Costs and fees
This law is about who pays court costs and lawyer fees in child support cases. The person asking for help (petitioner) does not have to pay filing fees. If the person owed support (obligee) wins, the court can make the person who owes support (obligor) pay court costs, lawyer fees, and travel costs. Supporting someone comes before paying any fees. If the court decides someone asked for a hearing just to slow things down, the court will order that person to pay costs and lawyer fees.
454.1584. Costs and fees. — (a) The may not be required to pay a fee or other costs.
(b) If an , a of this state may against an filing fees, reasonable , other costs, and necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by the obligee and the obligee's witnesses. The may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against the obligee or the of either the initiating or responding state or foreign country, except as provided by other law. Attorney's fees may be , and may be ed paid directly to the attorney, who may the order in the attorney's own name. Payment of support owed to the obligee has over fees, costs, and expenses.
(c) The tribunal shall order the payment of costs and reasonable attorney's fees if it that a was requested primarily for delay. In a under Article 6, sections 454.1632 to 454.1677, a hearing is to have been requested primarily for delay if a is confirmed or enforced without change.
Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.
Red section numbers link to that law.
Source & history notes
(L. 2011 H.B. 260) Effective 6-15-16, see § 454.1728
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.