Scott A. Hamblin is an experienced family lawyer practicing all aspects of family law in Jefferson City and the surrounding mid-Missouri area. Here, Attorney Hamblin explains his approach to family law matters and offers an overview of some of the most common legal issues his family law firm handles.
If you are facing a family law problem such as a divorce, child custody dispute, child custody modification, child support dispute, spousal maintenance dispute, adoption, or guardianship, I can offer you experienced family legal guidance and determined advocacy.
Divorce can be especially difficult because it affects many areas of your life. The way divorce is handled can affect everything from your financial picture to the structure of your family.
I handle a wide range of family law matters for clients throughout Jefferson City and surrounding areas. The scope of my family law practice includes:
With more than two decades of experience handling family law matters, I am equipped to handle complex divorces involving highly valued assets and contentious disputes, including, but not limited to:
The legal issues in a family law case depend on the unique circumstances of the parties. Some of the most common family law matters include:
Divorce, including high-net-worth divorce, and child custody disputes, are the most difficult legal situations our clients face. All court cases are stressful, but divorce is emotional and frequently unpleasant for the person experiencing it. I am a compassionate but aggressive advocate for my clients. I utilize my compassion to assist clients with the stress and confusion that is common in divorce, division of marital assets, child custody, and child support cases. Clients often experience some anxiety or nervousness about family court. I work to provide reassurance to my clients.
A divorce can be a costly, disruptive family legal affair, but with experienced legal guidance, it can be resolved in an efficient and effective manner. I am financially conscientious, and I strive to spare my clients the expense and acrimony of a prolonged divorce whenever possible. As an experienced trial attorney, I am always prepared for litigation when necessary.
Many spouses purchase items during their marriage. Most of the items purchased in a marriage are marital property. Marital property is subject to division in a divorce proceeding. Sometimes, spouses agree about who is taking what asset. Other times, spouses will disagree about who should receive certain items of property. Whether spouses agree or disagree oftentimes determines how a divorce case will proceed toward a resolution.
Spouses will sometimes become pregnant during their marriage. In a divorce, disputes often arise as to where the children will live. How frequently and under what circumstances children will see their parents may be an issue. Parents may agree to a custody schedule. Other times, parents may disagree. Regardless of whether parents agree or disagree, there are legal issues that must be addressed to determine that the child custody issues comply with the law.
Child support considers the gross income and finances of a child’s parents to determine how much one parent will pay to the other parent to assist in raising a child. Child support is one of the most frequently litigated issues in a divorce. One parent may need child support to help raise a child. The other parent may want to avoid paying child support or avoid paying as much child support as the other parent may expect.
Maintenance is spousal support. Some people think of maintenance as alimony. Maintenance can be requested in both divorce cases and legal separations. Maintenance is complicated to both advocate and defend because of the numerous factors involved.
A legal separation does mean that spouses have stopped living together. A legal separation is obtained through a court process resulting in a judgment. A legal separation is different than a divorce because the parties will remain married. But, a legal separation still involves the division of marital assets and liabilities.
I assist clients in preparing prenuptial agreements prior to marriage and also postnuptial agreements. Prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements state how marital assets and debts will be divided in the event of a divorce. These documents eliminate disputes that later arise during a divorce.
I begin my representation in Family law cases by meeting or speaking with our clients. I do not necessarily lay out the strategy for resolving all issues during our first meeting. My initial goal is to obtain a better understanding of what is occurring, what needs to be addressed, and identifying the areas of family law on which I need to focus my efforts to best represent my client. I ask my clients to assist me with their case if they are willing. I have found that my clients are a significant asset and resource in obtaining information to assist me. I do not expect the client to know the law. However, my clients are the experts in their own lives and have valuable information and knowledge.
Once I have enough information to begin, I will begin by drafting documents for my client to review. Family law cases involve unique facts. I require my clients to review the documents that we draft to ensure the information is accurate. I then discuss strategy moving forward. I seek my client’s input to determine how the client wants to proceed.
In my role as a Cole County Family Lawyer, I have represented many clients with legal separation. A legal separation is not a situation where two spouses simply live in different residences. A legal separation essentially involves many of the same issues as a divorce. But, when the legal separation is concluded, the spouses are still married. Spouses in a legal separation will identify and divide their marital assets and liabilities. Sometimes, issues of child custody and child support may also be addressed. If spouses later change their minds and want to divorce, that also can be accomplished by returning to court. The complexity of a divorce after a legal separation often depends on whether the spouses reconciled after the legal separation or whether they continue to live separately and apart.
I have a number of responsibilities as a family law attorney. One of the most important responsibilities is providing legal advice. Legal advice includes explaining my client’s legal rights and obligations. Each Circuit Court has certain rules that apply to the practice of family law, especially when minor children are the subject of the court case. The judges will not allow cases to proceed if a person has not complied with the court’s local court rules. In some instances, a judge may even dismiss a case where a person has failed or refused to follow the court rules. A dismissal means that your case is over, and whatever temporary orders may have been entered are dissolved.
I also serve as an advocate for my Cole County family law clients. Advocacy is an important role. As an advocate, I assume and accept the responsibility for developing a strategy to help my client achieve their goals. Developing a strategy begins with understanding my client’s unique circumstances. This usually begins with an initial consultation.
Do you need legal representation for a family law matter, including child custody, divorce, legal separation, or any matter pertaining to family law? Contact my law office today to speak with a knowledgeable divorce and family law lawyer.
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A family law attorney provides legal guidance, advocacy, and representation in various legal matters that families might encounter, including divorce, child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, adoption, and guardianship. Family law matters often have an emotional component that makes them different from other legal matters, and an experienced family law lawyer knows how to balance compassion with strong legal representation to find the best resolution in each case.
Your family law attorney will help you understand the divorce process and what to expect while advocating for you to receive favorable terms in matters like property division and child custody. The divorce terms can significantly impact your financial stability and family structure, and opportunities to renegotiate after the divorce is final are very limited, so it’s important to work with knowledgeable legal professionals to protect your rights and interests.
An experienced family law attorney can also handle complex divorces involving high-value assets, such as corporate holdings, businesses, real estate holdings exceeding $1 million, retirement and investment accounts over $3 million, and other high-value assets.
Additionally, if you and your ex can agree on most or all of the terms of your divorce, a family law firm can assist you in completing an uncontested divorce, which allows many couples to save time and money while still ensuring a fair, efficient divorce process.
Yes, parents who were never married can still pursue a child custody or child support claim against their child’s other parent. Missouri courts recognize that both parents are responsible for caring for and financially supporting their children, regardless of the relationship between the parents. If a parentage or paternity case is required to determine the child’s biological father, a family law lawyer can assist you in this process. A family law attorney can also help ensure that any child custody or support agreements reached comply with the law.
Yes. A legal separation involves many of the same issues as a divorce but does not end the marriage. Our family law firm can guide you through the process of identifying and dividing marital assets and potentially addressing child custody and support issues.
Yes, if you need to request an order of protection, commonly known as a restraining order, to protect yourself or a child, a family law lawyer can help you.
If you are a parent being accused of abuse or harassment, having an order of protection entered against you could have serious consequences for your parental rights. As an attorney with experience in both criminal matters and family law cases, I am well-qualified to help clients resolve these matters favorably.
Most family law issues are resolved outside of a courtroom through negotiation or mediation. However, at times, it becomes necessary to proceed to a hearing or civil trial, in which the remaining issues are decided by a judge. If this occurs, having a family law lawyer in your corner with courtroom experience can be invaluable. A local family law attorney who is familiar with the courts and judges in your area can help you better understand what to expect in court and ensure compliance with court rules.
For more information or to initiate a consultation, contact our law office today to speak with a knowledgeable family law attorney.
A mother was seeking sole custody of her children following a divorce. The father refused to cooperate, leaving the client in a difficult situation as she felt as though her children didn’t have a voice. Scott recognized her need for an advocate and carefully listened to the children’s wishes, which conclusively helped the client achieve sole custody of her children and protected their best interests.
Scott assisted a defendant in a particularly challenging divorce case in which the other spouse was not cooperating. Scott was able to help the client avoid court through an aggressive legal approach to resolve all outstanding disagreements while maintaining the client’s long-term needs.
A grandparent sought visitation rights to his grandchild after the parent tried to block him. Scott takes grandparents’ rights very seriously, and so he devised a strategy to help the grandparent set a visitation schedule. Scott developed a strategy to show that the child’s best interests were fulfilled through the grandparent’s ability to visit the child, helping push the case towards a resolution in the client’s favor.
Scott was efficient and knew his stuff. Very thorough and committed to our family. He had worked on two different cases for us and did an excellent job. No regrets!
Mr. Hamblin succeeded in winning a child custody modification case for me that most lawyers I spoke with wouldn't even take on. Many told me that modifying a child custody agreement was nearly impossible. Due to the changes at my children's Father's house and the toll it was taking on their mental health, my children…
Scott is a very compassionate but honest man. I have known Scott for 10+ years. I met him while fostering children with Cole County Children's Division. When he became the adoption lawyer for Cole County Children's Division in 2007 my husband and I were one of the first to use him to become adoptive parents…
Scott is a great lawyer, will do what he says! He will work his tail off for you. It was a long 2 year divorce, but I am so glad he was representing me. Very fair and doesn't overcharge for his services. I can now say he is my friend, not only my attorney.
Scott did a great job handling our custody case. He fought for us every step of the way and got things done quickly. He even refunded over half of our retainer because he got the case handled quicker than expected. I would recommend him to anyone.
Scott Hamblin is a great lawyer. He has assisted me in my divorce and custody issues over the past three years. He is easy to work with and has always kept me informed/involved in my cases, as they progress.
If I ever again need any legal advice, I will ask Scott Hamblin every time. Scott was my divorce/child custody attorney. I was extremely happy with him. He cares about his clients and always called in person. He made the almost impossible come true for me! That's how great of an attorney he is. Thank…
He went above and beyond to get me all the help legally available in each situation, and he did so with a kind and calming demeanor. His efforts also included being logical about the use of my funds in these matters. I have never before met a lawyer who gives refunds if he does not…
Scott Hamblin was originally suggested to me for adoption, but I was so impressed I also used his services for future adoptions, name changes and all family law matters since meeting him.
We were forced to hire an attorney when my childrens’ absentee father decided that he suddenly wanted to file for joint custody. After my consultation we decided Mr. Hamblin was who we needed. He was straightforward about all of the possible outcomes, and what we could and couldn’t do. He knows the law very well,…
Scott represented me on a matter that was small, but very important to me. Scott was professional, honest and informative every step of the way. Even though my case was a small one, I never felt any less than his most important client whenever we met or had court appearances. I am absolutely certain that…
Scott was a great lawyer and turned into a friend. He does everything he says he will do, and he works his tail off for you. He would call me at night, and on weekends, not a lot of lawyers will do that. My divorce took over 2 years, I am so glad I switched…
Scott is a great attorney to have on your side. He has helped my family more than I could of ever expected. Thanks again. I would recommend Scott to anyone!
Mr. Hamblin was a step ahead of my every concern. A divorce can be so scary but to be honest I didn't find myself worrying over the process. He didn't miss a detail and gave me so much confidence in his advice. He went above and beyond my expectations. His understanding made me feel like…
Scott helped us with all 3 of our adoptions and it was amazingly painless, they did all the foot work for us and handled everything very professionally! We are so pleased and our family is complete!
Scott finalized an adoption and guardianship for us in 2016. He went above and beyond and made sure during and after it was done that we had the documents we needed. He also got are new birth certificates very timely.
In 2005, I looked for a lawyer that would help in a criminal case. I found Scott Hamblin. He helped with this matter and was always professional, respectful, and straight to the point. He was always prepared for court and on time. Again in 2012, I needed help for a child custody matter and I…
I have used Scott Hamblin’s services acting as power of attorney for my son who is a soldier deployed. Thanks to Mr. Hamblin, he ensured that we received visits with our granddaughter, who was only two weeks old when our son left to fight for our country. These visits allowed our son to communicate via…
I used Scott Hamblin’s services for a modification in custody. Mr. Hamblin was very pleasant to talk with and very informative. He was very up front with what it would cost and what we could expect. The most impressive part of our case was that Mr. Hamblin got right on it. Our issue was resolved…
Scott is always professional but always keeps you at ease. Scott is one of a few attorneys that know all of the adoption laws, and that makes us feel so relaxed and self assured that he will represent us and get the job done without any mistakes. When it comes time for the adoption date…
Scott is a very reputable attorney. He truly has compassion and great knowledge for the clients he serves. Scott was our attorney for our adoptions. We are very thankful for him!
Mr. Hamblin has been my lawyer for 12 years now. He was my lawyer for my divorce, which was not an easy “we agree on everything” divorce, it was a very hard and ugly divorce, I was very pleased with the outcome and he was able to get me what I was asking for. I…
Scott is such an easy person to talk with and can easily explain legal stuff in a layman's terms. Scott is dedicated, trustworthy and listens to everything in a case. Above all of this, Scott has a positive attitude and puts the customer first.
For accessible and experienced representation, contact attorney Scott Hamblin today.
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