2025 Annual Family Law Conference

Session Descriptions

Thursday, August 14, 2025
8:30-9:45 a.m. | Plenary 1 | Versailles/Windsor
Family law then and now: Intergenerational perspectives

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

9:45-10:10 a.m. | Exhibitor Break

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout 01A | Vienna/Edinburgh
Why perform a vocational assessment?
The discussion will encompass the key aspects of an assessment, what knowledge is gained in an assessment, a better understanding of how an assessment can benefit both sides, and finally, presenting the abilities of the individual's capacity to work and support themselves.

Learning objectives:

• Reasons to obtain an evaluation.
• The information gathered in an evaluation.
• Wage capacity assessment.
• Labor Market Search.
• Employability. The ability to support oneself.

Speakers: Jacqueline E. Crawford-Apperson, Attorney at Law, Springfield; Kristine Skahan, Skahan Vocational Consulting, Inc., Blue Springs

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout 01B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
GAL Track | Divorce impacts (age 0-12)

Speakers: Erika Ottolini, Artemis Counseling Services LLC, St. Louis; Rebecca Growe, Growe Counseling LLC, St. Louis

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout 01C | Innsbruck
Shepherding your client through the administrative hearings process

Speakers: Michelle Coleman, Missouri Department of Social Services, Jefferson City; Alice L. Shockley, Missouri Department of Social Services, Collins

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout 01D | Barcelona/Madrid
Criminal issues in family law

Speaker: Dakota W. Paris, Douglas, Haunt, Heidemann, PC, Bolivar

11-11:20 a.m. | Break

11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. | Breakout 02A | Vienna/Edinburgh
Anticipating objections

Speaker: Michael L. Taylor, Taylor Siemens Elliott Creedy & Lyle PC, St. Joseph

11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. | Breakout 02B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
GAL Track | Divorce impacts (age 0-12)

Speakers: Erika Ottolini, Artemis Counseling Services LLC, St. Louis; Rebecca Growe, Growe Counseling LLC, St. Louis

11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. | Breakout 02C | Innsbruck
AI for Family lawyers

Speaker: Jordan Turk, Smokeball, Chicago, IL

11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. | Breakout 02D | Barcelona/Madrid
The intersection of immigration and family law
Immigration is a hot topic today. How do immigration and family law intersect? What particular issues should family law attorneys be aware of when representing non-citizens in different contexts.

Learning objectives:

• An introduction to asking the right questions when faced with a non-U.S. Citizen client.
• The impact of family law cases for certain non-U.S. citizens.
• Immigration cases which may require representation in the family law context.

Speakers: Nevada M. Smith, Smith Law Offices, LLC, St. Charles; Monica N. Smith, Smith Law Offices, LLC, St. Charles

12:10-1:10 p.m. | Lunch 

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout 03A | Vienna/Edinburgh
Business valuation

Speaker: Eric Ficken, MDD Forensic Accountants, St. Louis

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout 03B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
GAL Track | Special education practice: Law tips

Speaker: Julia A. Chaney-Faughn, Cruse Chaney-Faughn, PC, Hannibal

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout 03C | Innsbruck
Ethical issues in discovery

Speaker: Michael P. Downey, Downey Law Group LLC, St. Louis

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout 03D | Barcelona/Madrid
Anticipating custody modifications

Speaker: Allison C. Tschannen, Kranitz & Kranitz, PC, St. Joseph

2-2:20 p.m. | Break

2:20-3:10 p.m. | Breakout 04A | Vienna/Edinburgh
Business valuation from a forensic accounting perspective and a litigation perspective
Presenting in conjunction with C. Eric Ficken, CPA, CVA, CFF, MA , we will conduct a joint presentation where Eric will discuss the basics of business valuation, followed by Anne addressing some discovery basics for attorneys. Eric will then elaborate upon some unique issues confronting business valuation experts, and Anne will discuss expert depositions, experts in mediation, and use of experts at trial.

Attendees will gain a working knowledge of business valuation in the family law context, some issues to pay attention to in the course of discovery, and an understanding of how attorneys and business valuation experts can work effectively together throughout the litigation process from discovery to trial.

Speakers: Eric Ficken, MDD Forensic Accountants, St. Louis; Anne Lageson, Paule Camazine & Blumenthal PC, St. Louis

2:20-3:10 p.m. | Breakout 04B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
GAL Track |  Permanency planning

Speaker: Brock Whisler, Missouri CASA Association, Columbia

2:20-3:10 p.m. | Breakout 04C | Innsbruck
Duties to clients in family court

Speaker: Laurie V. Snell, Attorney at Law, Kansas City

2:20-3:10 p.m. | Breakout 04D | Barcelona/Madrid
A fish out of water - What family law attorneys need to know about appellate practice
Taking a family law matter to the Court of Appeals involves a very different set of skills and rules unique to appellate practice. This session will describe some of the issues family law attorneys face and some best practices to give you the best chance for success.

Learning objectives:

• The importance of understanding and applying the appellate practice rules.
• Dealing with local court rules in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
• How to assure your issues have been preserved for appellate review.
• How to write a brief.
• How to handle an oral argument.

Speaker: Alan E. Freed, Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, PC, St. Louis

3:10-3:30 p.m. | Break

3:30-4:20 p.m. | Breakout 05A | Vienna/Edinburgh
Judicial panel: Evidentiary issues

Speakers: Comm. Jessica L. Kruse, Christian County Circuit Court, Ozark; Hon. Myles A. Perry, Platte County Circuit Court, Div. VI, Platte City; Hon. Sue M. Crane, 13th Judicial Circuit Court, Fulton; Hon. Emily J. Fretwell, 19th Judicial Circuit, Jefferson City; Anne E. Kern (Moderator), Van Matre, Columbia

3:30-4:20 p.m. | Breakout 05B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
GAL Track | Standards

Speakers: Austin E. Williamson, Rooney McBride & Smith, PLLC, Springfield; Brittnee L. Hill, Douglas, Haun & Heidemann, Bolivar

3:30-4:20 p.m. | Breakout 05C | Innsbruck
Surviving and even thriving in law's most difficult practice area

Speaker: Craig D. Ritchie, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph

3:30-4:20 p.m. | Breakout 05D | Barcelona/Madrid
The amazing Line 11 and rebutting the presumption of the paying parent
Do not miss this exciting presentation!  Jason and Nick will discuss Line 11, explaining the evidence you need to present to receive the maximum discount, the difference between duplicated and non-duplicated fixed expenses and flipping the presumption of the paying parent.

Learning objectives:

• Basic understanding of Line 11.
• Increasing the discount from 34% to 50%.
• How to present evidence on the payment of non-duplicated fixed expenses.
• Rebutting the presumption of the paying parent.
• CLEs can be fun!

Speakers: Jason L. Clough, Clough Law Firm, LLC, Springfield; Nicholas M. Venute, Nick Venute Law Offices, LLC, Springfield

4:20-4:45 p.m. | Exhibitor Break 

4:45-6:00 p.m. | Popcorn Plenary | Versailles/Windsor
Popcorn plenary

Speaker: Dean Barbara A. Glesner Fines, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City

6:00 p.m. | Adjourn

Friday, August 15, 2025
7:30-8:30am | Breakfast 

8:30-9:45 am | Plenary 3 | Versailles/Windsor
GAL Track | Minimizing bias and premature closure: A rubric for the evaluation and adjudication of resist refuse dynamics

Speaker: Dr. Benjamin D. Garber, Ph.D., Family Law Consulting, PLLC, Hollis, NH

9:45-10:10 a.m. | Exhibitor Break 

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout 06A | Vienna/Edinburgh
GAL Track | Judicial panel-Resist/refuse dynamics

Speakers: Comm. Gretchen L. Yancey, 13th Judicial Circuit Court, Columbia; Comm. Lisa M. Dube, 16th Judicial Circuit, Jackson County, Kansas City; Comm. Kyle L. Kanable, 31st Circuit Court, Family Court Division 1, Springfield; Hon. Jeffrey P. Medler, St. Louis County Circuit Judge, St. Louis; Hon. David A. Roither, 22nd Judicial Circuit, St. Louis; Tamara A. Veit (moderator), McElligott, Ewan & Hall, PC, Independence; Simone A. Haberstock (moderator), The Law Offices of Simone A. Haberstock, LLC, Richmond Heights

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout 06B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
Juvenile courts-The intersection of juvenile court and family court
This session should help the average Family Law practitioner navigate Juvenile Courts and provide information on how and when the two worlds intersect. Attendees should also learn the language of Juvenile Courts and how they can best advocate for their client in that world.

Learning objectives:

• When and how Children's Division and the Juvenile Office become involved with and take protective custody of children.
• When and whether you should be present in informal proceedings when your client is a parent of an involved youth.
• What the delinquency world is and how to best represent parents who may also be involved with Family Court while their child is involved in delinquency proceedings.
• Custody Orders entered in Juvenile Court - Modifying them later.

Speaker: Michele Hammond, St. Charles County Juvenile Justice Center, St. Charles

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout 06C | Innsbruck
Clients in crisis

Speaker: Dena B. Tranen, The Care Collective, LLC, St. Louis

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout 06D | Barcelona/Madrid
Paralegal Track | Using ChatGPT to improve your efficiency, professionalism, and profitability

Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Lauren D. Bower, Bower Law LLC, Parkville; Anne-Marie Hoecker, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Alexis Thompson, Bower Law LLC, Parkville

11-11:20 a.m. | Break

11:20-12:10 p.m. | Breakout 07A | Vienna/Edinburgh
Why the heck aren’t we doing this already? Advance orientation (AO) can improve satisfaction, efficiency, and efficacy in PPEs
Nursing, medicine, dentistry and other allied fields have produced 50 years of research documenting the fact that when consumers of a service participate in an ADVANCE ORIENTATION to the service, the service becomes more satisfying, effective, and efficient. This presentation introduces advance orientation programming to family law. Programming now available at DEFUSEdivorce.com will be used to illustrate the value of advance orientation to custody litigants. Research now underway to document these benefits will be presented.

Learning objectives:

• Participants will understand the nature, benefits, and process of advance orientation.
• Participants will become familiar with the empirically demonstrated benefits of advance orientation in allied fields.
• Participants will better understand how advance orientation can make parenting plan evaluation and similar court-ordered activities more satisfying, more effective, and more efficient with trickle down benefits including fewer board complaints, less aversion to forensic work among mental health providers, less stress and lower costs, and greater benefit to children.

Speaker: Dr. Benjamin D. Garber, Ph.D., Family Law Consulting, PLLC, Hollis, NH

11:20-12:10 p.m. | Breakout 07B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
GAL Track | Title TBD

Speaker: Hon. Tracy Z. Gonzalez, Boone County Court House, Columbia

11:20-12:10 p.m. | Breakout 07C | Innsbruck
Mediation: Ethical hazards and missed opportunities

Speakers: Simone A. Haberstock, The Law Offices of Simone A. Haberstock, LLC, Richmond Heights; Alan E. Freed, Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, PC, St. Louis

11:20-12:10 p.m. | Breakout 07D | Barcelona/Madrid
Paralegal Track | Systematizing your routines for better efficiency

Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Lauren D. Bower, Bower Law LLC, Parkville; Anne-Marie Hoecker, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Alexis Thompson, Bower Law LLC, Parkville

12:10-1:10 p.m. | Lunch/Roger Krumm Award Presentation 

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout 08A | Vienna/Edinburgh 
Missouri parentage after A.I.A.K. & E.H.K

Speakers: Joanna Beck Wilkinson, Law Offices of Mary Beck, Columbia; Harold V. O'Rourke, Stewart Mittleman & O'Rourke LLC, St. Louis

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout 08B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
Counseling theory for lawyers
Lawyers and Judges regularly require family members to engage in counseling or therapy during or after litigation. This presentation will provide an overview of the various licensures available in Missouri, counseling theories often used by counselors or therapists working with families in conflict, and factors that impact positive outcomes. A greater understanding of the therapeutic process and collaboration between the legal system and the therapeutic system will support positive outcomes for families.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the Missouri laws and regulations that govern the people providing mental health services including the different educational requirements for the various licenses.
• Explore how a person’s willingness to change impacts the therapeutic process and the role a legal professional can play in supporting a client’s willingness to change.
• Learn about evidence-based counseling theories that are often utilized to help individuals, families, and parents in conflict.

Speaker: Jill M. Katz, Jill M. Katz, LLC, Kansas City

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout 08C | Innsbruck
Professional, courteous and civil: In court with trans clients

Speaker: Arden Pearson, Missouri Kansas Queer Law, North Kansas City

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout 08D | Barcelona/Madrid
Paralegal Track | Preparing and responding to discovery requests

Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Lauren D. Bower, Bower Law LLC, Parkville; Anne-Marie Hoecker, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Alexis Thompson, Bower Law LLC, Parkville

2-2:20 p.m. | Break

2:20-3:10 p.m. | Breakout 09A | Vienna/Edinburgh
Simplified trial preparation: Giving the judge what they actually need

Speaker: Hon. Justin M. Evans, Judiciary-State of Missouri, Marshfield

2:20-3:10 p.m. | Breakout 09B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz 
GAL Workshop

Speaker: Andrea L. Pate, Law Office of the Ozarks, Springfield

2:20-3:10 p.m. | Breakout 09C | Innsbruck
Tech Workshop

Speaker: Andrew C. Scholz, Rooney McBride and Smith, LLC, Springfield

2:20-3:10 p.m. | Breakout 09D | Barcelona/Madrid
Paralegal Track | How to obtain and prepare evidence for trial in dissolution and custody matters

Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Lauren D. Bower, Bower Law LLC, Parkville; Anne-Marie Hoecker, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Alexis Thompson, Bower Law LLC, Parkville

3:10-3:30 p.m. | Break

3:30-4:20 p.m. | Breakout 10A | Vienna/Edinburgh
Judicial panel: Golden year divorces

Speakers: Comm. John P. Lukachick, 31st Judicial Circuit, Springfield; Hon. Alisha Diane O'Hara, 7th Judicial Circuit, Division 3, Liberty; Alan E. Freed (Moderator), Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, PC, St. Louis

3:30-4:20 p.m. | Breakout 10B | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
GAL Track | Teen's wishes

Speaker: J.C. Weyand, 22nd Judicial Circuit - City of St. Louis Family Court, St. Louis

3:30-4:20 p.m. | Breakout 10C | Innsbruck
Forensic accounting

Speakers: Douglas C. Fredrick, Law Office of Doug Fredrick, LLC, Springfield; Krista Shelton, Focused Forensic Solutions, LLC, Maryville

4:20 p.m. | Adjourn 

Saturday, August 16, 2025
8-9 am | Breakfast

9-10:30 a.m. | Plenary 4 | Versailles/Windsor
Case law update

Speaker: Andrew C. Scholz, Rooney McBride and Smith, LLC, Springfield

10:30 a.m. | Adjourn

Pass Details

Early Standard Pass | $400
* Early rates end 7/14/2025

• Access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
• Does not include the ability to live-stream sessions while attending conference onsite.
• Provided meals:
  • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch
  • Friday: Breakfast, lunch, reception
  • Saturday: Breakfast
• Access to program recordings after the conference for one year (available approximately one-month after the conference). 
• 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.

Standard Pass | $455
* After 7/14/2025

• Access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
• Does not include the ability to live-stream sessions while attending conference onsite.
• Provided meals:
  • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch
  • Friday: Breakfast, lunch, reception
  • Saturday: Breakfast
• Access to program recordings after the conference for one year (available approximately one-month after the conference). 
• 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 | $400

• Virtual access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
• Access to program recordings after the conference for one year (available approximately one-month after the conference). 
• 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
• Does not include the ability to live-stream sessions while attending conference onsite.
• Provided meals:
  • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch
  • Friday: Breakfast, lunch, reception
  • Saturday: Breakfast
• Access to program recordings after the conference for one year (available approximately one-month after the conference). 
• 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
Virtual Pass | $230 

• Virtual access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
• Access to program recordings after the conference for one year (available approximately one-month after the conference). 
• 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.

Conference Lodging Rates

Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center
415 North State Highway 265 | Branson, MO 65616
(888) 333-5253

Rates are per night, plus tax, and resort fee:
King or Double Queen $161
Rates are per night, plus tax and resort fee.

Click on this link to reserve your sleeping room: http://bookings.ihotelier.com/bookings.jsp?groupID=4297549&hotelID=11529

Those wishing to make reservations by phone should call 1-417-243-1720.

Conference lodging rates end July 14, 2025, or when the block is filled, whichever occurs first.

Additional Meal Ticket Information

Additional meal ticket pricing:

All meals for children 12 and under are free.

Thursday dinner ticket - adult 13 and over - $30.00

Friday breakfast ticket - adult 13 and over - $30.00

Friday dinner ticket - adult 13 and over - $30.00

Saturday breakfast ticket - adult 13 and over - $30.00

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 2025 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.

Cancellation Policy

2025 Annual Family Law Conference Registration Cancellation and 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 August 6, 2025. 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 August 6, 2025. You will have access to electronic course materials.
• A $40 processing fee will be charged if you change delivery methods (from in-person attendance to virtual attendance or vice versa) after August 6, 2025.

ADA Accommodations

If you request accommodations addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, email your request at least three weeks prior to the program to mobarcle@mobar.org.

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.

Health and Safety Information

The Missouri Bar takes the safety and well-being of its members, the public, and its employees very seriously. We continue to monitor the latest public health updates. We will inform you of any changes to events that affect you. This includes any cancellation notices or changes to venue, format, or safety guidelines.

We encourage all attendees of Missouri Bar events to be aware of and follow public health guidelines for large gatherings. Help us keep everyone in attendance safe by not attending an event if you are ill or believe you may be contagious. 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 reasonable health and safety precautions and to abide by The Missouri Bar’s posted meeting guidelines.

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.