Terms Used In Missouri Laws 452.605

  • Custody: means joint legal custody, sole legal custody, joint physical custody or sole physical custody or any combination thereof. See Missouri Laws 452.375
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

In an action for dissolution of marriage or legal separation involving minor children, or in a postjudgment proceeding wherein custody of minor children is to be determined by the court, the court shall, except for good cause, unless otherwise provided by local rule, order the parties to attend educational sessions concerning the effects of custody and the dissolution of marriage on children. As used in this section “good cause” includes, but is not limited to, situations where the parties have stipulated to the custody and visitation of the child, or a finding by a court with jurisdiction after all parties have received notice and an opportunity to be heard that the safety of a party or child may be endangered by attending the educational sessions. The court may order the minor children to attend age-appropriate educational sessions.