starting over with new forms.
Filing Your Forms with the Circuit Clerk
Once all Missouri divorce forms are completed, signed, and notarized as required, you file them with the circuit clerk's office in the county where you or your spouse lives. Bring original documents plus copies. The clerk keeps the originals and returns stamped copies showing the filing date and assigned case number.
Filing fees vary by county but typically range from one hundred twenty-five to two hundred dollars. Ask about accepted payment methods before going to the courthouse. Most courts accept cash, money orders, or cashier's checks, but personal checks may not be allowed.
The circuit clerk reviews your paperwork to ensure you've included all required forms and that they're properly completed. If anything is missing or incorrect, the clerk will tell you what needs to be fixed. Correcting issues on the spot when possible prevents delays in getting your case filed.
Serving Forms on Your Spouse
After filing, you must provide copies of your Missouri divorce forms to your spouse through proper service of process. If your spouse voluntarily accepts the papers and signs an Entry of Appearance and Waiver of Service, formal service isn't necessary.
Otherwise, you arrange for the sheriff, process server, or other authorized person to hand-deliver the documents to your spouse. The person serving the papers completes an affidavit proving service was accomplished, which you then file with the court.
Proper service ensures your spouse receives notice of the divorce case and has opportunity to respond. Without proper service, the court cannot proceed with your case or make final orders.
Online Resources for Missouri Divorce Forms
The Missouri Courts website at courts.mo.gov provides free downloads of all approved forms for self-represented parties. The forms are available as fillable PDFs that can be completed on your computer before printing.
The website also provides detailed instructions for completing each form and step-by-step guides for filing for divorce without an attorney. Video tutorials explain the process and common questions people have when representing themselves in family law matters.
Many circuit clerk offices also post forms and local court rules on their county websites. These local resources provide information about county-specific requirements and procedures.
Getting Help with Forms
Even when representing yourself, you can get help completing Missouri divorce forms. Many local courts offer self-help centers staffed by trained volunteers who can answer questions about forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice, but they can explain how forms work and what information goes in each section.
Legal aid organizations provide free assistance to qualifying low-income individuals. They may help complete forms, review documents for accuracy, or provide limited representation for specific issues.
Some attorneys offer unbundled services where they help with specific tasks like reviewing completed forms rather than handling your entire case. This limited scope representation costs less than full representation while still providing professional guidance on important documents.