City of Clayton Declares March 1st Through 8th as Divorce With Respect Week®

Bridget McAndrew, Mayor of Clayton, Missouri has proclaimed March 1-8, 2026 as Divorce With Respect Week® under a proclamation recognizing the Collaborative Family Law Association of St. Louis’ (CFLA) commitment to helping couples across Clayton manage their divorce process in a caring and respectful manner. Divorce With Respect Week® is an opportunity for couples to discover better ways to unite the knot like the Collaborative Divorce process.

The Clayton proclamation highlights that Divorce With Respect Week® provide couples with information on alternatives to traditional litigation, empowering individuals and families with the knowledge and resources to navigate divorce with dignity and respect so that a win-win situation can be their conclusion.

During Divorce With Respect Week® participating divorce professionals in Missouri are offering free virtual consultations for anyone interested in learning more about the options for divorce that are available to them. This is the 5th annual Divorce With Respect Week® which is a national effort to educate families about the benefits of the Collaborative Divorce process.

The Collaborative Family Law Association of St. Louis is a not-for-profit organization of independent, unaffiliated, attorneys, mental health, and financial professionals, committed to resolving family disputes through a non-adversarial process known as Collaborative Practice. By choosing to participate in the Collaborative Process you can avoid traditional court litigation.

Anyone interested in speaking to a divorce financial expert, mental health professional, child specialist, or attorney in the Missouri area during Divorce With Respect Week should visit www.divorcewithrespectweek.com/dwrw-Missouri/ to book a free consultation with a local professional.

Missouri House of Representatives Declares March 1st Through 8th as Divorce With Respect Week®

The Missouri House of Representatives has proclaimed March 1-8, 2026 as Divorce With Respect Week® throughout the state of Missouri. The proclamation recognizes both the Collaborative Family Law Association of St. Louis (CFLA) and Collaborative Practice of Kansas City (CPKC) commitment to helping couples across the St Louis region of Missouri manage their divorce process in a caring and respectful manner. Divorce With Respect Week® is an opportunity for couples to discover better ways to unite the knot like the Collaborative Divorce process.
The Missouri proclamation highlights that Divorce With Respect Week® is an opportunity to provide alternatives to traditional litigation, empowering individuals and families with the knowledge and resources to navigate divorce with dignity and respect so that a win-win situation can be their conclusion.
During Divorce With Respect Week® participating divorce professionals in Missouri are offering free virtual consultations for anyone interested in learning more about the options for divorce that are available to them. This is the 5th annual Divorce With Respect Week® which is a national effort to educate families about the benefits of the Collaborative Divorce process.
The Collaborative Family Law Association of St. Louis is a not-for-profit organization of independent, unaffiliated, attorneys, mental health, and financial professionals, committed to resolving family disputes through a non-adversarial process known as Collaborative Practice. By choosing to participate in the Collaborative Process you can avoid traditional court litigation.
The Collaborative Practice Kansas City, LLC is a greater Kansas City community of independent legal, mental health and financial professionals working in concert to create client-centered processes for resolving divorce conflict. Members of the group trust and value these professions equally and respect the skills they each bring to clients’ needs.
Anyone interested in speaking to a divorce financial expert, mental health professional, child specialist, or attorney in the Missouri area during Divorce With Respect Week should visit www.divorcewithrespectweek.com/dwrw-Missouri/ to book a free consultation with a local professional.

March 3rd Through 9th Declared Divorce With Respect Week® In Missouri

Divorce With Respect Week® is a chance for couples to learn more about peaceful divorce options and how to divorce with respect by staying out of court.

The state of Missouri has proclaimed March 3-9 to be Divorce With Respect Week®. Divorce With Respect Week® is a chance for couples to learn more about peaceful divorce options and how to divorce with respect by staying out of court. 

Signed by the Missouri House of Representatives, the proclamation said that Collaborative Divorce allows couples more privacy in resolving their differences and is often less time consuming and expensive compared to litigated divorce. 

“We want to thank the state of Missouri for declaring it Divorce With Respect Week®,” said Attorney Jennifer Piper. “This initiative is so important for couples and people to know about because there is a better way to divorce out there, one that protects your peace and family." 

During Divorce With Respect Week® divorce professionals across Missouri are offering free virtual consultations for anyone interested in learning more about the divorce options that are available to them. This is the 4th annual Divorce With Respect Week® which is a national effort to inform more people about the benefits of the Collaborative Divorce process. 

Anyone interested in speaking to a divorce attorney, divorce financial expert, mental health professional or child specialist, during Divorce With Respect Week® should visit www.divorcewithrespectweek.com to book a free consultation with a divorce professional near them.

St Louis Collaborative Family Law Association Joins Divorce WIth Respect Week® 2025

St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association is participating in Divorce With Respect Week®   from March 3-9, 2025, again this year. Members at St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association will offer free 30-minute consultations during Divorce With Respect Week® for potential clients to learn more about their options for divorce. 

“During Divorce With Respect Week®, the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association is here to educate couples on how Collaborative Divorce can provide a positive path forward,” said Jennifer Piper. “ Our divorce professionals help divorcing couples in a way that prioritizes the well-being of the family.” 

Divorce With Respect Week® is a nationwide initiative that spreads awareness and educates people about the Collaborative Divorce process as an out court option for divorce. To learn more about Collaborative Divorce, or to book a free consultation with a member of the  St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association, visit www.divorcewithrespectweek.com. where you will find a list of all participating professionals throughout the United States.   
St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association is a not-for-profit group of independent divorce professionals. The goal is to work with couples to help them end their marriages respectfully by  providing emotional, legal, and financial divorce advice. Learn more about St. Louis Collaborative Family Law at https://stlouiscollaborativelaw.com/.

Collaborative Lawyer, Ann Bauer, has been named an ICON by Missouri Lawyers Media

Missouri Lawyers Media to award 25 ICONs in 2024

Missouri Lawyers Media will acknowledge the remarkable and noteworthy professional journeys of 25 lawyers and judges through the ICON Awards. This annual event celebrates individuals aged 60 and above in the Missouri legal community, honoring their exceptional careers and unwavering dedication to their profession. Nominees, whether currently practicing or retired, must have held a prominent role with significant decision-making power within their firm or organization. The 2024 awardees comprise of state and federal judges, founding partners, leaders of firms, and experienced practitioners from both large and small firms.

The St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association is proud to congratulate Ann Bauer on her distinguished career and recognition.

Sara Marler sits down with KMOV's David Amelotti to discuss Divorce With Respect Week

Divorce With Dignity

Sara Marler sat down with KMOV's David Amelotti to discuss Collaborative Divorce.

DAVID:                 THIS WEEK IS DIVORCE WITH RESPECT WEEK AND A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS SHOW THE RATES OF DIVORCE IN AMERICA IS RISING. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS DATA, IT WAS 7.1 OUT OF EVERY ONE-THOUSAND WOMEN, UP 3% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE DIVORCE RATE IN MISSOURI WAS UP 2.5% AND ILLINOIS WITH THE DIVORCE RATE OF 5.7%. WHILE DIVORCE CAN BE CONTENTIOUS, WHILE DIVORCE CAN BE CONTENTIOUS, A WHILE DIVORCE CAN BE CONTENTIOUS, A GROUP IN ST. LOUIS IS LOOKING TO HELP PEOPLE DIVORCE DIVORCE WITH DIGNITY. WE HAVE SARAH MARLER WITH THE COLLABORATIVE LAW ASSOCIATION. THIS IS A TOPIC AFFECTING TOO MANY PEOPLE AND WITH DIVORCE WITH RESPECT WEEK, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS AND HOW IS DIVORCE WITH DIGNITY POSSIBLE? 

SARA:                    THE ST. LOUIS COLLABORATIVE FAMILY LAW ASSOCIATION IS REALLY EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE DIVORCE WITH RESPECT WEEK AND RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF MISSOURI THIS YEAR AND THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY FAMILY COURTS AND ST. LOUIS CITY. IT'S AN IMPORTANT TIME TO RECOGNIZE THERE'S A WAY TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS OUT OF THE COURT SYSTEM. IT'S A WAY TO GET YOUR ATTENTION TO TRY TO HELP FOLKS TRANSITION FROM MARRIED IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD TO UNTYING THE KNOT WHILE NOT BLOWING THROUGH YOUR WHILE NOT BLOWING THROUGH YOUR ENTIRE ESTATE AND BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN YOUR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

DAVID:                 IT'S ACTUALLY ALLOWING BOTH PEOPLE TO THRIVE BEYOND THAT MARRIAGE PEOPLE TO THRIVE BEYOND THAT MARRIAGE ONCE PEOPLE TO THRIVE BEYOND THAT MARRIAGE ONCE IT ENDS. IF A COUPLE COMES TO YOU, MARRIAGE ONCE IT ENDS, WHAT DOES THIS PROCESS LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE IN UNDERSTAND THERE'S SEVERAL PROFESSIONALS A PART OF THIS TRYING TO HELP A COUPLE PART TRYING TO HELP A COUPLE REACH THEIR END GOAL HERE. 

SARA:                    CORRECT, SO IF YOU GO THROUGH A TRADITIONAL DIVORCE, IT'S SORT OF A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACH. THAT’S NOT HOW THIS IS HANDLED AT ALL.  WE HAVE CHILD SPECIALISTS THAT CAN BE INVOLVED. WE HAVE COMMUNICATION COACHES THAT CAN BE INVOLVED AND FINANCIAL EXPERTS THAT CAN BE INVOLVED AND, OF COURSE, EACH PERSON HAS THEIR OWN ATTORNEY. BUT WE TAILOR THAT,   THOSE EXPERTS ARE NOT OBVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN EVERY SINGLE CASE, IT DEPENDS ON THE CASE AND WHO NEEDS WHAT. BUT THE OTHER KEY PIECE TO THIS ELEMENT OF THIS PROCESS IS YOU, THE COUPLE, GET TO TAILOR HOW YOUR CASE LOOKS.  THE COURT IS NOT CONTROLLING THE TIMELINE. THE COURT IS NOT CONTROLLING THE OUTCOME THE COURT IS NOT DICTATING WHAT REST OF YOUR LIFE LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS CHILD SUPPORT OR WHEN YOU SEE YOUR CHILDREN. YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE ARE DOING THAT. 

DAVID:                 AND WHAT DOES THE SUCCESS RATE LOOK WITH THIS? 

SARA:                    THE SUCCESS RATE IS HUGE, 90% POSITIVE RESULTS ARE COMING FROM GOING THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS

DAVID:                 WONDERFUL, AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR GROUP SPECIFICALLY, WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO? 

SARA:                    STLOUISCOLLABORATIVELAW.COM.

DAVID:                 WONDERFUL! WELL SARAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, DON’T WORRY WE’LL HAVE THAT UP FOR YOU AT FIRSTALERT4.COM AND OF COURSE THE  FIRST ALERT 4 NEW APP. 

City of Clayton Declares March 4th through 8th, 2024, to be Divorce With Respect Week

The City of Clayton, Missouri has issued a proclamation declaring March 4-8, 2024, to be Divorce With Respect Week™ in St. Louis. For the duration of the week, members of the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association are offering free 30-minute divorce consultations for anyone seeking to learn more about the divorce process and divorce process options that are available to them.  

Divorce With Respect Week™ is a growing national movement led by divorce professionals to raise awareness of Collaborative Divorce as a better option for divorce than going to court. Nearly 500 divorce professionals nationwide are participating in Divorce With Respect Week™ in 2024.

“When people think of divorce, they think of a tumultuous process that often wastes time and leaves people traumatized, but it doesn’t have to be that way.” said Jennifer Piper, an attorney and member of the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association.“Collaborative Divorce does the unconventional in that clients actually lead the discussion on the divorce outcome, not a judge.” 

When clients choose a Collaborative Divorce, they don’t just receive the help of their individual attorneys – they also receive guidance from a divorce financial expert, a mental health professional, and a child specialist for any children involved in the case. With a team of professionals on their side, clients can resolve any issues without going to court and causing lasting emotional damage to them and their families. 

St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association is a not-for-profit organization of independent mental health professionals, attorneys, and financial professionals dedicated to assisting St. Louis and Missouri in resolving family disputes through Collaborative Divorce. Members recently featured on The Respectful Divorce Podcast, where they discussed exactly how a Collaborative Divorce has benefited St. Louis

To schedule a free divorce consultation with a St. Louis divorce professional during Divorce With Respect Week™, visit www.divorcewithrespectweek.com.

City of St. Louis Declares March 4th through 8th, 2024, to be Divorce With Respect Week

he City of St. Louis, Missouri has issued a proclamation declaring March 4-8, 2024, to be Divorce With Respect Week™in St. Louis. For the duration of the week, members of the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association are offering free 30-minute divorce consultations for anyone seeking to learn more about the divorce process and divorce process options that are available to them.  

“Choosing an out-of-court divorce process is widely understood to be a better process for the children of the divorcing couple because it allows the divorcing parties to co-parent and to end the marriage without destroying the family's relationships and financial estate,” the proclamation stated. 

Divorce With Respect Week™ is a growing national movement led by divorce professionals to raise awareness of Collaborative Divorce as a better option for divorce than going to court. Nearly 500 divorce professionals nationwide are participating in Divorce With Respect Week™ in 2024.

“The city recognizing Divorce With Respect Week™ is incredibly helpful in our mission to revolutionize the way people divorce,” said Cynthia Garnholz, attorney and member of St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association.

St. Louis has a divorce rate of 12.5%, which is higher than the national average – but separating doesn’t have to cause severe irreparable damages to the family dynamic. When clients choose a Collaborative Divorce, they don’t just receive the help of their individual attorneys – they also receive guidance from a divorce financial expert, a mental health professional, and a child specialist for any children involved in the case. With a team of professionals on their side, clients can resolve any issues without going to court and causing lasting emotional damage to them and their families. 

St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association is a not-for-profit organization of independent mental health professionals, attorneys, and financial professionals dedicated to assisting St. Louis and Missouri in resolving family disputes through Collaborative Divorce. 

To schedule a free divorce consultation with a St. Louis divorce professional during Divorce With Respect Week™, visit www.divorcewithrespectweek.com.

St. Louis County Declares March 4th through 8th, 2024, to be Divorce With Respect Week

St. Louis County, Missouri has issued a proclamation declaring March 4-8, 2024 to be Divorce With Respect Week in St. Louis County. During Divorce With Respect Week, members of the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association are offering free 30-minute divorce consultations for anyone seeking to learn more about the divorce process and divorce process options that are available to them.  

“Choosing an out-of-court divorce process is widely understood to be a better process for the children of the divorcing couple because it allows the divorcing parties to co-parent and to end the marriage without destroying the family's relationships and financial estate,” the proclamation stated. 

Divorce With Respect Week is a growing national movement led by divorce professionals to raise awareness of Collaborative Divorce as an alternative to litigation. Over 500 divorce professionals nationwide have joined in Divorce With Respect Week this year.  

St. Louis has a divorce rate of 12.5%, which is higher than the national average – but separating doesn’t have to cause severe irreparable damages to the family dynamic. When clients choose a Collaborative Divorce, they don’t just receive the help of their individual attorneys – they also work with a divorce financial expert, a mental health professional, and a child specialist for any children involved in the case. With a team of professionals on their side, clients can resolve any uncertainties without going to court and causing lasting emotional damage to them and their families. 

St. Louis residents seeking Collaborative professionals can contact the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association, a a not-for-profit organization of independent mental health professionals, attorneys, and financial professionals dedicated to resolving family disputes through Collaborative Divorce. 

“The county’s recognition of Divorce With Respect Week is so important because it lets families know there’s another way to go about divorcing without causing lasting emotional, financial and legal problems,” said Susan Amato, attorney and member of St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association.

To schedule a free divorce consultation with a St. Louis divorce professional during Divorce With Respect Week, visit www.divorcewithrespectweek.com.

The State of Missouri has Declared March 4th-8th, 2024, to be Divorce With Respect Week

The Missouri House of Representatives has issued a proclamation declaring March 4-8, 2024, to be Divorce With Respect Week in the state of Missouri. During Divorce With Respect Week, members of the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association and Collaborative Practice Kansas City are offering free 30-minute divorce consultations for anyone seeking to learn more about the divorce process and divorce process options that are available to them.

“The Collaborative Divorce process is designed to allow the couple to divorce in a more respectful and dignified manner as they receive guidance from lawyers, child specialists, mental health professionals and financial coaches to craft their own agreements.” the proclamation stated.

Divorce With Respect Week is a growing national movement led by divorce professionals to raise awareness of Collaborative Divorce as a better option for divorce than going to court. Over 500 divorce professionals nationwide are participating Divorce With Respect Week in 2024.

“The state’s recognition of Divorce With Respect Week is so important because it lets families know there’s another way to go about divorcing without causing lasting emotional, financial and legal problems,” said Susan Amato, attorney and member of St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association.



With a divorce rate of 12.2%, Missouri has one of the highest divorce rates in the country – but separating doesn’t have to cause severe irreparable damages to the family dynamic. When clients choose a Collaborative Divorce, they don’t just receive the help of their individual attorneys – they also receive guidance from a divorce financial expert, a mental health professional, and a child specialist for any children involved in the case. With a team of professionals on their side, clients can resolve any issues without going to court and causing lasting emotional damage to them and their families.

During Divorce With Respect Week, Missouri residents can turn to St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association and Collaborative Practice Kansas City for a divorce consultation. Both are a collective of divorce professionals dedicated to assisting St. Louis and Missouri in resolving family disputes through Collaborative Divorce.

To schedule a free divorce consultation with a St. Louis or Kansas City divorce professional during Divorce With Respect Week, visit www.divorcewithrespectweek.com.