Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Missouri
A Missouri dissolution is uncontested when both spouses jointly find the marriage is irretrievably broken. On that joint finding, the court can dissolve the marriage without further proof. Missouri is functionally no-fault only when both spouses agree. If either spouse denies under oath that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the case becomes contested. Then the court has to find the case fits one of several specific statutory grounds before it can proceed. Missouri also requires anyone representing themselves in a dissolution case to complete a Litigant Awareness Program first. This is a distinctive statewide requirement.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist works under Missouri law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Missouri paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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The uncontested track versus a contested denial
Both spouses jointly find the marriage irretrievably broken. That joint finding alone lets the court dissolve the marriage, with no further proof required. This is Missouri's practical uncontested path, not a separately named simplified statute.
If one spouse denies the marriage is irretrievably broken, the case becomes contested. The court then has to find the case satisfies a specific ground. That ground can be adultery the petitioner finds intolerable, or behavior the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to keep living with. It can also be six months of abandonment, or a period of separation: 12 months if mutual, 24 months if not.
The Litigant Awareness Program
Missouri requires self-represented filers in family law cases, including dissolution of marriage, to complete a Litigant Awareness Program before proceeding. This rule applies whether or not the case involves minor children.
This program is a distinct, court-mandated orientation step specific to Missouri. It is separate from any parenting class. A self-represented filer should confirm the current format, and how to complete it, with the filing circuit court before moving forward with the rest of the case.
Document checklist
Start with the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, form CAFC001, part of a numbered self-represented-litigant packet built for cases where the spouses agree. Add the Confidential Case Filing Information Sheet, FI-10, and Redaction Certification, GN320.
Next, add the Statement of Income and Expenses, CAFC050, and the Statement of Property and Debt and Proposed Separation Agreement, CAFC040. Couples with children also add a Parenting Plan, CAFC501. A spouse who cannot afford the fee can file the Motion and Affidavit in Support of Request to Proceed As a Poor Person.
Residency and the 30-day rule
One spouse must have been a Missouri resident, or a servicemember stationed in Missouri, for 90 days immediately before filing. Separately, at least 30 days must pass after the petition is filed before the court can enter judgment.
Both requirements must be satisfied before judgment. Dissolution cases are filed in Missouri Circuit Court. Larger circuits, like Jackson County or St. Louis County, generally handle them within a Family Court Division. Smaller circuits use the general circuit docket.
Sources: RSMo section 452.305, residency and 30-day waiting period, RSMo section 452.320, grounds for dissolution, RSMo section 452.330, property division, RSMo section 452.335, spousal support factors, Missouri Courts, self-represented litigant forms page
Not independently confirmed
- Missouri Courts' own self-help and forms pages generally block automated access, so several individual form links and rule citations, including form CAFC number details and the exact current filing fee, were corroborated through secondary legal-aid sources or a single accessible page rather than direct primary-source verification of every page. Confirm current details on courts.mo.gov before filing.
- Whether Missouri requires any mandatory parenting class for divorces involving minor children, beyond the Litigant Awareness Program, was not confirmed as a statewide requirement. It appears to vary by circuit under local rule; confirm with the filing circuit court.
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Missouri: frequently asked questions
Can my spouse block a no-fault divorce in Missouri?+
Yes, functionally. Missouri's no-fault dissolution relies on both spouses jointly finding the marriage is irretrievably broken. If one spouse denies that under oath, the case becomes contested. Then the court has to find a specific ground, such as adultery, abandonment, or a period of separation, before it can grant the divorce.
What is Missouri's Litigant Awareness Program?+
A court-mandated orientation that anyone representing themselves in a family law case, including dissolution of marriage, has to complete before proceeding. It applies whether or not minor children are involved. Confirm the current format and completion process with the filing circuit court, since this requirement is specific to self-represented filers.
What is Missouri's waiting period for dissolution?+
At least 30 days must pass after the petition is filed before the court can enter judgment. This runs separately from the 90-day residency requirement. Both must be satisfied before a case can finalize, whether the dissolution is agreed or contested.
What is Missouri's residency requirement for dissolution?+
One spouse must have been a Missouri resident, or a member of the armed services stationed in Missouri, for 90 days immediately before the petition is filed. This is separate from the 30-day period that has to pass after filing before judgment can be entered.
What forms do I need for an uncontested Missouri dissolution?+
Start with the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, CAFC001, plus the Confidential Case Filing Information Sheet, FI-10. Add the Statement of Income and Expenses, CAFC050, and the Statement of Property and Debt and Proposed Separation Agreement, CAFC040. Couples with children also add a Parenting Plan, CAFC501.
Can I get the Missouri filing fee waived?+
Yes, if you cannot afford it. File the Motion and Affidavit in Support of Request to Proceed As a Poor Person, commonly called an In Forma Pauperis Application. Unlike the numbered CAFC-series forms, this document is identified by its title rather than a form number.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist in Missouri, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Missouri's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Missouri. Virdix does not prepare or file Missouri divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Missouri.
More Missouri divorce guides
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In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Missouri, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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