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.
Michelle Hart walked into the City of St. Louis courthouse on May 1, 2025, not just to file paperwork, but to bring closure to nearly four decades of shared life. In a petition for dissolution of marriage, she declared her union with Timothy Allen Hart — solemnized on September 12, 1986 — as irretrievably broken due to irreconcilable differences. The two have been living apart since November 6, 2024.
Now both retired, the Harts have no minor children between them and no shared military obligations. But what remains is the tangle of a life built together — a house full of memories, debts and assets, and an imbalance in financial independence. Michelle contends she can no longer meet her basic needs alone and seeks maintenance from Timothy, who, she states, is physically capable and financially better positioned. She also requests that the court compel him to contribute to her attorney’s fees and court costs, arguing that he is able to bear those burdens.
Represented by attorney Melissa Harper of STL NextGen Law, Michelle has asked the court to divide their marital estate equitably and to recognize certain assets as separate property for each party. Her filing emphasizes the desire not just for legal closure, but for economic fairness in the aftermath of a long marriage.
This case filed in the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, marks a quiet but decisive end to a shared chapter that began in the heart of St. Louis City nearly 39 years ago.
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