PMCW Law

Our law office at the Lake of the Ozarks  specializes in many practice areas. Juvenile law happens to be one of them. In this blog series, we will discuss 7 frequently asked questions regarding juvenile law. This week we will start with the first 4 things. 1. What is the difference between juvenile court and other courts? Juvenile and family courts deal with matters specific to family. In regard to juvenile matters, there are a variety of different sections that fall under this court including delinquency, child abuse, neglect, status, and termination of parental rights. 2. Can a juvenile be questioned by police and other law enforcement? Yes. When a juvenile is taken into custody, the juvenile officer and juvenile should be accorded all rights he or she would have as an adult. When a child is taken into judicial custody, he or she should be advised of his or her Miranda rights before questioning. The Miranda rights are: to remain silent. to have an attorney. ...

In an ideal world, all marriages would last forever. Unfortunately, in the real world, this only happens for approximately half of today’s married couples. The other half choose to end their marriages via divorce, annulment or legal separation. We have talked before about annulments, the unique situations wherein they may be applicable, http://pmcwlaw.blogspot.com/2017/02/what-is-annulment.html . Today, we are going to look specifically at divorce and legal separation. Though similar in many aspects, these two legal rulings have distinct differences as well. Our Lake of the Ozarks family attorneys are here to help you evaluate your options to determine which solution may be best for you and your situation. Divorce vs Legal Separation: The Similarities Divorce and legal separation both mark a legal change of a marital relationship. Couples who file for divorce and couples who obtain a legal separation must both arrange various end-of-relationship details, including (b...

In a perfect world, every child would have a safe, loving, nurturing home in which to grow up. Unfortunately, life is not always so idyllic for children growing up in today's world - for any number of different reasons, many children are displaced from their birth families. However, these children do not necessarily have to be raised in group homes or orphanages. Foster care may be another option. If you are considering fostering a child (or multiple children) or would simply like to learn more about the process, this article is for you. Keep reading to learn some important general information about the foster system in Missouri, courtesy of our family attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks . What Is Foster Care? Simply put, foster care is an arrangement wherein a couple or individual adult agrees to provide food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities to children who do not have parents or other legal guardians who can fulfill these responsibilities. Foster arrangements ...

The custody agreement is often one of the most emotionally charged (and in some cases highly contested) aspects of divorce. If both parents wish to remain actively involved in the children's lives, they probably feel very strongly about the decision the court makes. However, the court will care very little about the parents' strong opinions - as the court's primary goal is to find the arrangement that best provides for the interests of the children. This week, our divorce lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to look at some of the different types of custody arrangements the court may use. Physical Custody Physical custody is the most commonly thought of portion of a custody arrangement. When a parent is granted physical custody of the children, the children live with him/her for at least part of the time. If a parent receives sole physical custody, the children will likely spend a majority of their time with him/her and may have limited or supervised visits w...