Margaret S PriceThe author, Margaret "Pegi" S. Price, J.D., is a lawyer whose practice is limited exclusively to the practice of family law -- divorce, paternity, child support, custody and visitation, guardianships, and adoptions. Pegi is a past Chair of the FamilyLaw Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and is a member of AFCC, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Pegi wrote the book, What You Need to Know About Divorce (1997), and she has written many legal articles. She presented a paper and was a speaker at the 2006 World Autism Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, on the subject of Divorce and Families with Autism. Pegi has also spoken on the subject of Divorce and Families with Autism at the National Conference of the Autism Society of America and at regional legal community conferences and seminars for educators and professionals in the special needs community. She is past President of the Gateway (St. Louis) chapter of the Autism Society of America and has done extensive lobbying of state government on behalf of families with special needs. Pegi is very involved in the special needs community, works with many individuals and families who have special needs, and does public speaking on this subject to increase awareness of special needs and spread a message of hope to the families. Her son was diagnosed with autism at age 3 (1998) and underwent intensive early intervention and therapy. Three years later, Pegi went through divorce and wrote her first Parenting Plan involving serious special needs. Two years later (March 2003), her son emerged from autism. His story aired on NBC in February 2005 as one of the first children in the United States to emerge from autism. He is called a pioneer in the field of autism. His story was the subject of a feature on CW11, which filmed him at school and while flying an airplane. He has been flying airplanes since he was 10 years old. He is now 14 years old. Although the author's experience has been primarily with autism, her experience spans many types of special needs. Her younger sister is disabled and required hours of daily physical therapy throughout childhood. Pegi has done a great deal of work with special needs children and adults, including working with mentally retarded persons and teaching fine art to blind children and adults. She currently lives in Porterville, California.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Margaret "Pegi" S. Price, J.D.
National University
100 East College Avenue
Porterville, CA 93257
559.920.1059
mprice@nu.edu
Publications
Best Practices in Handling Family Law Cases Involving Children with Special Needs, Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, volume 28, number 1, 2015.
Using Special Needs Trusts in Divorce Cases, Family Advocate - American Bar Association, volume 38, number 2, Fall 2015.
The Baby Daddy Blues: Visitation and Practical Issues in Statutory Rape Cases, American Journal of Family Law, volume 29, number 2, Summer 2015.
All's Fair in Love and War - or Is It? Domestic Violence and Weapons Bans, American Journal of Family Law,
volume 28, number 2, Summer 2014.
Special Needs and Disability in Custody Cases: The Perfect Storm, lead article, Symposium on Special Needs
and Disability in Family Law, Family Law Quarterly, American Bar Association, volume 46,
number 2, Summer 2012.
Special Needs Adults and Divorce Issues, American Journal of Family Law, volume 25, number 4, Winter 2012.
Divorce Issues and the Special Needs Child, American Journal of Family Law, volume 25, number 1, Spring 2011.
The Special Needs Child and Divorce: A Practical Guide to Evaluating and Handling Cases, (2009) Publisher, American Bar Association (book).
Divorce and the Special Needs Child: A Guide for Parents (2010) Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London (book).
Academic Experience and Courses Taught
National University, Porterville, California
Local lead faculty, B. S. Criminal Justice Administration 2013 to current; Research Methods, Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice, Criminal Evidence, Courts and the Judicial Process, Criminal Law and Procedure, Legal Aspects of Business, Criminology, Legal Aspects of Business, Analytical Reasoning, Mediation Fundamentals, Supervised Criminal Justice Senior Project.
Maryville University, St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate program, 1992, Business Law; M.B.A. program, 1991, Legal Environment of Business.
Stevens Institute for Business and Arts, formerly Patricia Stevens College, St. Louis, Missouri,
2010 - 2011 Instructor, Paralegal Studies, Family Law.
Patricia Stevens College, St. Louis, Missouri, 1999 - 2004 Department Head, Paralegal Studies.
Family Law, Civil Litigation, Legal Research & Writing, Corporate Law & Bankruptcy,
Torts & Personal Injury, Litigation Clinic, Criminal Law, Legal Ethics.
National Association for Paralegal Studies at Fontbonne College, St. Louis, Missouri, 1991 - 1993
Commercial Law, Civil Procedure, Torts, American Jurisprudence, Legal Analysis & Writing.
Speaker: Seminars, Conferences & Events
World Autism Congress, Cape Town, South Africa 2006. Divorce and Families with Autism.
National Conference, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Chicago, Illinois, 2015.
Special needs issues and divorce. Keynote speaker and panelist.
National Conference, Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action, Kansas City, Missouri, 2010.
Top Ten Things you can do to Support your Members when they are going through Divorce.
American Bar Association Spring 2010 CLE Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2010.
Custody and the Special Needs Child.
Washington University School of Medicine, Autism Forum, St. Louis, Missouri 2010.
Panel member and speaker.
Washington University School of Medicine, Autism Forum, St. Louis, Missouri 2011.
Panel member and speaker.
National Conference, Autism Society of America, St. Charles (Chicago area), Illinois, 2009.
Child Support, Custody and Children with Autism.
National Conference, Autism Society of America, Orlando, Florida, 2008. Special Needs Children and Divorce.
National Conference, Autism Society of America, Phoenix, Arizona, 2007.
The Effect of Divorce on Families with Autism.
Metro St. Louis Autism Forum, Washington University, 2011. Custody issues and Autism.
Metro St. Louis Autism Forum, Collinsville, Illinois (St. Louis metro area), 2010.
Issues to Consider when going through Divorce with Autism.
Commencement speaker, Special School District of St. Louis County, 2011. (SSD serves over 20,000 students with disabilities).
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 2009. "Unique Considerations in Child Custody and Support" Seminar, The Special Needs Child and Divorce.
Mississippi Bar Family Law Section, Jackson, Mississippi, 2009. "16th Annual Hot Tips from the Experts
Family Law CLE Seminar," Special Needs Children and Divorce.
Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section, Edmond, Oklahoma, 2009. "Complex Issues in
Child Custody Litigation," The Special Needs Child and Divorce.
Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 2009. "Complex Issues in Child Custody Litigation," The Special Needs Child and Divorce.
Lorman Educational Services, Understanding Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome
or High-Functioning Autism in Missouri, 2007.Divorce and Families with Autism.
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 2005. Holiday Visitation Problems.
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 2004. Evidentiary Implications of the Patriot Act.
Missouri Paralegal Association Annual Statewide Conference, 2004. Evidentiary Implications of the Patriot Act.
Education:
University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1986 J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
Honors: Senior Articles Editor, Law Review; Phi Delta Phi
University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, 1983 B.A., History
Professional Experience
Special Prosecutor, Domestic Violence Court, Adult and child abuse, St. Louis County Circuit Court, 2012 - 2013.
Private Law Practice, Family Law and special needs. Attorney since 1986.
Consultant and Expert Witness, family law cases involving special needs. Has served as Expert Witness,
Guardian ad Litem or Consultant on over 75 family law cases involving special needs.
Chair, Family Law Section, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis 2007 - 2008.
Radio Interviews
"It's Your Health," Hope for Families with Autism, WUML, Show Host: Lisa Davis, Boston, 2010.
Television Interviews
"Autism Pioneer - Sam Zoole," (my son) News feature story, KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO 2004.
"Autism Success Story - Sam Zoole," News special feature, KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO 2007.
"Metro St. Louis Autism Forum," News feature story, KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO 2010.
Honors and Awards
National Teacher of the Year, United States, National Academy for Paralegal Studies, 1992.
Professional Associations and Memberships
The Missouri Bar
United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD)
Mensa
Rotary Club of Porterville, 2013 to present
Porterville Sheltered Workshop, Board of Directors, 2014 to present
Granite Hills High School Criminal Justice Career Path Advisory Board (Porterville) 2015 to present
Central California Family Crisis Center, Board of Directors, 2015 to present
President, Gateway Chapter (St. Louis, Missouri), Autism Society of America (ASA) 2005 - 2008
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) 2005 - 2009
Autism Society of America (ASA) 2005 - 2011
St. Louis Downtown Rotary Club, 2002 - 2010
Washington University School of Law, 1990 - 2000 Judge, Moot Court Competition
Washington University School of Law, 1995 - 2010 Judge, Amer Bar Assn Negotiation Competition
Washington University School of Law, 1995 - 2010 Judge, Amer Bar Assn Client Counseling Competition
St. Louis University School of Law, 1990 - 1994 Judge, Moot Court Competition
Parent Advisory Council, 2008 - 2010 St. Louis County Special School District
Kirkwood Board of Adjustment, 1991 - 1994 Board Member; 1994 - 1996, Chairman of the Board
Kirkwood Rotary Club, 1993 - 1998 Member
Kirkwood Rotary Club, 1997 - 1998 Board of Directors
Phi Delta Phi, legal honors fraternity Read More Read Less
