Kathryn L. Dudley, Attorney

Ms. Kathryn L. Dudley has practiced with the Firm since its inception in 1994.  She graduated magna cum laude from Missouri State University in 1990, and received her J.D. degree from the Washington University School of Law in 1993.  Ms. Dudley’s practice primarily involves domestic relations and family law matters including complex custody and financial cases. She also advises psychologists and other mental health professionals with respect to subpoenas and record-keeping.  In 2008, she was named a “Rising Star” by the Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyers Publication.

Endowed with tremendous skill in trial preparation, Ms. Dudley not only does an excellent job of preparing a case for trial, but also has the trial talent to present evidence persuasively to a judge.
Her Firm but likeable personality has made her well respected and capable of achieving extraordinary settlements that others could not. She enjoys a flawless reputation among her peers. Judges look to Ms. Dudley for a better understanding of the law and for her reasonableness and common sense approach to even the most complex matters.  Ms. Dudley’s qualities are particularly appreciated in St. Charles County, her home county, where she has special knowledge of how that Family Court operates and what expected outcomes will likely be.

Ms. Dudley co-authored “Form 14 - How to Calculate the Correct Presumed Child Support Amount,” published in the St. Louis Bar Journal in 2001.   In addition, Ms. Dudley is the author of the chapter on Child Abuse in Domestic Cases, The Missouri Bar Family Law Continuing Legal Education Casebook (6th Edition), as well as the supplements to this chapter.  She has authored various articles relative to legal issues that confront the mental health practitioner including “Subpoenas - The Mental Health Professional and Common Misperceptions”, Missouri Psychologist, June-July 1994.    She has frequently lectured on family law issues and issues addressing the mental health professional. 

With great patience and wisdom, Ms. Dudley is able to provide legal advice to clients and colleagues that is invaluable and makes her a unique professional. Clients give her high marks in their evaluations of her and refer her many other clients. They have confidence in her abilities and take comfort in her kindness. None of this prevents Ms. Dudley from zealously advocating for clients and getting them the best results she can. Her work ethic is unparalleled and her commitment to the legal profession impressive.

Ms. Dudley is a Past President of the Board for Lawyers for Kids and remains a current Board Member.  She is a member of the Fee Dispute Committee for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and she is a member of the Missouri Bar, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, the St. Louis County Bar, and the St. Charles County Bar.  In the community, Ms. Dudley volunteers with the United Way as a member of an Allocations Panel and with the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce Special Events Committee.  She is also a member of the Human Rights Committee for Willows Way. Ms. Dudley’s leadership skills have been recognized by the legal community and have kept her at the “top of the list” of most admired lawyers.

Having a child with special needs, Ms. Dudley understands the issues that special needs children and their parents face especially when undergoing a divorce or custody proceeding. Ms. Dudley is focused on and dedicated to making sure that these children and their parents have the support that they need and require. Ms. Dudley is married and the mother of three adorable children. Her sense of family gives her the depth of investment in a client’s case that is rare and valued by each client she represents.

Areas of Practice:

     * Complex financial and business valuation issues
     * Complex Child Custody cases, involving addictions, mental illness, and abuse
     * Child support cases involving original awards, increases, and reductions
     * Family Law
     * Paternity
     * Maintenance/spousal support
     * Motions to Modify (changing existing orders)
     * Orders of protection and adult abuse orders