Author: Jennifer Piper

Jennifer R. Piper is a family law attorney, mediator, and parenting coordinator with more than 20 years of experience serving families in the St. Louis area. She is certified as a Guardian ad Litem and frequently appointed by courts to represent children in high-conflict cases. Jennifer is a former Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and an active leader in local and state bar organizations. Her professional recognition includes being named to The Best Lawyers in America® (2017–2025), Missouri Super Lawyers (2021–2024), and receiving a Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Jennifer also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She regularly speaks on family law topics and has helped shape family court procedures through her service on multiple committees.

  • What Happens If Your Spouse Doesn’t Want a Divorce?

    Hours Categories Divorce

    If your spouse does not want a divorce, they can slow the divorce process by refusing to cooperate, but they cannot prevent the divorce from happening. In Missouri, one spouse does not need the other’s agreement to end the marriage. Collaborative Divorce and Mediation can help both you and your spouse communicate, address concerns, and better understand the issues that are making the divorce difficult to accept. Your Spouse Cannot Stop the Divorce One of the most common questions people have is whether their spouse can prevent a divorce simply by refusing to agree to it. In Missouri, the answer is no. If you no longer want to remain married, the court will ultimately grant the divorce. A spouse who opposes the divorce can delay…

  • Can Mediation or Collaborative Divorce Work in a High-Conflict Divorce?

    Hours Categories Collaborative Divorce, Divorce

    If you and your spouse are constantly arguing, a high-conflict divorce does not automatically mean you have to go to court. Mediation and Collaborative Divorce can help you resolve issues, exchange information, and reach workable solutions while avoiding the time, expense, and stress that fighting it out in court frequently creates. High-Conflict Does Not Mean Court Is Your Only Option Many people assume that when there is significant conflict in a divorce, litigation is the only path forward. Many high-conflict divorces are successfully resolved through no court options such as Mediation or Collaborative Divorce. The key factor is not whether you and your spouse like each other. The key factor is whether you are both willing to participate in the divorce process, provide the required…

  • Why is Collaborative Divorce Better in a High Net Worth Divorce?

    Hours Categories Collaborative Divorce

    Collaborative Divorce can be especially beneficial in high net worth divorce cases because it offers greater privacy, allows financial experts to work jointly, reduces unnecessary conflict, and helps keep sensitive personal and business information out of the public eye. Privacy Matters in High Net Worth Divorce Cases When you have substantial assets, privacy becomes one of the biggest concerns during a divorce. Collaborative Divorce gives you the opportunity to discuss your financial matters in a confidential office setting instead of a public courtroom. In a litigated divorce, court hearings are open to the public. Anyone can sit in the courtroom and hear all the details about your finances, property, debts, businesses, and personal matters. In a high-profile divorce, media representatives may attend hearings and report…

  • What Is the Biggest Financial Mistake You See in a Divorce?

    Hours Categories Divorce

    One of the biggest financial mistakes you could make during a divorce is to agree to a settlement without a full understanding of your finances. When you do not understand the value of your assets, the tax consequences, or your future financial picture, you could give up far more than you realize. Lack of Financial Understanding Can Cost You One of the most common financial mistakes in a divorce is simply not understanding your full financial picture before making any divorce decisions. Too many people focus on getting the process over with and agree to a settlement without fully understanding what they own, what they are entitled to, or what their life will look like afterward. You do not need to know every financial detail…

  • How to Calm Your Worries and Fears in a Divorce

    Hours Categories Divorce

    Fear during divorce comes from uncertainty about your future, finances, parenting, and the legal process. Mediation and Collaborative Divorce help reduce that fear by providing more information, emotional support, and a less adversarial environment. With guidance from financial professionals and divorce coaches, you gain a better understanding of your options, more control over decisions, and a clearer path forward for your future. Fear in A Divorce Comes from the Unknown One of the biggest issues people face during their divorce is fear.  Worries about finances, parenting time, the legal process, or simply not knowing what comes next can have a negative impact on the divorce process. You may feel uneasy because you do not fully understand your family’s financial picture or the decisions that need…

  • In A Divorce – What Does the Best Interest of a Child Mean?

    Hours Categories Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce

    In Missouri custody cases, the court decides parenting arrangements based on what serves the child’s overall well-being. Judges look at factors such as each parent’s involvement, the child’s relationships, school stability, mental and physical health, and each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent. Understanding the “Best Interest” Standard When you are dealing with custody issues in Missouri, the court is required to determine custody according to the child’s best interest. While the law gives several factors for courts to consider, it does not provide one exact definition of what “best interest” means. Missouri law includes a rebuttable presumption that equal or approximately equal parenting time is in a child’s best interest. In other words, the court starts with the assumption…

  • Can Child Support Be Modified Without Going to Court?

    Hours Categories Child Custody

    Child support can be modified in Missouri without a courtroom battle if you and the other parent are able to reach an agreement. Through Mediation, Collaborative Divorce, or informal discussions, you can create a new support arrangement and submit it to the court for approval, saving time, stress, and conflict. Do You Have to Go to Court to Modify Child Support? The short answer is yes, but not in the way you might think. A judge still must approve any changes to child support.  If you and the other parent reach an agreement, you can put everything in writing, file the proper documents, and have a judge sign off. In many cases, this is quick and straightforward. You are not standing before a judge arguing…

  • Can You Modify Child Custody Without the Other Parent Agreeing?

    Hours Categories Child Custody

    Yes, but you cannot modify child custody without the other parent’s agreement unless you go to court. Judges have broad discretion in custody cases and want parents to try to resolve disputes first through negotiation, Mediation, or Collaborative Divorce. When a Custody Agreement Is Not Possible You may believe a custody change is necessary, but the other parent refuses to agree. There is no way to force a custody modification without either an agreement or a court order. If you cannot agree, your only option is to take the matter to court. However, before going down that path, it is worth trying to resolve things through guided conversations using either Mediation, or the Collaborative Divorce process. If those efforts fail, the court becomes your next…

  • How Can Divorce Make You a Better Co-Parent?

    Hours Categories Co-Parenting, Divorce

    The divorce process that you choose will shape your future co-parenting relationship. A cooperative process like an amicable or Collaborative Divorce can help you build better communication habits, reduce conflict, and create a healthier environment for your children. While a litigated courtroom process can destroy the relationship with your co-parent and effect your and your children’s lives forever. How to Set the Right Tone in Your Divorce The path you choose for your divorce does more than end a marriage. It sets the tone for your future as co-parents. If you take an aggressive, attack-focused route, that mindset carries forward into every interaction. Those harsh words and actions do not disappear once the paperwork is signed. They tend to linger. When you choose a more…

  • Child Custody Issues with a Special Needs Child

    Hours Categories Child Custody, Divorce

    Your Special Needs Child’s Daily Needs Come First When your child has special needs, custody is not just about where they spend their time. You have to look closely at what your child needs to function each day. Some children rely on medical equipment, mobility aids, or home modifications. If one home is set up for those needs and the other is not, moving back and forth may not be realistic or financially achievable. You could find that your child cannot comfortably transition between two homes. In some situations, maintaining one primary residence, sometimes called nesting, may better support your child’s routine.  Nesting means that the child stays in the primary residence while you and your spouse move in and out of the home during…