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Hybrid Conference

2023 Annual Family Law Conference


Practice Area:
Ethics |  Family |  GAL |  Juvenile |  Elimination of Bias

Dates


Description

Join us virtually or in-person
Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center, Branson
2023 Annual Family Law Conference!

 

The Missouri Bar’s Annual Family Law Conference is an environment to gain knowledge and improve skills specific to the practice of family law. Plenary sessions will be offered each day as well as 25+ breakout sessions. There will be a guardian ad litem track and a paralegal track. More information coming soon!

Speaker


Ann Bauer's Profile

Ann Bauer Related seminars and products

The Center for Family Law, LLC


A past chair of The Missouri Bar Family Law Section, Ann served many years on the conference planning committee. She was honored with the Roger Krumm award in 2013. She provides many hours of volunteer service each year to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and family law related committees. 




Carolyn Buschjost Related seminars and products

Williams, Robinson, Rigler & Buschjost, P.C.


Kevin Chafin's Profile

Kevin Chafin Related seminars and products

Kevin Chafin LPC Inc


Kevin Chafin is a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 20 years experience with the Family and Domestic Court systems and the Missouri Children’s Division. He provides mediation and counseling services and has done so for more than 15 years and specializes in individual adults, adolescents, and children; co-parenting counseling; mediation and reunification counseling. Kevin has a Masters in Counseling degree from Webster University in Kansas City. Before becoming a counselor, he worked as a child abuse/neglect investigator for the Missouri Children’s Division, legal assistant to the attorneys at Family Court in Kansas City, and non-profit program director. 


James Fendelman's Profile

James Fendelman Related seminars and products

Fendelman, Paull & Associates, L.L.C.


Jimmy Fendelman has been a trial attorney for over twenty-five years. He speaks regularly on the topics of stress management and communications skills for teens, graduate students, and adults. He is known for his up-beat, high energy style.



Bruce Galloway Related seminars and products

Bruce Galloway LLC Trial Attorneys


Cynthia Garnholz's Profile

Cynthia Garnholz Related seminars and products

Garnholz Sparks


Cynthia is a member of Garnholz | Sparks in Clayton. Her practice is focused primarily on family law, including mediation and collaborative divorce. She frequently lectures in the area of family law, has served as Chair of the BAMSL Family Law Section and currently serves on BAMSL’s Board of Governors. 



Barbara Glesner Fines's Profile

Barbara Glesner Fines Related seminars and products

Dean & Rubey M. Hulen Professor of Law

University of MO-Kansas City School of Law


Barbara Glesner Fines is Dean and Rubey M Hulen Professor of Law at the University of Missouri Kansas City, where she has been on the faculty since 1986.  She has herJD from the University of Wisconsin and her Master of Laws from Yale University.  She is an expert on professional ethics,  and regularly writes and presents on issues of ethics and bias.



Simone Haberstock's Profile

Simone Haberstock Related seminars and products

The Law Offices of Simone A. Haberstock, LLC


Simone Haberstock  has been a family law attorney for 30 years and a mediator for 20 years.  She acquired a Masters of Law in Dispute Resolution from University of Missouri School of Law in 2013 where she did IRB approved research on a mediation-arbitration process. Since graduating, she has founded a non-profit mediation service, Confluence Missouri, Inc.; served on the Mediation and Parenting Coordination Oversight Committee in St. Louis County Circuit Court; and worked on a number of court-connected ADR and problem-solving court projects across the state. She recently completed an interview research project of Missouri litigants who used mandatory mediation and has assisted in  the production of two videos for the public on ADR processes. She has mediated over 400 cases including family, small business, employment, landlord-tenant, and small claims matters. Ms. Haberstock has spoken and presented on  a variety mediation and ADR topics, including the decision- making process, at both national and statewide conferences. She also served on the Board of Governors for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis for 10 years and is the immediate past-president of the Missouri Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.


Robert Hamilton Related seminars and products

Reinker, Hamilton & Fenley LLC


Christina Hammers's Profile

Christina Hammers Related seminars and products

Missouri Attorney General's Office




James Miller's Profile

James Miller Related seminars and products

J. Matthew Miller, Attorney at Law, LLC


J. Matthew Miller is a partner at Baird Lightner Millsap in Springfield, Missouri. His practice areas include family law, probate litigation, appellate practice (2014 recipient of the Missouri Bar Association David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award), and mediation. He serves as a board member for the Association of Missouri Mediators.

 


Rachel Morgan Related seminars and products

Law Office of Doug Fredrick, LLC


Mary O'Malley's Profile

Mary O'Malley Related seminars and products

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law


Jill Puertas Related seminars and products

The Law Offices of Jill Puertas LLC


Craig Ritchie's Profile

Craig Ritchie Related seminars and products

The Ritchie Law Group


Craig D. Ritchie has practiced law for over 26 years. His practice is limited almost exclusively to family law matters. He graduated in 1989 from the University of Missouri Law School. In addition to his family law practice, Mr. Ritchie has taught Domestic Relations in the legal studies program at Missouri Western State College. Mr. Ritchie is also a frequent speaker to Continuing Legal Education classes for Missouri lawyers practicing family law. Mr. Ritchie resides in Columbia, Missouri. His interests include sports, children’s activities, church, and historic preservation. Mr. Ritchie serves on the executive committee and is the former Director of the American Legion Missouri Boys State, a program which teaches citizenship and government to high school seniors. For over thirty years, Mr. Ritchie has volunteered his time to this outstanding program.



Andrew Scholz's Profile

Andrew Scholz Related seminars and products

Rooney McBride and Smith, LLC


Andy Scholz is a Springfield, Missouri native. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Drury University in 1994 and attended law school at the University of Missouri-Columbia. During law school, he was honored to be an associate member of the Missouri Environmental Law & Policy Review. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 2001. In 2005, he became an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Boone County, Missouri. While there, he prosecuted sexual crimes and people accused of having perpetrated physical abuse against children. In 2010, Andy and his family chose to move back home to Springfield, where he could work to serve fellow Southwest Missourians by focusing his practice as a family law attorney. To continue his desire to assist families, he joined Rooney McBride and Smith in 2019, where he focuses on family law, guardianship law, and civil litigation. 



Krista Shelton Related seminars and products

Focused Forensic Solutions, LLC


Laurie Snell's Profile

Laurie Snell Related seminars and products

Attorney at Law and Truman Day CLE Committee Founder


Laurie Vaskov Snell graduated from UMKC School of Law in 1993. She has nearly 25 years in private practice; primarily Jackson County Juvenile. Prior to private practice, was an Attorney for the Juvenile Officer & Assistant Prosecutor both Jackson County. Ms. Snell has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a member of Missouri & Kansas Bar Associations, the ABA, KCMBA, AWL. She is past Chair of the Children and the Law; ABA/YLD and past Chair of the Juvenile Law Committee for KCMBA.


Kristen Sparks's Profile

Kristen Sparks Related seminars and products

Garnholz Sparks


Kristen Sparks is a partner at the Clayton-based law firm of Garnholz Sparks. Kristen's practice is focused on Family Law, Probate and Estate Planning. She has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in the area of Family Law in 2019, 2020 and 2021. 


Michelle Spirn Related seminars and products

Spirn Family Law, LLC


Michelle J. Spirn has over twenty years of experience in all facets of family law litigation. She is proud to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a national organization whose members are committed to practicing family law at the highest levels of skill, honesty, integrity, and professionalism. Michelle is on the executive committee of the Missouri Chapter and chairs the national Professionalism Committee. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers In America since 2019 and was named Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law in 2021.  
Michelle has also been designated a St. Louis “Super Lawyer” since 2014 by Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers, published by Thomson Reuters. Since 2015, the same publication listed her as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers” in Missouri and Kansas, and a “Top 50 St. Louis Super Lawyer” in 2021 . She holds the “AV” rating of the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory, the highest rating an attorney can achieve.  Between 2016 and 2021, Michelle served the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel on its Region X Disciplinary Committee, which investigates complaints against attorneys by the public.
Michelle graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1996 and George Washington University in 1992.

 


Larry Swall's Profile

Larry Swall Related seminars and products

Gates Shields Ferguson Swall Hammond, P.A.


Larry V. Swall is a family law attorney, licensed in Kansas and Missouri, with offices in Overland Park and Liberty. His private practice is concentrated in areas of family law and domestic mediation. Practicing for over 30 years, Mr. Swall was twice honored by the Missouri Bar.




Molly Wilson's Profile

Molly Wilson Related seminars and products

Pratt & Grisham, LLC


After growing up in small farming community in Central Illinois, Molly attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale where she graduated cum laude and received her Bachelor of Science and minor in Spanish. Molly then received her Juris Doctor from University of Missouri School of Law in 2014, and then became a licensed attorney after passing the Missouri Bar that same year. While in law school, Molly committed herself to helping families in need by participating in the Family Violence Clinic, which assisted families in the Columbia area with legal representation. She also served as an Editor of the Journal of Environmental and Sustainability Law.

After graduating law school, Molly moved to Hannibal, Missouri where she practiced family law, juvenile law, estate law and further, served as the city prosecutor. In 2017, Molly moved to Springfield, Missouri where she began representing families in their legal matters throughout Greene, Christian, Lawrence, Webster and Polk County. Molly was proud to join the law firm of Pratt & Grisham in 2019 where she handles divorce, custody, guardianship and adoption cases. She also acts as Guardian ad Litem for children involved in family law cases.

As a licensed foster parent, Molly is an advocate for children outside of work as well. She and her husband enjoy spending time serving their Church and community while raising their adorable children.


Catherine Zacharias's Profile

Catherine Zacharias Related seminars and products

Office of State Courts Administrator


Catherine has been with the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator since 1998 as legal counsel. Her duties have included several diverse areas such as staff for Missouri State Judicial Records Committee, Missouri Court Automation Committee, Family Court Committee, and other Supreme Court committees, working on electronic filing design and rules, reviewing contracts, advising on employment issues, reviewing and tracking legislation and legal research.
Prior to coming to OSCA, Catherine was an administrative hearing officer at DOR for DWI hearing and was a litigation attorney for the Dept. of Social Services. She worked for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri during and after law school.
Catherine received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1989 and her J.D. from St. Louis University in 1993.

 


Agenda

August 2

6-8 p.m. | Registration 

 

August 3

7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Registration  

7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Exhibits 

7:30-8:30 a.m. | Breakfast  

8:30-9:45 a.m. | Plenary 
Speaker: Julia F. Weber, San Francisco, CA 

9:45-10:10 a.m. | Network with exhibitors  

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout session 1  
TBA  
Speaker: Julia F. Weber

Mysteries of Family Support Division 
Speaker: Christina M. Hammers
, Missouri Attorney General's Office, Springfield  

GAL Track | Overview of mental health evaluations and interventions in family law cases     
Speaker: Rick Scott, Ph.D., Scott Psychological Associates, St. Louis  

Forensic accounting 
Speaker: Krista Shelton
, Focused Forensic Solutions LLC, Maryville 

Initial consultations and managing client expectations     
Speaker: Allison R. Gerli
, The Center for Family Law, St. Louis  

11-11:10 a.m. | Break  

11:10 a.m.-noon | Judicial panel  

Noon-1 p.m. | Lunch   

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout session 2  
Bringing and defending grandparent rights actions: Part 1     
Speaker: Kristen L. Sparks, Garnholz Sparks, St. Louis  

GAL Track | Issues in family law matters with children that do not have neurotypical patterns or behaviors  
Speaker: Jill M. Puertas
, The Law Offices of Jill Puertas LLC, St. Louis  

Mortgage expert      
Speaker: Emile Flowers
, USA Mortgage, Glen Carbon, IL  

Overview of child custody, support, maintenance, and property division      
Speaker: Cynthia Garnholz
, Garnholz Sparks, St. Louis 

2-2:10 p.m. | Break

2:10-3 p.m. | Breakout session 3 
QDROs and cocktails:  How to handcraft your order for a smooth transfer of assets 
Speaker: Carolyn G.  Buschjost
, Williams, Robinson, Rigler & Buschjost PC, Rolla 

Bringing and defending grandparent rights actions: Part 2     
Speaker: Kristen L. Sparks

GAL Track | Drug treatment/abuse post-legalization of marijuana and ideas for parenting plans 
Speaker: Abey Douglass
 

Disputes regarding real and personal property 
Speaker: Robert N. Hamilton
, Reinker, Hamilton & Fenley LLC, St. Louis 

File organization and drafting      
Speaker: Ann E. Bauer
, The Center for Family Law, St. Louis  
 
3-3:20 p.m. | Network with exhibitors  

3:20-4:10 p.m. | Breakout session 4  
Military and family law  
Speaker: Rachel Morgan
, Law Office of Doug Fredrick LLC, Springfield  

Still on the fence: The Missouri Arbitration Act and parenting coordination     
Speaker: Simone A. Haberstock
, The Law Offices of Simone A. Haberstock LLC, St. Louis  

GAL Track | Judicial Panel: What to expect from a GAL     

Giving your judgment teeth 
Speaker: James "Jimmy" N. Fendelman
, Fendelman, Paull & Associates LLC, St. Louis 

4:10-4:20 p.m. | Break  

4:20-5:30 p.m. | Popcorn Plenary  
Speaker: Barbara A. Glesner Fines, Dean, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City 

5:30-7 p.m. | Networking reception  

 

August 4

7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Registration  

7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Exhibits  

7:30-8:30 a.m. | Breakfast  

8:30 -10:10 a.m. | Plenary 
Speaker: Lundy Bancroft
, author, Northampton, MA 

10:10-10:30 a.m. | Network with exhibitors      

10:30-11:20 a.m. | Breakout session 5   
Effective orders for mental health interventions in parenting plans
Speakers: Simone A. Haberstock; Kevin J. Chafin,
Kevin Chafin LPC Inc, Kansas City

Duty to become self-supporting, what does that mean?      
Speaker: Michelle J. Spirn
, Spirn Family Law LLC, St. Louis  

GAL Track  
Speaker: Lundy Bancroft

The Exceptional Paralegal Track | Part 1     
Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie
, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Lauren D. Bower, Bower Law LLC, Parkville; Anne-Marie Hoecker, paralegal, St. Joseph; Alexis Thompson, paralegal, Parkville  

11:20 a.m.-12:50 p.m. | Lunch | Roger Krumm Award presentation     

1-1:50 p.m. | Breakout session 6  
College child support: General developments and the specific challenge of vocational education     
Speaker: Hon. Megan B. Benton
, Associate Circuit Judge, Platte City 

GAL Track | Tips for interviewing a child from a forensic investigator      
Speaker: Micki Lane
, Child Advocacy Center, Springfield 

Presenting Your Case Track | Hearsay in family law      
Speaker: J. Matthew Miller
, J. Matthew Miller, Attorney at Law LLC, Springfield

The Exceptional Paralegal Track | Part 2     
Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie
; Lauren D. Bower; Anne-Marie Hoecker; Alexis Thompson

1:50-2 p.m. | Break      

2-2:50 p.m. | Breakout session 7 
Judicial Panel | Child support issues  

GAL Track | Drug testing     
Speaker: Rebecca Gorham
, Hassle Free Testing LLC, Joplin 

The Exceptional Paralegal Track | Part 3     
Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie
; Lauren D. Bower; Anne-Marie Hoecker; Alexis Thompson

2:50-3:10 p.m. | Network with exhibitors  

3:10-4 p.m. | Breakout session 8  
Do's and mainly don'ts of service by publication in family law cases       
Speaker: Bruce H. Galloway
, Bruce Galloway LLC Trial Attorneys, Ozark 

Remote public access: Part 1     
Speakers: Pamela Roychaudhury
, Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Joplin; Molly R. Wilson, Pratt & Grisham LLC, Springfield; Catherine N. Zacharias, Office of State Courts Administrator, Jefferson City 

GAL Track | Permanency planning 
Speaker: Mary Kay O'Malley
, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City  

The Exceptional Paralegal Track | Part 4     
Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie
; Lauren D. Bower; Anne-Marie Hoecker; Alexis Thompson 

4-4:10 p.m. | Break      

4:10-5 p.m. | Breakout session 9 
Tackling the tough cases in family court     
Speaker: Laurie V. Snell, Attorney at Law, Kansas City  

Remote public access: Part 2     
Speakers: Pamela Roychaudhury
; Molly R. Wilson; Catherine N. Zacharias

Paternity presumptions      
Speaker: Larry V. Swall II
, Gates Shields Ferguson Swall Hammond PA, Liberty 

 

August 5

7:30-10:30 a.m. | Registration   

7:30-9 a.m. | Breakfast  

9-10:30 a.m. | Plenary  
Case law update  
Speaker: 
Andrew C. Scholz, Rooney McBride and Smith, LLC, Springfield

Pass Details

Standard Pass
Section Member Early: $360* | Regular: $415

  • Access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Provided meals:
    • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch, reception
    • Friday: Breakfast, lunch
    • Saturday: Breakfast

Standard Pass
Non-Section Member Early: $400* | Regular: $455

  • Access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Provided meals:
    • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch, reception
    • Friday: Breakfast, lunch
    • Saturday: Breakfast

Recording add-on for in-person participants: $60

  • Program recording access for 90 days. NOTE: Program recordings viewed after the event can only be reported for self-study. Pursuant to Regulation 15.04.5, a lawyer may receive up to six hours of self-study credit in a reporting year. Self-study programs do not qualify for GAL Certification, ethics, elimination of bias or Kansas credit.

Virtual Pass 
Section Member: $360* | Non-Member: $400

  • Virtual access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Program recording access for 90 days. NOTE: Program recordings viewed after the event can only be reported for self-study. Pursuant to Regulation 15.04.5, a lawyer may receive up to six hours of self-study credit in a reporting year. Self-study programs do not qualify for GAL Certification, ethics, elimination of bias or Kansas credit.

Law Student/Paralegal/Legal Aid Attorney or Paralegal/State Public Defender/Prosecutor/MO Protection & Advocacy Services
In-person Pass | $230

  • Access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Provided meals:
    • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch, reception
    • Friday: Breakfast, lunch
    • Saturday: Breakfast

Law Student/Paralegal/Legal Aid Attorney or Paralegal/State Public Defender/Prosecutor/MO Protection & Advocacy Services
Virtual Pass | $230
 

  • Virtual access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Program recording access for 90 days. NOTE: Program recordings viewed after the event can only be reported for self-study. Pursuant to Regulation 15.04.5, a lawyer may receive up to six hours of self-study credit in a reporting year. Self-study programs do not qualify for GAL Certification, ethics, elimination of bias or Kansas credit.

* Early rates end 7/7/23

Conference Lodging Rates

        

 

Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center
415 North State Highway 265 | Branson, MO

Rates are per night, plus tax, and resort fee:
King or Double Queen $155

Click on this link to reserve your sleeping room: http://bookings.ihotelier.com/bookings.jsp?groupID=3567974&hotelID=11529

Those wishing to make reservations by phone should call 1-888-333-5253 and use group code: “082022BAR” or mention “The Missouri Bar”.

Conference lodging rates end July 7, 2023, or when the block is filled, whichever occurs first.

Additional Meal Ticket Information

Additional meal ticket pricing:

All meals for children 5 and under are free.

Thursday breakfast - child 6-12 years - $15

Thursday breakfast - adult 13 and over - $30 

Thursday lunch - child 6-12 years - $15

Thursday lunch -  adult 13 and over - $30 

Thursday reception - $25 per person (all ages)

Friday breakfast - child 6-12 years - $15

Friday breakfast - adult 13 and over - $30 

Friday lunch - child 6-12 years - $15

Friday lunch - adult 13 and over - $30 

Saturday breakfast - child 6-12 years - $15

Saturday breakfast - adult 13 and over - $30 

If you would like to purchase additional meal tickets at a later date once you have completed the registration process, login to your MoBarCLE account, locate the 2023 Annual Family Law Conference, and click on the blue "Buy the Add-On" button. 

If any of your additional meal tickets require dietary restrictions, please contact us at mobarcle@mobar.org.

Join the Family Law Section

Membership dues for the Family Law Section are $20 per year.

If you are not a current Family Law Section and would like to join, you may do so HERE. If you choose to submit payment by check, your membership will not be valid until payment is received.

Cancellation Policy

2023 Family Law Conference Registration Cancellation & Refund Policy

  • All cancellation and refund requests must be in writing to mobarcle@mobar.org
     
  • A FULL REFUND of the registration fee will be issued if we receive your written cancellation by July 27, 2023. You will not have access to electronic course materials.
     
  • NO REFUND of the registration fee will be issued if we receive your written cancellation after July 27, 2023.  You will have access to electronic course materials.

Photo/Video/Comments Permission

MoBarCLE may take photos and video at this program. By attending, you give The Missouri Bar permission to use images or audio captured at these programs, as well as any written comment on evaluation forms, in any electronic or printed communications by The Missouri Bar and for any educational, advertising, and promotional purposes. You agree to release The Missouri Bar, its employees, agents, and designees from liability for any violation of any personal or proprietary right you may have in connection with such use.

COVID-19 Safety Information

The Missouri Bar takes the safety and well-being of its members, the public, and its employees very seriously. We will continue to monitor the coronavirus and its variants, adapting our services and events as appropriate, based on the advice of governments, public health authorities, and medical professionals.

•    We will inform you of any changes that affect you, especially when it comes to in-person events. This includes any cancellation notices or changes to venue, format, or safety guidelines.  

•    Whenever possible, any notices will be announced at least three days in advance of an event.

•    We encourage all attendees of Missouri Bar events to be aware of and follow CDC guidelines for large gatherings.

•    Help us keep everyone in attendance safe by not attending an event if, within the 10 days prior to the event:
    ♦  You have tested positive for COVID-19; 
    ♦  You have experienced any symptoms of COVID-19; or
    ♦  You have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.  

•    Be respectful of the personal comfort level of other attendees when it comes to physical distancing, including shaking hands or other gestures common in networking environments.

By registering for and attending a Missouri Bar event, you agree to take necessary measures, including departing the event, and to notify The Missouri Bar at COVID-Advise@mobar.org if you test positive for COVID-19 or begin to experience symptoms of COVID-19. Furthermore, you agree to notify The Missouri Bar at COVID-Advise@mobar.org if you test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days after the event.   

Please also be advised that, pursuant to RSMo. 537.1005, effective Aug. 28, 2021, “under Missouri law, any individual entering the premises or engaging the services of the business waives all civil liability against the individual or entity for any damages based on inherent risks associated with an exposure or potential exposure to COVID-19, except for recklessness or willful misconduct.”

Please contact The Missouri Bar with any questions or concerns.