Uncontested divorce: the couple agrees on most issues and are able to come to their own conclusion. Uncontested divorces are often quicker than contested divorce and likely won’t require a trial.
Child Support
Parents have a legal obligation to financially support their children until the age of majority, 18 or 21, or they could face significant penalties. While child support in Missouri is determined under a "Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations", every case is unique and will be settled based on a judge's order.
Child Custody and Visitation
A parent has the right to make decisions in regards to a child's health care, education, religion, and more. After a separation or divorce, parental rights extend to visitation and custody rights, which may need to be determined by the court. A parent's rights can be terminated by the court in cases of substance abuse, physical or other abuse, neglect, abandonment, or criminal record or voluntarily terminated by a father who has never established or claimed his paternity.
Adoption
Paternity
Guardianship
Lauren brings both tenacity and compassion to her practice which concentrates in the areas of family law and probate consisting of divorces, custody modifications, adoptions, Guardian ad Litem work, estate planning, and guardianships. Lauren most enjoys putting her legal analysis and courtroom skills to practice in helping her clients navigate difficult custody and related matters.
Spousal Support
Getting a divorce requires compromise on many issues including asset and debt division, adoption, child support and custody, alimony, among many other matters. Not all divorcing couples can agree on the terms of their divorce and many don't agree on the need for a divorce at all.
Legal Separation
Once divorce or legal separation paperwork has been filed, a parent may ask the court to order child support as well. If the parents are unmarried, paternity must be established first in order to protect each party's rights. Amidst an emotional and even stressful situation, it is imperative for parents to consult a family law attorney at our firm in St. Louis in order to work through child support issues.
Jessica knew she wanted to be an attorney since she was 15 years-old. Although Jessica has spent most of her career in criminal law, she discovered her passion for family law cases while representing clients as a solo practitioner and continues to focus on those specific areas while working at Coyne, Cundiff, & Hillemann, P.C.
DUI/DWI
In Missouri, traffic offenses are also known as strict-liability offenses, which mean that regardless of intent, the mere commission of the offense is enough to convict the defendant of the charge. With the help of an attorney at our firm, a person facing a DWI charge or traffic offense can seek the reduction or even dismissal of a charge completely.
Wrongful Death
At Coyne, Cundiff & Hillemann, P.C., we know that no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one. However, we hope that by winning compensation to cover costs incurred by such a significant loss that our clients will find a sense of peace, stability, and closure amidst their grieving. Our St. Charles County wrongful death lawyers have a well-earned reputation of successfully representing people who lost a loved one due to someone else's negligence, carelessness, or reckless conduct. We have obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients and can put our experience, knowledge, and skill to work for every case.
Traffic Violations
I have been using Pat Coyne, Brian Zink and Lorna Hubber for last 15 years. I have referred both friends and family. What I like most is they tell you what to expect through the whole process from criminal cases to family law and personal injury. If they tell you what they can do for you for your outcome, you can count on them and sometimes you get a better outcome then what was suggested. This is the only firm I will ever use as well as my family. If you use another firm you will be disappointed. My boyfriend got a speeding ticket and their rates were the lowest. And the court cost and fine was less than the speeding fine.
Sex Crimes
We utilize our recently reconstructed conference room with state-of-the-art video equipment for in-house focus groups, mock jury trials and video depositions. This allows us to have a great idea of what a jury wants to hear and how they are going to decide before we ever step in the courtroom. With this high level of preparation and personalized attention to each case, we hope that each of our clients feels comfortable and understands the legal processes involved in our defense.
Theft
Misdemeanors
While in law school, Jessica interned at the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office in Oklahoma City and was offered a job as an Assistant District Attorney following graduation. During her time as an Assistant District Attorney, Jessica prosecuted misdemeanors, felonies, child delinquent cases, abuse and neglect of children, and cases of domestic violence.
Drug Crimes
Assault
Murder
Criminal law is prosecuted and enforced at the state level and imposes tough penalties that increase for repeat offenders. According to Code Section 556.036, the statute of limitations for criminal charges varies based on the type of charge. A Class A felony such as murder has no statute of limitations, but other Class A felony crimes have 3 years. Sexual offenses involving a person under the age of 17 are under a 10-year statute of limitations. The statute of limitations for fraud is 1 to 3 years, misdemeanors 1 year, and minor infractions are classified under a 6-month statute of limitations.
Shoplifting
Kidnapping
The most emotionally difficult parts of a divorce for parents with children are determining child custody and visitation rights. Across the United States, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act has been enacted in order to discourage and criminalize a non-custodial parent from kidnapping a child and taking him or her across state lines. According to this law, custody orders are enforced no matter what state the child or children live in. Missouri child custody and visitation rights laws are based on determining what is in the best interests of the child.
Manslaughter
In the state of Missouri, misdemeanor crimes are distinguished from felony charges by the monetary value of property taken, the amount of drugs in a person's possession, or the seriousness of an injury or harm caused to another person. Misdemeanor crimes range from theft to the possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana, whereas felony crime charges include crimes such as fraud, rape, manslaughter, etc. Our state categorizes misdemeanors into Class A, Class B, and Class C categories and are punishable by a minimum of 15 days in jail and a fine of anywhere from $300 to $1000. Felonies are classified into Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D categories and are punishable by a minimum of one year in jail or prison and extensive fines. No matter what type of criminal charge a person is facing, it is incredibly important to retain an experienced and knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible to protect his or her rights and future.
Hit and Run
What should I do if I'm hit by an uninsured driver in Missouri? If you have been the victim of a hit and run, it is important that you report your accident to the authorities immediately so that they can begin the investigative work necessary for tracking down the responsible party. If you have been the victim of an accident with an uninsured driver, it is likely that your insurance company will help to cover the damages sustained by your person (but not the damages to your vehicle). This insurance coverage is known as Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) and is required by the state of Missouri. Have more questions about what to do? Contact our firm today! We're here to help.
If you were injured in the workplace due to unsafe conditions, it could be your right to collect workers' compensation. While you recover, you may need to take time off from work or get extensive medical treatment. This compensation can go toward covering expenses and wages lost to recovery time.
Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of lawsuits classified as "premises liability." Often, they are caused by slippery or sticky substances on the floor, but also could be caused by debris, broken or missing handrails, uneven steps, or ice.
Land Use and Zoning
Pat has been a Board of Director for the St. Charles County and O'Fallon, Missouri Chamber of Commerce. He was a planning and zoning commissioner in St. Charles County from 1998 to 2004.
Property Damage
While no amount of money can undo an accident or wrongful death, we work hard to recover compensation to cover costs such as property damage, property loss, loss of past and future income, medical bills, physical therapy costs, and funeral expenses to help the victim of the accident get back to living life as normally as possible. By retaining a knowledgeable attorney at our firm to help gather facts and evidence for a case and filing a case within the statute of limitations, our clients have a much better chance of winning the compensation that they are looking for.
Though countless numbers of injuries occur every year from mistakes or other circumstances, sometimes innocent people get caught in the crossfire when a negligent individuals make poor choices. If you are one such person who was injured by the actions of a reckless person, our St. Charles County personal injury lawyers believe that you should not have to pay for their mistake. Medical bills and lost wages can quickly put you in a dire situation. At Coyne, Cundiff and Hillemann, PC, we believe that the ones who caused this circumstance should be held responsible.
Medical Malpractice
A wrongful death claim is valid under circumstances such as medical malpractice, criminal behavior, exposure to hazardous substances or conditions at the person's place of work, a car accident, etc. In order for a wrongful death case to be successful in the state of Missouri, our lawyers must prove that the death was caused by another person's negligence or another person's direct intention to harm someone else and that the surviving family members are suffering monetary loss as a result of that person's death.
Auto Accidents
Social Security Disability
Dog Bites
Dog-bite statutes: Many states have enacted special statutes that specifically deal with dog bites and injuries caused by dogs. These laws establish liability without the owner being "at fault." Missouri enacted such a statute in 2009.
Slip and Fall Injury
The Missouri slip and fall injury, premises liability, property owner's negligence, or other personal injury legal information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney-client relationship. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee.
Steve is a partner at Coyne, Cundiff & Hillemann, P.C., where he concentrates on Family, Juvenile and Probate Law. Steve is a certified mediator in family law matters, and serves as Guardian ad Litem to protect the best interests of children involved in family court matters
In the state of Missouri, misdemeanor criminal charges have a one-year statute of limitations, personal injury claims must be filed within two years, and fraud and debt collection cases have a ten-year statute of limitations. As soon as there is a possibility of a claim, it is important to consult with a lawyer at our firm in order to determine the best legal steps to take. By contacting us quickly, we can get to work on the case as quickly as possible.