Teresa Rieger Housholder

Teresa Rieger Housholder, J.D., a dedicated attorney in Lebanon, Missouri, graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Law School in 1997, where she contributed to the Matrimonial Law Journal. Her academic journey began at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State) in 1992 and Marshfield High School in 1988, marking her as a proud native of Southwest Missouri.

Her legal practice is focused on Family Law including dissolutions, paternity actions, modifications, and child support. She also handles Adoptions (both agency and private), registration of foreign adoptions, Criminal Law, and Probate Law involving parental delegations, guardianships, estate administrations, wills, and healthcare POA. Additionally, she assists with name changes, landlord-tenant issues, and appeals. Her primary practice area covers Webster and Greene County, with cases also in Polk, Dallas, Wright, Christian, and Taney counties. Teresa has successfully represented clients in administrative review hearings and appeals across all three Missouri Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court.

Previously, Teresa served as the Attorney for the Juvenile Office for seven years in the 30th Circuit, covering Webster, Dallas, Polk, Hickory, and Benton counties. In this role, she managed status offenses, delinquencies, child abuse, neglect cases, and termination of parental rights, achieving a unanimous decision before the Missouri Supreme Court.

Before establishing her private practice in October 2005, Teresa gained valuable experience with the Department of Social Services. She advanced from staff attorney to Deputy Assistant Director in the Protective Services Unit, overseeing up to seven attorneys with caseloads of 70-100 cases across multiple offices while managing her own full caseload.