Missouri Child Custody and Parenting Time Resources: Walk In Prepared
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Custody in Missouri is decided in the Circuit Court, usually in the Family Court Division. Most states split the question in two: who makes the big decisions for the child, and what the day to day schedule looks like. Both usually end up written into one order or parenting plan the judge approves.
The wording differs from state to state, so read the official Missouri documents below rather than assuming a term you heard elsewhere means the same thing here. Courts decide these cases on the best interests of the child, and the official forms are written to collect the facts a judge needs.
Official Missouri custody resources
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Missouri family law forms (official index) (Missouri judicial branch): The official statewide collection of Missouri family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=46735
Missouri court self-help resources (Missouri courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Missouri family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=704
Missouri mediation and dispute resolution (Missouri judicial branch): Official information on mediation and other ways to settle a Missouri family case without a trial. https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=524
Missouri eFiling System (Missouri Courts): Missouri's eFiling System is only open to licensed attorneys. If you do not have a lawyer you file family court papers on paper with your circuit clerk, though a few circuits let you submit documents by email, so ask your local clerk. https://www.courts.mo.gov/ecf/logon.do
Missouri rules of procedure (Missouri judicial branch): The court rules that control deadlines, service, and how family cases move in Missouri. https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf
Verified official Missouri custody documents
These official documents cover asking for custody, setting a schedule, and putting a parenting plan in front of the judge.
Parenting Plan Part B (CAFC501), form CAFC501 (Child Custody / Parenting), official document: https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=147795
Official link data for Missouri was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Which court hears family cases in Missouri?
Family cases in Missouri are heard in the Circuit Court, usually in the Family Court Division. The Circuit Court hears divorce and custody; larger circuits have a Family Court division. Missouri's 114 counties (plus St. Louis City) are grouped into 46 judicial circuits.
Does Missouri favor one parent over the other?
Custody decisions are made on the best interests of the child, not on which parent asks first. Judges look at things like stability, each parent's involvement, the child's needs, and whether a parent supports the child's relationship with the other parent. Read the official Missouri forms and self-help material for the factors this state asks about.
Do we have to go to mediation first?
Many courts send custody disputes to mediation before a hearing, and some require it. The official Missouri mediation page linked above explains what this state offers and when it applies.
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