Missouri § 452.410 Custody, decree, modification of, when.

Missouri Statutes

§ 452.410 — Custody, decree, modification of, when.

Missouri § 452.410

Title XXXDOMESTIC RELATIONS

Ch. 452Dissolution of Marriage, Divorce, Alimony and Separate Maintenance

This text of Missouri § 452.410 (Custody, decree, modification of, when.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.410 (2026).

Text

1.Except as provided in subsection 2 of this section, the court shall not modify a prior custody decree unless it has jurisdiction under the provisions of section 452.745 and it finds, upon the basis of facts that have arisen since the prior decree or that were unknown to the court at the time of the prior decree, that a change has occurred in the circumstances of the child or his custodian and that the modification is necessary to serve the best interests of the child. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or sections 452.375 and 452.400 to the contrary, any custody order entered by any court in this state or any other state may, subject to jurisdictional requirements, be modified to allow for joint custody or visitation only in accordance with section 452.375 , 452.400

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1. Except as provided in subsection 2 of this section, the court shall not modify a prior custody decree unless it has jurisdiction under the provisions of section 452.745 and it finds, upon the basis of facts that have arisen since the prior decree or that were unknown to the court at the time of the prior decree, that a change has occurred in the circumstances of the child or his custodian and that the modification is necessary to serve the best interests of the child. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or sections 452.375 and 452.400 to the contrary, any custody order entered by any court in this state or any other state may, subject to jurisdictional requirements, be modified to allow for joint custody or visitation only in accordance with section 452.375 , 452.400 , 452.402 , or 452.403 .

2. If either parent files a motion to modify an award of joint legal custody or joint physical custody, each party shall be entitled to a change of judge as provided by supreme court rule.

Legislative History

(L. 1973 H.B. 315 § 23, A.L. 1978 H.B. 914, A.L. 1984 H.B. 1513, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1370, et al., A.L. 2021 H.B. 432 merged with S.B. 53 & 60 merged with S.B. 71) Court may transfer custody if custodial parent, without good cause, fails to honor visitation order, 452.340 (1976) In motion to modify child custody decree under this section, it is not necessary to wait for manifestations of harmful consequences before action is taken. L.H.Y. v. J.M.Y. (A.), 535 S.W.2d 304. (2007) Change in circumstances need not be substantial for modification of custody to accommodate changes of scheduling parenting time between mother and father. Russell v. Russell, 210 S.W.3d 191 (Mo.banc).