FAQS About The Office

Opinions issued since 1933 are available online.

Beyond the Attorney General’s Office

I cannot afford a lawyer. Are there any free services?

If you cannot afford a lawyer, Missouri has four legal aid programs that offer free assistance in certain circumstances: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Legal Services of Southern Missouri, and Mid-Missouri Legal Services. These programs provide legal assistance to qualifying low-income Missourians. However, these programs generally do not handle child support, adoption, workers’ compensation, wills, personal injury cases, or criminal cases that would be assigned to a public defender.

For more information about these four programs and the geographic regions they cover, you can visit the Legal Services of Missouri Web site.

Who supervises my city or county prosecutor, sheriff, or police chief?

Local prosecuting attorneys and sheriffs are elected by city or county voters, and police chiefs are typically hired and overseen by cities’ elected officials. Local prosecuting attorneys, sheriffs, and police chiefs are not employees of the Attorney General’s Office and are not supervised by this Office. A local prosecutor determines whether charges should be filed in a case. If you disagree with a decision made by a local prosecuting attorney, sheriff, or police chief, you may want to consult with a private lawyer to discuss your individual rights and remedies.

If you need to find a private lawyer, the Missouri Bar’s Find A Lawyer webpage includes a statewide Lawyer Search that can help you locate an attorney based on practice area and geographic location. In addition, the page offers links to an online Lawyer Directory and to information about discounted and pro bono services.

For further information about finding a lawyer, you may also wish to contact:

The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis through its online Lawyer Referral and Information Service or by calling BAMSL’s LRIS staff at 314-621-6681; or the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association through its online Lawyer Referral Service or by calling the SMBA at 417-831-2783.

Who takes complaints about private lawyers?

The Attorney General’s Office does not supervise private lawyers.

Complaints against lawyers may be filed with the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel
3327 American Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65109
573-635-7400

Who takes complaints about judges?

The Attorney General’s Office does not supervise judges.

Complaints regarding judges may be sent to the Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges.

Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges
2190 South Mason Road, Suite 201
St. Louis, MO 63131
314-966-1007

I have a question about a federal government program. Whom can I call?

The USA.gov Contact Center answers any question about a federal agency, program or service. It also can tell you which office to contact for help. Call the toll-free number 844-USA-GOV1 (844-872-4681) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday on non-holidays to ask questions and speak with an agent in English or Spanish.

I got married in a foreign country. What do I need to do to have my marriage officially recognized in Missouri?

There is no specific process or procedure provided by Missouri law to officially “recognize” foreign marriages. As a general rule, a marriage entered into in a foreign country will be considered valid in Missouri if: (1) it was lawful in the country where it was performed; and (2) it is not contrary to Missouri’s public policy (for example, a foreign marriage between young children).

For marriages abroad, the embassy or tourist information bureau of the country where the marriage is performed may be the best source of information regarding the validity of marriages formed in that country.

The Attorney General is the attorney for the State and its agencies and cannot offer legal advice or act on behalf of individuals. If you have questions about the validity or recognition of a foreign marriage, you may want to contact a private lawyer.

I got divorced in a foreign country. What do I need to do to have my divorce officially recognized in Missouri?

Missouri law provides that our state courts treat a foreign country as a state of the United States for purposes of recognizing a foreign divorce decree. Before a Missouri court would recognize such a decree, it would have to be certified or authenticated to establish its genuineness. Typically, the validity of a divorce decree can be confirmed by the local United States embassy or consulate.

Upon authentication, Missouri courts will presume a divorce decree valid, and a party challenging that decree would have to disprove its validity by clear and convincing evidence, a high legal standard.

The Attorney General is the attorney for the state and its agencies and cannot offer legal advice or act on behalf of individuals. If you have questions about the validity or recognition of a foreign divorce decree, you may want to contact a private lawyer.

Attorney General’s Web site

What if I can’t find something on your Web site?