Become A Member - Collaborative Family Law Association of St. Louis

Collaborative Family Law Association

Join CFLA

Become a New Member

If you are interested in joining CFLA, here is the New Member Application.

Download New Member Application.  If you have any questions, please contact our Membership Committee Chair, Kristen Sparks at ksparks@garnholzlaw.com.

To be a member you must meet the requirements below. Annual membership fees are $300 for full membership and $200 for associate membership.

For Full and Associate Level Membership

Attorney: Lawyer Licensed in Missouri

  • Practiced law for a minimum of three years.
  • 40% of your practice must involve family law issues during the preceding three years.

Mental Health Professional–coach or child specialist): LCSW, LPC, MFT, or SCOP

  • Completed three years of post-graduate clinical experience (mater’s level or above).
  • For participation as a coach, experience in family systems theory, individual and family life cycle development, assessment of individual and family strengths, assessment and challenges of family dynamics in separation and divorce, or the challenge of restructuring families after separation
  • For participation as a child specialist, also experience in child development with a focus on the impact of divorce and children’s issues in divorce

Financial Professional: CFP, CPA, CMA, or CDP

  • Three years of experience and education in the financial aspects of divorce or personal financial planning concepts, which may include cash management and spending plans, retirement and pension plans, income tax, investments, real estate, insurance, property valuation and division, or individual and family financial planning concepts.
  • 20 hours of education in the financial fundamentals of divorce giving the financial professional a basic understanding of family law, including: divorce procedures, property valuation and division, pensions and retirement plans, budgeting income and expenses, child and spousal support, future income projections, or financial implications of different scenarios for settlement.

Within three years of initial membership approval, all members must also complete the following training:

40-hour mediation training (including divorce mediation)—associate member status until 40-hour mediation training complete.
12 Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training taught by trainers who meet the IACP minimum standards for trainers.
For non-mental health professionals, three-hour family systems training (provided by CFLA).
For non-financial professionals, three-hour divorce financial fundamentals of divorce training (provided by CFLA).
For non-lawyers, three-hour basic understanding of family law training (provided by CFLA).

Once approved, to maintain membership status, CFLA member requirements include:

Actively participate as a member of CFLA, participating in business meetings, continuing education, study groups, and social events. Active participation means three general membership meetings a year.
Actively serve on a CFLA committee or on the board of directors (active participation generally means attending at least 50% of meetings.
Complete 10 hours of continue education or training every two years in any of the following: collaborative practice, advanced mediation, family law, or other training relevant to collaborative practice.
Carry malpractice insurance at no less than the minimum coverage offered by your professional malpractice carrier for your discipline and role.

Questions about membership? 

St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association

Divorce … A Different Way, A Better Way, With Integrity.
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