Haefner Law Office, LLC provides experienced family law services in St. Louis and the surrounding Missouri areas. As a law firm focusing exclusively on family law, we understand the legal and personal intricacies of determining the best situational outcome during and after a divorce and other family law matters.
Family law is a changing field that commands complex protocol and genuine experience with an attorney who focuses exclusively on family law. Our team at Haefner Law Office, LLC, prides itself on understanding how to determine the best outcome for your family within this tumultuous family court landscape. Family law can be difficult to master, but it doesn’t have to be.
Haefner Law works closely with you at every step to leverage our experience and your resources to achieve the best possible resolution for you and your family.
Haefner Law Office, LLC owners Mark and Deanna Haefner were recent guests on the local morning talk show Show Me St. Louis to explain how Haefner Law’s comprehensive, flat-rate family law services are changing how families navigate family law proceedings. “Our clients know up front what [our services] are going to cost them,” explains Mark Haefner, “We take a very different approach […] it all comes down to flat rates.”
Family law encompasses many types of legal issues. As you probably know, these issues include matters involving family members such as married adults, their children, their assets, and even pets. Anyone in a relationship with another person can come under the purview of family law. If you’re concerned about your future as an unmarried partner or considering starting a family with your significant other—or both—then it’s time to learn more about family law and your state’s laws regarding these topics. Family law covers everything from estate planning to trusts, business partnerships, and non-profit organizations. Depending on where you live, the type of partnership you have may be governed by different laws.
Some of the most common areas involved in family law cases include:
As contested divorce attorneys in St. Louis, we understand how Missouri’s laws function regarding divorce and family law.
For many parents, the most emotionally challenging part of any family law case involves their children. Questions about where the children will live, how often they will see each parent, and who will make major decisions for them can create intense stress and fear. We understand how important these issues are and approach them with both legal precision and compassion.
In Missouri, child custody decisions are based on the “best interests of the child.” That typically involves both legal custody (who makes major decisions about education, health care, and religion) and physical custody (where the child lives and how parenting time is divided). A parenting plan is the document that spells out these details, including regular schedules, holidays, transportation, communication, and decision‑making procedures. A carefully drafted parenting plan can reduce conflict and provide stability for children and parents alike.
Child support is a separate but related issue. Missouri uses a guideline-based formula that considers income, health insurance costs, childcare expenses, and other factors to determine an appropriate support amount. However, the numbers you enter into that formula—and how you calculate them—can significantly affect the final result. We help you understand what the law expects, how the guidelines work, and what documentation you need, so your child support order is both accurate and enforceable.
If you are concerned about your future as an unmarried partner, considering starting a family with your significant other, or wondering how to protect your property and parental rights, it is important to understand how Missouri family law applies to your situation. Missouri does not recognize common-law marriage, for example, so unmarried couples usually need to be more proactive about documenting property ownership and parenting arrangements.
Depending on where you live in Missouri and the type of relationship you have, different statutes, court procedures, and local practices may apply. For instance, child custody cases in St. Louis County may look different from cases in more rural counties, simply because the courts and resources available are different.
That is one reason working with a Missouri-focused family law firm can be so valuable: we are familiar with the local system and can help you avoid unnecessary missteps.
Family law can also intersect with other areas of your life in ways that are not obvious at first. The way your divorce is structured can affect your taxes, your business, or your ability to relocate in the future. The details in your parenting plan can influence how smoothly co‑parenting works and how easily you can resolve disagreements later on. We help you think through these issues on the front end, instead of discovering them for the first time when a problem arises down the road.
Family law encompasses many different types of legal issues. These issues can involve married adults, former spouses, unmarried parents, children, extended family members, and even pets. If you share children, own property together, or have any legal or financial ties to another person, a family law issue may arise if you decide to separate or if there is a dispute about custody, support, or property.
Some of the most common types of family law matters we handle include:
Each case is unique, and the right strategy depends on your goals, the facts of your situation, and the applicable Missouri statutes and local rules. We take the time to understand these details and walk you through the options so you can decide how you want to move forward.
Family law is a broad set of laws that regulate everything from child custody to alimony to adoption. Family law is about more than just divorce. Family law covers everything from estate planning to wills and trusts and even Power of Attorney. Family law attorneys may work in various fields, including adoption, child custody, divorce, and property division. The attorneys might also work with non-profit organizations or government agencies to help parents and guardians with limited financial resources obtain government assistance with child care and health care costs.
Our clients can select the level of attorney involvement that fits their needs and budget while still receiving skilled representation from a team that focuses exclusively on Missouri family and divorce law. Whether you want full-service representation or limited help with specific parts of your case, we will give you clear information about what is included and what you can expect at each stage. Because our practice is dedicated to family law, we have the experience to anticipate common problems and help you avoid them whenever possible.
If you are facing a divorce, custody dispute, support issue, or any other family law challenge in Missouri, you do not have to face it alone. Our firm is here to listen, provide honest guidance, and work with you toward a resolution that supports your long‑term goals and your family’s well‑being.
Haefner is a Flat-Rate Divorce and Family law office serving people in St. Louis and the surrounding Missouri areas. We know the difficulties surrounding divorce and family law matters, and we want to make sure money is the last thing you are concerned about during the process.
Mark Haefner is an award-winning divorce an family law attorney in St. Louis, Missouri. Mark's work as an attorney has earned him some of the highest honors a lawyer can receive and his expertise and publications have been featured in a wide range of news and other media outlets.
