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.
On July 6, 2025, Melanie M. Cole took a definitive step toward independence, filing a petition in Jackson County Circuit Court to dissolve her marriage to Ralphael Cole—a relationship shaped by years of co-parenting, quiet unraveling, and irreconcilable differences.
The couple, married in Missouri, now face the difficult task of redefining their futures apart. Melanie, a working mother, asserts that the marriage has reached an irretrievable end. In her filing, she requests sole legal and physical custody of their two minor children, who have been living with her for at least two months preceding the petition. The request includes designating her home as their legal residence for both mailing and school enrollment.
Represented by attorney Joshua T. Mathews of The Mathews Group, L.C., Melanie outlines a vision in which each party maintains financial independence. She neither seeks maintenance nor anticipates providing it, citing both spouses’ ability to support themselves. She calls for an equitable division of marital assets and debts, and for each party’s nonmarital property to be returned to its rightful owner.
There are no active military service obligations, no pregnancies, and no current legal proceedings in other jurisdictions. Melanie affirms the children’s strong ties to Missouri, describing this court as the appropriate forum to determine their custody and support arrangements.
This case is not simply about the legal termination of a marriage—it is also about anchoring two children in stability, and about a woman claiming the right to author the next chapter of her life on her own terms.
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