Disclaimer: All facts gleaned from the filings stated hereafter are only as truthful as the petitioner. The tone of this article expresses a style of writing historically employed by America’s greatest writers and, as such, is for opinion purposes only. No intentional harm is due. Do not read if the topic of divorce (even your own) causes you emotional distress. Continue at your own risk.
In a courtroom in Jackson County, Missouri, a long marriage has come to its formal unspooling. Howard S. Ragland filed a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage on September 24, 2025, through his counsel, Abraham D. Kuhl of The Kuhl Law Firm, LLC, seeking to bring to a close a union that began on a summer day in June 1997.
Over nearly three decades, Howard and Melissa D. Ragland built a life and raised three children, all now grown and emancipated. The petition notes that the couple’s separation coincides with the filing itself, marking a quiet, almost inevitable turning point after years of shared history.
Howard’s filing states that the marriage is irretrievably broken, with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. Both parties are described as capable of supporting themselves, each possessing sufficient property to meet their own needs, and the petitioner asks that neither be granted maintenance. The petition further requests the court to approve any marital settlement agreement the parties may reach or, if not, to divide their marital property and debts fairly and equitably.
Notably, the petition asks that each party bear their own legal fees and costs—unless, it adds, the respondent’s actions deliberately prolong the litigation, in which case Howard seeks reimbursement. The document also references the attorney’s lien held by Kuhl under Missouri law, underscoring the practical, financial details that come with dissolving a marriage of such long standing.
Behind these lines of statutory language lies the quiet finality of a shared story now shifting from companionship to legal resolution.
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