Joseph A. Lambson is a family law attorney and partner at Margulis, Gelfand, DiRuzzo & Lambson in Clayton, Missouri. He represents clients in divorce, child custody, relocation, order of protection, and modification cases throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and Franklin County.

Joe is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, inducted in 2024, and Secretary of the AAML Missouri Chapter. Missouri Lawyers Weekly named him to its Power List of Missouri family law attorneys in 2025 and 2026. He has been selected to Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers in family law every year since 2022, following three selections to Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars (2019–2021), and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America in family law since 2018.

Divorce and Child Custody Litigation

Joe’s practice concentrates on high-asset divorce and complex child custody litigation. In divorce cases he regularly handles closely held businesses, professional practices, hidden or disputed income, and property division questions that require careful financial investigation and clear presentation to the court.

In custody cases, Joe is frequently involved in matters with serious allegations and safety concerns — relocation, parental alienation, mental health issues, substance abuse, and domestic violence — where preparation and a steady hand in court are essential. He has tried dozens of cases in Missouri courts and has argued before the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Guardian ad Litem, Parenting Coordinator, and Mediator

Because of his experience with contested custody disputes, judges in St. Louis County, St. Louis City, and St. Charles County regularly appoint Joe as Guardian ad Litem to represent the best interests of children in family and juvenile court. He also serves by appointment as a Parenting Coordinator and as a mediator in divorce and custody matters. That work gives him a working knowledge of how local judges evaluate custody disputes that he brings to every case he tries.

Orders of Protection and Domestic Violence

Joe represents both petitioners and respondents in adult and child order of protection cases in the St. Louis area. He has also served as a Special Prosecutor for domestic violence cases in St. Louis County.

Related Civil Litigation

Joe’s civil litigation practice often grows out of his family law cases. He represents clients in wrongful death, personal injury, invasion of privacy, and negligence claims against corporations and school districts, including cases involving school bullying and cyberbullying. In 2024, he and partner Justin Gelfand obtained a $2.1 million jury verdict on behalf of a survivor of sexual battery.

Professional Recognition

• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), inducted 2024 — aaml.org profile
• Secretary, AAML Missouri Chapter (2026)
• Missouri Lawyers Weekly Power List, Family Law — 2025 and 2026 (link the 2026 article when published in October 2026)
• Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Family Law — 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 — Super Lawyers profile
• Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars, Family Law — 2019, 2020, 2021
• The Best Lawyers in America, Family Law — every year since 2018 — Best Lawyers profile
• Avvo rating 10.0 “Superb” since 2013 — Avvo profile

Bar Leadership and Speaking

Joe is a founding member and past President of the Hispanic Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and has served on The Missouri Bar’s Diversity Committee and Annual Meeting Planning Committee. He is a member of the Missouri Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (MO-AFCC).

He presents regularly to Missouri lawyers and judges, including at the Missouri Family Law Conference, the Missouri Bar Annual Meeting, the Missouri AAML Conference, and MO-AFCC. Recent presentations include Trial De Novo From a CANRB Finding (Missouri AAML Conference, 2026), Mediating Tough Topics: Guns (AFCC, 2025), Immigration Issues in Divorce (Missouri Bar Annual Meeting), and Appealing Interlocutory Orders (Missouri Family Law Conference).

Languages

Joe is fluent in Spanish and represents Spanish-speaking clients directly, without an interpreter.

Education and Admissions

• J.D., Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri (2009)
• B.A., Philosophy, Brigham Young University (2006)
• Admitted: Missouri, 2009 — The Missouri Bar No. 62251

Joe lives in St. Louis County with his wife, three children, and two dogs.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What areas of family law does Joe Lambson handle?
Joe handles divorce, child custody, custody and support modification, relocation, and orders of protection. He concentrates on high-asset divorce and complex custody litigation, including cases involving mental health concerns, substance abuse allegations, parental alienation, and domestic violence.

Where does Joe Lambson practice?
Joe’s office is at 138 N. Meramec Ave. in Clayton, Missouri. He represents clients throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and Franklin County, and appears in family and juvenile courts across Missouri.

Is Joe Lambson a trial lawyer?
Yes. Joe tries contested divorce and custody cases. He also negotiates settlements and serves as a mediator, but clients hire him because he is prepared to take a case to trial when a fair resolution is not otherwise available.

What is a Guardian ad Litem, and does Joe serve as one?
A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is an attorney appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child in a custody or juvenile case. Joe is regularly appointed as a Guardian ad Litem and Parenting Coordinator in St. Louis-area courts, which gives him direct experience with how judges evaluate custody disputes.

Does Joe Lambson handle orders of protection?
Yes. Joe represents both petitioners and respondents in adult and child order of protection cases. He has also served as a Special Prosecutor for domestic violence cases in St. Louis County.

Does Joe Lambson speak Spanish?
Yes. Joe is fluent in Spanish and works with Spanish-speaking clients directly, without an interpreter. He is a founding member and past President of the Hispanic Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.

What professional recognition has Joe Lambson received?
Joe is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), inducted in 2024, and serves as Secretary of the AAML Missouri Chapter. Missouri Lawyers Weekly named him to its Power List of Missouri family law attorneys in 2025 and 2026. He has been selected to Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers in family law each year since 2022, was named to Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars from 2019 to 2021, and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America in family law every year since 2018.

How do I schedule a consultation with Joe Lambson?
Call Margulis, Gelfand, DiRuzzo & Lambson at (314) 390-0231 or use the contact form on this site. Consultations are available in English or Spanish.