Litigant Awareness Program Missouri: What to Know Before Filing

What the LAP Actually Is

The Litigant Awareness Program is a free online course required by Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.09. Every person who files a family court case without an attorney — including divorce, custody, and paternity — must complete it before the court will docket their case.

The program lives at selfrepresent.mo.gov, which is the Missouri Supreme Court's official self-help portal. It's not run by a private company, and there's no fee.

What It Covers

The LAP walks you through the basics of representing yourself in a Missouri Circuit Court. Expect modules on:

• How the court system works and what judges expect from pro se litigants
• The difference between legal information and legal advice (the court can give you the first but not the second)
• What resources are available to self-represented parties
• Common mistakes that lead to delays, dismissed cases, or unfavorable outcomes
• The procedural steps you'll need to follow once your case is active

The program isn't designed to teach you Missouri family law. It's designed to make sure you understand what you're getting into when you represent yourself — and that you know the court holds you to the exact same procedural standards as a licensed attorney.

How Long It Takes

Plan on about 30 to 60 minutes. The program consists of video modules and informational sections you need to work through sequentially. You can't skip ahead, but you can pause and resume.

At the end, you'll receive a completion certificate. Print it. You'll file this with the Circuit Clerk along with your other divorce paperwork.

When to Complete It

The smartest move is to finish the LAP before you go to the clerk's office to file your petition. If you show up with your Petition for Dissolution (CAFC001), financial statements, and all supporting documents but no LAP certificate, some clerks will refuse to process your filing until the certificate is on file.

Rule 88.09 requires the program before filing or docketing, so complete it before you file and bring the certificate with you.

Both spouses need to complete the LAP if both are self-represented. If your spouse hires an attorney, only you (the pro se party) need the certificate. If your spouse is also filing pro se, they'll need their own completion certificate on file before the court moves forward.

What Happens If You Don't Complete It

Your filing or docketing can be held up until the certificate is filed. This is one of the most common reasons Missouri divorces get stuck in administrative limbo — the paperwork looks complete, but the LAP certificate is missing and nobody told the filer it was required.

Some litigants discover this requirement only after they've already filed and served their spouse, which means the 30-day waiting period is ticking down while their case sits in a procedural hold. Complete the LAP first and avoid the bottleneck.

The LAP Is Separate From the Parent Education Class

A common point of confusion: the LAP is not the same as the parenting education course required when minor children are involved.

The LAP (Rule 88.09) is required of all self-represented parties in family court, regardless of whether children are involved. It's about court procedure.

The parent education class (Focus on Kids, COPE, or another court-approved program) is generally required under RSMo § 452.605 when minor children are part of the dissolution, subject to good cause and local rules. It's about co-parenting skills. Fees vary by county; St. Louis County's approved class is listed at under $75, with a 120-day deadline for the petitioner from filing and the respondent from service, while Boone County's deadline is 30 days.

You may need both. But they serve different purposes and are tracked separately by the court.

The Missouri Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a pre-filing checklist that sequences the LAP, parent education class, and all other requirements so you complete each one in the right order.

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