F. Richard Van Pelt

A co-founder of Van Pelt & Van Pelt PC, F. Richard Van Pelt focuses his practice exclusively on family law matters. Based in Springfield, Missouri, he provides effective representation to clients throughout Greene County, and he has been admitted to practice before all Missouri state courts since 1983.

A significant portion of Mr. Van Pelt's client base is made up of people who are seeing their marriages come to an end and who are thus having to deal with such divorce-related issues as child custody and visitation, the division of complex assets and debts, and spousal and child support. A forceful courtroom advocate when litigation is necessary, his extensive experience in mediation and negotiations allows him to help many of them come to an accord on these matters through the use of those alternative dispute resolution methods. In addition to his divorce practice, Mr. Van Pelt regularly prepares and reviews prenuptial agreements, and his family law experience has included paternity disputes and establishment as well. He also assists clients whose marriages have already been legally dissolved and who are now seeking the enforcement of or modifications to existing support and parenting court orders.

The manner in which Mr. Van Pelt has handled case that are often considered emotional matters has earned him a great deal of recognition from his fellow attorneys. He has received both an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and a 10.0 "Superb" peer review rating through Avvo. In addition, Mr. Van Pelt has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America each year since 2001. A fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, his other professional affiliations include the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association. He is a 1983 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.