Family Law Overview

Missouri Family Law Attorney

When overwhelming change occurs to your family, finding good legal help to work through the change can be difficult. Whether you are seeking a divorce, establishing paternity rights or making custody modifications, we can give you the legal support you need. At the Law Office of Henry Gerhardt, we have over 30 years of experience representing clients in family law matters.

Dissolutions: We are familiar with contested and uncontested divorce proceedings. At the Law Office of Henry Gerhardt, we present the complete picture to a judge to allow for resolution in a fair manner. With over 30 years of experience, we are familiar with the law and current Missouri Court of Appeals and Supreme Court opinions.

Paternity: Married and unmarried men and women custody rights. Filing for paternity can give fathers their visitation rights and mothers fair child support. These are based on Missouri Supreme Court Guidelines.

Guardianships for Adults and Minors: If a parent is unable, unwilling or unfit to care for a minor child, legal orders from probate court are needed to appoint a guardian that will make decisions for the child. These decisions include issues such as education and healthcare for minors and for adults over the age of consent who are unable to manage their financial affairs such as an autistic child.

Custody Modifications: Child custody can be changed temporarily or permanently to reflect changes in a parent's life. We work with clients to transfer legal custody to the parent that will have the child's best interest in mind.

Child Support Modifications: The Supreme Court provides the opportunity for child support to be increased or decreased based on changes in a job or pay. For example, if the person paying child support receives a raise, they may have to pay more, also a percentage of college expenses until age 21.

Spousal Support, Maintenance and Alimony: If you are getting divorced, the court may award one spouse a monthly allowance to be paid by the other spouse. Spousal maintenance is granted to accommodate a loss of income to the lower-earning spouse, based on need and ability to pay.

Prenuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements: Pre- and post-nuptial agreements are a great way to protect previously-earned assets when you are going into a marriage. With over 30 years of experience, we can make certain such contracts comply with the law and are enforceable by the court.

Adoptions:We work with clients who are seeking to adopt a child. We represent clients in many types of adoption, including private adoptions, grandparent adoptions, step-parent adoption, interstate adoptions, and recognition of foreign adoptions to obtain a Missouri birth certificate, foreign/international adoptions, adult adoptions and contested adoptions.

If you are interested in working with our Law Office, please contact us or call 636-946-7900 to schedule a courtesy no charge telephone appointment. Our office is approximately two blocks north of the Bass Pro Shopping Center of South 5th Street and is open from 8:30-5:30.

Law Office of Henry Gerhardt

721 South Fifth Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
Telephone: 636-946-7900 | Fax: 636-946-2832
Map and Directions

The Law Office of Henry Gerhardt is located in St. Charles, Missouri, and represents clients throughout the area, including the cities of St. Peters, O'Fallon, Lake St. Louis, Troy, Wentzville, Warrenton, St. Louis, Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, Earth City, Elsberry and Hermann as well as St. Charles County , Lincoln County , Warren County and St. Louis County.