Statutes: Missouri

1. A party’s absence, relocation, or failure to comply with custody and visitation orders shall not, by itself, be sufficient to justify a modification of a custody or visitation order if the reason for the absence, relocation, or failure to comply is the party’s activation to military service and deployment out-of-state.

2. For a party in active military service and deployed out-of-state, any court order:

(1) Issued or modified regarding child custody or visitation during the time of such out-of-state military deployment of the party, including as part of an entry of decree of dissolution of marriage or legal separation, shall be temporary in nature and shall not exceed the length of time of such deployment;

(2) Issued regarding ex parte adult or child orders of protection under sections 455.010 to 455.085 or sections 455.500 to 455.538, during the time of such out-of-state military deployment of the party, may be extended beyond the initial fifteen days required under sections 455.040 and 455.516. Such orders issued under this subdivision shall be temporary in nature and shall not exceed the length of time of such deployment.

Upon such party’s return from out-of-state military deployment, the party shall be given an opportunity to be heard on the child custody and visitation order or ex parte order of protection prior to a permanent order being entered by the court as to such issues. If the party in active military service knowingly and voluntarily signs a written waiver to the right to have such a hearing upon the party’s return from out-of-state military deployment, the court may issue a permanent order on the issues under this section.