204 W Linwood Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone 816-759-0207
Fax 816-759-0209

Family Law:  Serving at Your Side

We Solve Kansas City Family Law Problems: 

Guilt, pain, fear, uncertainty – the sea of emotions you experience when dealing with family issues can be crippling, but you don’t have to navigate these scary waters alone.  Nothing is more important than your family, and when your family is in trouble, you need a trusted advisor to protect your interests. You need a lawyer who will take the time to understand you and your family dynamics, who will provide you with all of your legal options and will make a common sense recommendation consistent with your goals.  At B.L. Harrison Law, LLC, we will partner with you to find the solutions that fit your family’s needs.     

Our Goals:

• To listen intently to your needs

• To minimize your stress throughout the litigation process

• To tailor a solution that fits your family’s needs

• To give you the tools to move forward to more productive family relationships

At B.L. Harrison Law, LLC, We Solve Kansas City Family Law Problems:

• Divorce or Dissolution of Marriage:  Divorce is never easy.  In fact, the emotional weight of this life-changing event can be staggering.  Even amicable separations can be emotionally taxing and protecting your interests is still a necessary consideration.   This is a decision that will affect your life as much as, if not more than your original decision to marry, especially if children are involved.  At a time like this, it is critical that you hire a qualified Kansas City divorce lawyer who has the experience and sensitivity to recognize specific issues in your casel, and tailor a plan to help you through it. 

• Same Sex Legal Issues:  Although same-sex divorce and other family law issues should be governed by the same laws as traditional family law issues, the language of Missouri statutes has not yet caught up with the evolving issues unique to same-sex family matters.  A governmental agency or employer’s refusal to recognize your rights as a spouse or parent can have significant detrimental consequences for you and your family.  That is why it is so important to have our experienced and dedicated Kansas City area attorneys to advocate for you.

• Collaborative Divorce:  Many couples are increasingly turning to collaborative divorce when their marriages end.  In collaborative divorce, each spouse hires a trained collaborative lawyer.  Spouses sit down together with their lawyers and talk through property, support, and child-related matters.  Often, spouses bring in additional professionals who can lend their perspectives and help the divorcing couple to find an agreeable resolution.  These additional professionals can include divorce coaches, financial neutrals and psychologists.  If issues cannot be resolved through collaboration and litigation becomes necessary, the current attorneys withdraw from the case and new attorneys must be hired before the matter can be taken to trial.  If the matter can be worked out through collaboration, the stress on the family can be reduced and the spouses can save attorney fees.     

• Child Custody Disputes:  Child custody battles are the most difficult and draining issues in a divorce.  Ensuring your child’s best interest and making every effort to protect them from the pain of divorce is our priority.  We understand both the legal and emotional complexity of the child custody process, and will tackle the issues with creativity and sensitivity.

• Child Support:  Raising a child is an expensive undertaking even as a couple.  When you are a single parent, it can sometimes seem overwhelming.  Whether you are the parent receiving child support or the parent providing it, having an attorney who understand that factors a court considers when calculating the child support amount is crucial.  Child support is Missouri law’s way to make sure that both parents remain responsible and reliable in the financial aspects of raising their child even after the divorce is final.  For more information about Missouri child support laws, check out Your Missouri Courts.

• Spousal Support (Maintenance):  Another complex and often extremely contentious issue is maintenance.  There is no set formula for awarding maintenance in Missouri, but rather the court evaluates a list of statutory factors when determining whether or not to award maintenance, in what amount and for what duration of time.    It is important to have the services of our experienced attorneys at B.L. Harrison Law, LLC, who have valuable insight into Missouri family law and its application to your divorce facts in the Kansas City area.

• Changes after a Divorce (Modification):  Modifications are sometimes necessary to accommodate a change in circumstances.  Your parenting plan or child support amount many no longer work for your family.  If your child’s best interest requires a modification to your original Judgment, call us and we will put our expertise to work for you.

• Grandparent Rights:  If you have been cut out of your grandchild’s life, you may be entitled to visitation.  It is not an automatic right, but we can evaluate your situation and provide you with your options.  We know how important it is to stay close to our loved ones, and we will pursue every avenue to secure your rights. 

• Conservatorships and Guardianships:  If an adult cannot or should not make decisions about his/her own personal affairs, the court can appoint a guardian for that person.  The court can also appoint a guardian for a child if his/her natural parents or custodian cannot or should not make decisions regarding the personal affairs of the child.  Limited guardianships are also available for specific situations.  A conservatorship is similar to a guardianship, but it involves a person’s ability to handle his/her own finances. If appointed as a conservator, there are very strict accounting requirements a conservator must follow.  A person in need can have either a guardian, a conservator, or both.  A person who is appointed as a guardian can also act as a conservator or two different people can fill those roles.   We can advise you of other options if you know of someone who needs a guardian or conservator but no one is willing to serve in that capacity for the person in need. 

• Step-Parent Adoption:  Blended families are the new normal, and step-parents play a very important role in their step-children’s lives.  While the bonds you form and the love you give are priceless gifts to your step-child, you actually have no legal right to be in their lives.  If something were to happen to your spouse, the children you love as your own could be ripped from your life.  Step-parent adoption is not always an option, but it is in certain circumstances.  We will evaluate your situation and advise you as to whether or not step-parent adoption will work for you.  When it is not an option, we can explore other solutions for your family.  Protect your family – call us.

• Paternity:  An administrative determination of paternity or an order of child support is not sufficient to protect your parental rights.  If you have a child born out of wedlock, you will need a judgment by a court of law to determine paternity, child support, custody, and division of parenting time.  Without a court order, you are left vulnerable to the whims of the other parent on all issues related to your child.  Even when you have a good relationship with the other parent and you are parenting well together, it is always best to have the relationships and parenting details legally formalized. It does not have to be an adversarial process, in fact, it is always in a child’s best interest when the parents use cooperation and consideration to parent their child together.  Nevertheless, when each party has a clear understanding of the expectations and obligations, it makes successful co-parenting much more likely.

We Also Serve as Family Law Mediators in Kansas City:  As your mediator, we will work with both you and your spouse to help you reach an agreement on your property, support and child related issues.  We will help you explore your options and help you see things from each other's point of view.  You can choose to meet with us as your mediator jointly or in a private session without having your ex present.     

We Serve the Family Law Needs of the Greater Kansas City Area Including:

Kansas City Missouri (KCMO), Independence, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Loch Lloyd, Harrisonville, Peculiar, Raymore, Belton, Grandview, Raytown, Parkville, Platte City, Smithville, Kearney, Liberty, Pleasant Hill, Riverside, Claycomo, Gladstone and North Kansas City (NKC).

© 2016 B.L Harrison Law, LLC, All Rights Reserved