Title XXX — DOMESTIC RELATIONS

455.003. Rape crisis centers, confidentiality of information — employee competency to testify — rape crisis center defined. — 1. A rape crisis center shall: (1) Require persons employed by or volunteering services to the rape crisis center to maintain confidentiality of any infor…

455.004. Juvenile court records, confidentiality, when. — In all proceedings pursuant to subsection 3 of section 455.035 or subsection 4 of section 455.513, the records of the juvenile court shall be kept confidential and may be open to inspection without a court order only to: (…

455.005. Social Security number of respondent included in full orders of protection. — All full orders of protection issued pursuant to this chapter shall include the Social Security number of the respondent, if known. ­­-------- (L. 2000 H.B. 1677, et al. § 455.550)

455.007. Mootness doctrine, public interest exception to apply upon expiration of the order. — Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the public interest exception to the mootness doctrine shall apply to an appeal of a full order of protection which has expir…

455.010. Definitions. — As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall mean: (1) "Abuse", includes but is not limited to the occurrence of any of the following acts, attempts or threats against a person who may be protected purs…

455.015. Venue. — The petition shall be filed in the county where the petitioner resides, where the alleged incident of domestic violence occurred, or where the respondent may be served. ­­-------- (L. 1980 S.B. 524 § 1, A.L. 2013 H.B. 215)

455.020. Relief may be sought — order of protection effective, where. — 1. Any person who has been subject to domestic violence by a present or former family or household member, or who has been the victim of stalking or sexual assault, may seek relief under sections 455.010 to 4…

455.025. Duties of circuit clerks — rules, forms, instructions. — Except as provided under section 455.030, clerks under the supervision of a circuit clerk shall explain to litigants not represented by counsel the procedures for filing all forms and pleadings necessary for the pr…

455.027. No filing fee, court cost, or bond shall be required. — No filing fees, court costs, or bond shall be assessed to the petitioner in an action commenced pursuant to sections 455.010 to 455.090. ­­-------- (L. 1989 S.B. 420, A.L. 2002 H.B. 1814, A.L. 2003 H.B. 613, A.L. 20…

455.030. Filings — certain information not required from petitioner, exception — supreme court shall provide for filing of petitions on holidays, evenings and weekends. — 1. When the court is unavailable after business hours or on holidays or weekends, a verified petition for pro…

455.032. Protection order, restraining respondent from abuse if petitioner is permanently or temporarily in state — evidence admissible of prior abuse in or out of state. — In addition to any other jurisdictional grounds provided by law, a court shall have jurisdiction to enter a…

455.035. Protection orders — ex parte. — 1. Upon the filing of a verified petition pursuant to sections 455.010 to 455.085 and for good cause shown in the petition, the court may immediately issue an ex parte order of protection. An immediate and present danger of domestic violen…

455.038. Ex parte orders, notification — circuit clerks to provide information on. — Every circuit clerk shall be responsible for providing information to individuals petitioning for ex parte orders of protection regarding notification of service of these orders of protection. Su…

455.040. Hearings, when — duration of orders, renewal, requirements — copies of orders to be given, validity — duties of law enforcement agency — information entered in MULES — objection, personally served. — 1. (1) Not later than fifteen days after the filing of a petition that …

455.045. Temporary relief available — ex parte orders. — Any ex parte order of protection granted pursuant to sections 455.010 to 455.085 shall be to protect the petitioner from domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault and may include: (1) Restraining the respondent from co…

455.050. Full or ex parte order of protection, abuse, stalking, or sexual assault, contents — relief available — court may order transfer billing responsibility of wireless telephone, when, procedure. — 1. Any full or ex parte order of protection granted pursuant to sections 455.…

455.055. Assignment of wages. — The court may order the person obligated to pay support or maintenance to make an assignment of a part of his periodic earnings or other income to the person entitled to receive the payments in accordance with chapter 452. ­­-------- (L. 1980 S.B. …

455.060. Modification of orders, when — termination, when — appeal — custody of children, may not be changed, when. — 1. After notice and hearing, the court may modify an order of protection at any time, upon subsequent motion filed by the guardian ad litem, the court-appointed s…

455.065. Subsequent modification of orders. — 1. Provisions of any order respecting maintenance or support may be modified only as to installments occurring subsequent to the motion for modification and only upon a showing of changed circumstances so substantial and continuing as…

455.067. Foreign order of protection to be given full faith and credit — registration of order, content, procedure. — 1. Any order of protection issued by any other state, tribe, territory or possession of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Col…

455.070. Proceedings independent of others. — All proceedings under sections 455.010 to 455.085 are independent of any proceedings for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, separate maintenance and other actions between the parties and are in addition to any other available …

455.073. Supreme court to develop and adopt uniform forms for petitions and orders of protection, content — forms to be provided to each circuit clerk. — 1. By July 1, 1996, the supreme court of the state of Missouri shall: (1) Develop and adopt uniform forms for petitions and or…

455.075. Attorney's fees, cost. — The court may order a party to pay a reasonable amount to the other party for attorney's fees incurred prior to the commencement of the proceeding, throughout the proceeding, and after entry of judgment. The court shall consider all relevant fact…

455.080. Law enforcement agencies response to alleged incidents of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault — factors indicating need for immediate response — establishment of crisis team — transportation of abused party to medical treatment or shelter. — 1. Law enforcement…

455.083. Law enforcement officer may rely on copy of protection order. — A law enforcement officer in this state may rely upon a copy of any order of protection issued under sections 455.010 to 455.085 or a certified foreign order of protection which has been provided to the peac…

455.085. Arrest for violation of order — penalties — good faith immunity for law enforcement officials. — 1. When a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe a party has committed a violation of law amounting to domestic violence, as defined in section 455.010, agains…

455.090. Jurisdiction, duration — enforceability of orders. — 1. The court shall retain jurisdiction over the full order of protection issued under this chapter for its entire duration. The court may schedule compliance review hearings to monitor the respondent's compliance with …

[Repealed or reserved.]

455.200. Definitions. — As used in sections 455.200 to 455.230, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words and phrases mean: (1) "Designated authority", the board, commission, agency, or other body designated under the provisions of section 488.445 as the …

455.210. Administration by designated authority, how established — powers — expense, limitation. — The governing body of the city or county shall designate in the order or ordinance imposing the fees, as provided in section 455.205*, an appropriate board, commission, agency or ot…

455.215. Applications for shelter funding, contents, when filed — payments from fund made when. — 1. A shelter for victims of domestic violence may apply to the designated authority for funds to be used for the funding of the shelter. All applications shall be submitted by the fi…

455.220. Requirements for shelter to qualify for funds. — 1. To qualify for funds allocated and distributed pursuant to section 455.215 a shelter shall meet all of the following requirements: (1) Be incorporated in the state as a nonprofit corporation; (2) Have trustees who repre…

455.225. Shelter request exceeding funds, allocation priorities. — If a designated authority receives applications from more than one qualified shelter for victims of domestic violence and the requests for the funds exceed the amount of funds available, funds shall be allocated o…

455.230. Annual reports by shelters, contents — confidentiality — child assessment center established by department. — 1. A shelter for victims of domestic violence that receives funds pursuant to sections 455.200 to 455.230 shall file an annual report with the designated authori…

455.300. Missouri domestic violence commission established — members, meetings, rules. — 1. There is hereby established the "Missouri Domestic Violence Commission" within the department of public safety, to study solutions for domestic violence in Missouri. The commission shall b…

455.305. Domestic violence intervention/rehabilitation pilot projects — purpose, funding, rules. — 1. Beginning in 2001, the department of social services and the Missouri domestic violence commission established pursuant to this chapter, shall establish and administer up to twen…

455.500. Citation of law. — Sections 455.500 to 455.538 shall be known and may be cited as the "Child Protection Orders Act". ­­-------- (L. 1987 H.B. 598 § 1)

455.503. Venue — petition, who may file. — 1. A petition for an order of protection for a child shall be filed in the county where the child resides, where the alleged incident of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault occurred, or where the respondent may be served. 2. S…

455.504. Court clerks to furnish petitioners with uniform forms and information to litigants having no counsel on procedure, filing forms and pleadings — services of clerks and location of office to file petition to be posted — rules — no fees required — guardian ad litem or CASA…

455.505. Relief may be sought for child for domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault — order of protection effective, where. — 1. An order of protection for a child who has been subject to domestic violence by a present or former household member or sexual assault or stalki…

455.510. Filings — information required from petitioner. — 1. When the court is unavailable after business hours or on holidays or weekends, a verified petition for protection from abuse or a motion for hearing on violation of any order of protection under sections 455.500 to 455…

455.513. Ex parte orders, issued immediately, when — for good cause shown, defined — investigation by children's division, when — report due when, available to whom — transfer to juvenile court, when. — 1. The court may immediately issue an ex parte order of protection upon the f…

455.516. Hearings, when, procedure, standard of proof — duration of orders — videotaped testimony permitted — renewal of orders, when — service of respondent, failure to serve not to affect validity of order — notice to law enforcement agencies — service of process. — 1. Not late…

455.520. Temporary relief available — ex parte orders. — 1. Any ex parte order of protection granted under sections 455.500 to 455.538 shall be to protect the victim from domestic violence, including danger to the child's pet, stalking, or sexual assault and may include such term…

455.523. Full order of protection — relief available. — 1. Any full order of protection granted under sections 455.500 to 455.538 shall be to protect the victim from domestic violence, including danger to the child's pet, stalking, and sexual assault may include such terms as the…

455.524. Jurisdiction for orders — compliance review hearings permitted — remedies for enforcement of orders. — 1. The court shall retain jurisdiction over the full order of protection issued under sections 455.500 to 455.538 for its entire duration. The court may schedule compli…

455.526. Assignment of wages. — The court may order the person obligated to pay support or maintenance to make an assignment of a part of his periodic earnings or other income to the person entitled to receive the payments in accordance with chapter 452. ­­-------- (L. 1987 H.B. …

455.528. Modification of orders, who may file, when — termination — order not res judicata, when. — 1. After notice to the parties and the guardian ad litem or court-appointed special advocate and hearing, the court may modify an order of protection of a child at any time, upon s…

455.530. Grounds for modification of orders. — 1. Provisions of any order respecting maintenance or support may be modified only as to installments occurring subsequent to the motion for modification and only upon a showing of changed circumstances so substantial and continuing a…

455.534. Proceedings independent of others. — All proceedings under sections 455.500 to 455.538 are independent of any proceedings for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, separate maintenance and other actions between the parties and are in addition to any other available …