Missouri Divorce and Dissolution Resources: Know Your Next Step
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A Missouri divorce is filed in the Circuit Court, usually in the Family Court Division, and the paperwork you start with depends on whether you have minor children together and whether there is property to divide.
Missouri's core family statutes live in the Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 452 - Dissolution of Marriage. In Missouri, online filing is not open to a parent without a lawyer, so family papers are filed on paper with the clerk. The official sources below cover the petition documents, the statewide forms collection, and the court's own filing instructions.
Official Missouri divorce 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 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 official filing information (Missouri judicial branch): The court's own page explaining how documents are filed in Missouri and what a parent without a lawyer is allowed to do. https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=46542
Missouri financial affidavit and disclosure forms (courts.mo.gov): The official source for the financial disclosure paperwork most Missouri family cases ask both sides to complete. https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=46900
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
Verified official Missouri divorce documents
These official documents cover starting a divorce, responding to one, settling, and the final orders. Requirements vary by county, so confirm the packet with your clerk before filing.
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (CAFC001), form CAFC001 (Divorce / Dissolution), official document: https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=114396
Respondent's Answer to Petition for Dissolution (CAFC010), form CAFC010 (Divorce / Dissolution), official document: https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=114402
Judgment and Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (CAFC070), form CAFC070 (Final Judgment / Final Orders), official document: https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=114403
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
Where do I file for divorce in Missouri?
In the Circuit Court, usually in the Family Court Division that serves the county where you live. In Missouri, online filing is not open to a parent without a lawyer, so family papers are filed on paper with the clerk.
How much does it cost to file a family case in Missouri?
Dissolution filing fee: ~$133-$200. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver or indigency application; every state has a process for requesting one.
Do I need a lawyer to file a Missouri divorce?
No. Missouri publishes its family law forms for people representing themselves, and the self-help resources on this page exist for exactly that. A consultation still makes sense when there is a business, a pension, or a serious safety issue in the case.
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