Title XXX, DOMESTIC RELATIONS

452.782. Joinder of a party. — If the court learns from information furnished by the parties under section 452.800 or from other sources that a person not a party to the custody proceeding has physical custody of the child or claims to have custody or visitation rights with respe…

452.785. Appearance of parties and child. — 1. The court may order any party to the proceeding who is in this state to appear before the court personally. If the court finds the physical presence of the child to be in the best interest of the child, the court may order that the p…

452.790. Effect of child custody determination. — A child custody determination made by a court of this state that had jurisdiction under sections 452.700 to 452.930 binds all persons who have been served in accordance with the laws of this state or notified in accordance with se…

452.795. Full faith and credit. — A court of this state shall accord full faith and credit to an order made consistently with sections 452.700 to 452.930 which enforces a child custody determination by a court of another state unless the order has been vacated, stayed, or modifie…

452.800. Modification of another court's determination. — Except as otherwise provided in section 452.755, a court of this state may not modify a child custody determination made by a court of another state unless a court of this state has jurisdiction to make an initial determin…

452.805. Filing of certified copy of custody decree. — 1. A certified copy of a custody decree of another state may be filed in the office of the clerk of any circuit court of this state. The clerk shall treat the decree in the same manner as a custody decree of the circuit court…

452.810. Registration of child custody determination. — 1. A child custody determination issued by a court of another state may be registered in this state, with or without a simultaneous request for enforcement, by sending to the appropriate court in this state: (1) A letter or …

452.815. Forwarding copies of decrees. — The clerk of the circuit court of this state, at the request of the court of another state or at the request of any person who is affected by or has a legitimate interest in a custody decree, may, upon payment therefor, certify and forward…

452.820. Testimony of witnesses. — 1. In addition to other procedures available to a party, a party to a child custody proceeding may offer testimony of witnesses who are located in another state, including testimony of the parties and the child, by deposition or other means allo…

452.825. Request for another court to hold hearing. — 1. A court of this state may request the appropriate court of another state to hold a hearing to obtain evidence, to order persons within that state to produce or give evidence under other procedures of that state, or to have …

452.830. Appearance at hearing. — 1. Upon request of the court of another state, the courts of this state which are competent to hear custody matters may order a person in this state to appear at a hearing to obtain evidence or to produce or give evidence under other procedures a…

452.835. Preservation of documents. — A court of this state shall preserve the pleadings, orders, decrees, records of hearings, evaluations, and other pertinent records with respect to a child custody proceeding until the child reaches eighteen years of age. Upon appropriate requ…

452.840. Transfer of transcripts and documents. — If a custody decree has been rendered in another state concerning a child involved in a custody proceeding pending in a court of this state, the court of this state, upon taking jurisdiction of the case, shall request of the court…

452.845. Priority of jurisdictional question. — If a question of existence or exercise of jurisdiction under sections 452.700 to 452.930 is raised in a child custody proceeding, the question, upon request of a party, must be given priority on the calendar and handled expeditiousl…

452.850. Definitions. — As used in sections 452.850 to 452.915: (1) "Petitioner" means a person who seeks enforcement of a child custody determination or enforcement of an order for the return of the child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abd…

452.855. Temporary visitation. — 1. Sections 452.850 to 452.915 may be invoked to enforce: (1) A child custody determination; and (2) An order for the return of the child made under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. 2. A court of this sta…

452.860. Enforcement of registered determination. — 1. A court of this state may grant any relief normally available under the provisions of the laws of this state to enforce a registered child custody determination made by a court of another state. 2. A court of this state shall…

452.865. Simultaneous proceeding. — If a proceeding for enforcement under sections 452.850 to 452.915 has been or is commenced in this state and a court of this state determines that a proceeding to modify the determination has been commenced in another state having jurisdiction …

452.870. Expedited enforcement of child custody determination. — 1. A petition under sections 452.850 to 452.915 shall be verified. Certified copies of all orders sought to be enforced and of the order confirming registration, if any, shall be attached to the petition. A copy of …

452.875. Service of petition and order. — Except as otherwise provided in section 452.885, the petition and order shall be served by any method authorized by the laws of this state upon the respondent and any person who has physical custody of the child. ­­-------- (L. 2009 H.B. …

452.880. Hearing and order. — 1. Unless the court enters a temporary emergency order under section 452.755, upon a finding that a petitioner is entitled to the physical custody of the child immediately, the court shall order the child delivered to the petitioner unless the respon…

452.885. Warrant to take physical custody of child. — 1. Upon the filing of a petition seeking enforcement of a child custody determination, the petitioner may file a verified application for the issuance of a warrant to take physical custody of the child if the child is likely t…

452.890. Costs, fees, and expenses. — 1. The court shall award the prevailing party, including a state, necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of the party, including costs, communication expenses, attorney's fees, investigative fees, expenses for witnesses, t…

452.895. Recognition and enforcement. — A court of this state shall accord full faith and credit to an order made consistently with sections 452.700 to 452.930 which enforces a child custody determination by a court of another state unless the order has been vacated, stayed or mo…

452.900. Appeals. — An appeal may be taken from a final order in a proceeding under sections 452.850 to 452.915 in accordance with appellate procedures in other civil cases. Unless the court enters a temporary emergency order under section 452.755, the enforcing court shall not s…

452.905. Role of prosecutor or public official. — 1. In a case arising under sections 452.700 to 452.930 or involving the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the appropriate public official may take any lawful action, including resort to a proc…

452.910. Role of law enforcement. — At the request of a prosecutor or other appropriate public official acting under section 452.905, a law enforcement officer may take any lawful action reasonably necessary to locate a child or a party and assist such prosecutor or public offici…

452.915. Costs and expenses. — If the respondent is not the prevailing party, the court may assess against the respondent all direct expenses and costs incurred by the prosecutor or other appropriate public official and law enforcement officers under sections 452.905 and 452.910.…

452.920. Application and construction. — In applying and construing sections 452.700 to 452.930, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it. ­­-------- (L. 2009 H.B. 481)

452.925. Severability clause. — If any provision of sections 452.700 to 452.930 or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of sections 452.700 to 452.930 which can be given effect without the …

452.930. Transitional provision. — A motion or other request for relief made in a child custody or enforcement proceeding which was commenced before August 28, 2009, is governed by the law in effect at the time the motion or other request was made. ­­-------- (L. 2009 H.B. 481)

453.005. Construction of sections 453.010 to 453.400 — ethnic and racial diversity considerations. — 1. The provisions of sections 453.005 to 453.400 shall be construed so as to promote the best interests and welfare of the child in recognition of the entitlement of the child to …

453.010. Petition for permission to adopt, venue, jurisdiction — no denial or delay in placement of child based on residence or domicile — expedited placement, when. — 1. Any person desiring to adopt another person as his or her child shall petition the juvenile division of the c…

453.011. Expediting termination of parental rights and contested adoption cases. — 1. In all cases involving the termination of parental rights, placement, or adoption of a child, whether voluntary or contested by any person or agency, the court shall, consistent with due process…

453.012. Requirements for adoption effective for petitions filed on or after August 28, 1997. — The provisions of sections 192.016, 193.125, 210.109, 210.491, 211.444, and 211.447, sections* 453.005, 453.010, 453.014, 453.015, 453.025, 453.026, 453.030, 453.040, 453.060, 453.065,…

453.014. Who may place minor for adoption — rules and regulations, authority. — 1. The following persons may place a minor for adoption: (1) The children's division of the department of social services; (2) A child placing agency licensed pursuant to sections 210.481 to 210.536; …

453.015. Definitions. — As used in sections 453.010 to 453.400, the following terms mean: (1) "Minor" or "child", any person who has not attained the age of eighteen years or any person in the custody of the children's division who has not attained the age of twenty-one; (2) "Par…

453.020. Petition — guardian ad litem appointed — fee, deposit in putative father registry fund. — 1. The petition for adoption shall state: (1) The name, sex and place of birth of the person sought to be adopted; (2) The name of his parents, if known to the petitioner; (3) If th…

453.025. Appointment of guardian ad litem, when — fee — duties of guardian ad litem. — 1. The court shall, in all cases where the person sought to be adopted is under eighteen years of age, appoint a guardian ad litem, if not previously appointed pursuant to section 210.160, to r…

453.026. Written report to be furnished to prospective adoptive parent, court and guardian ad litem, when. — 1. As early as is practical before a prospective adoptive parent accepts physical custody of a child, the person placing the child for adoption, as authorized by section 4…

453.030. Approval of court required — how obtained, consent of child and parent required, when — validity of consent — forms, developed by children's division, contents — court appointment of attorney, when. — 1. In all cases the approval of the court of the adoption shall be req…

453.040. Consent of parents not required, when. — The consent to the adoption of a child is not required of: (1) A parent whose rights with reference to the child have been terminated pursuant to law, including section 211.444 or section 211.447 or other similar laws in other sta…

453.050. Waiving of necessity of consent, when permitted — how executed. — 1. The juvenile court may, upon application, permit a parent to waive the necessity of such person's consent to a future adoption of the child. However, that approval cannot be granted until the child is a…

453.060. Service on parties, how accomplished — petitioners' names not to appear on copy of petition served with summons, when — right of appeal — waiver of service — putative father unknown, procedure. — 1. A writ of summons and a copy of the petition shall be served on: (1) Any…

453.061. Conception of a child, man deemed to be on notice, when. — Any man who has engaged in sexual intercourse with a woman is deemed to be on notice that a child may be conceived and as a result is entitled to notice of an adoption proceeding only as provided in this chapter.…

453.065. Definitions. — As used in sections 453.065 to 453.074, the following words and terms shall have the meanings indicated: (1) "Child", a person within the state who is under the age of eighteen or in the custody of the children's division who is in need of medical, dental,…