Sara Marler • Trauma-Informed Lawyer

Sara Marler • Trauma-Informed Lawyer I am a compassionate advocate, having been the voice of children, victims of abuse, and people that are simply trying to hold on to what’s most dear to them.

A respected attorney once told me that “caring makes this job hard, but caring is what makes you good at what you do.” I've remembered those words over the years. I'm the Managing Partner of Marler Law Partners, where we are advocating for a trauma-informed approach to family law. I attended law school in Boston and returned to Missouri after attending New England University Law School, where I gr

aduated cm laude and finished in the top 10% of my class. When not practicing law, I can be found trying to keep up with my two daughters or chasing after my three dogs.

If you're in the middle of it right now with court dates, hard conversations, and nights where you're not sure you made ...
07/28/2026

If you're in the middle of it right now with court dates, hard conversations, and nights where you're not sure you made the right call... keep going.

The version of you on the other side of this is worth fighting for.

At Marler Law Partners, we see the whole person, not just the case.

We know that getting through something this hard takes more than good legal strategy. It takes courage, support, and someone who genuinely believes in where you're headed.

Keep going.

When a new client hires Marler Law Partners, their first meeting is not with their attorney.It is with our Client Specia...
07/27/2026

When a new client hires Marler Law Partners, their first meeting is not with their attorney.

It is with our Client Specialist who is a trauma-trained therapist, and our Client Relationship Manager.

First we walk you through how to access your client portal and, perhaps more importantly, how to actually read your bill. We want to ensure clients fully understand what they are being charged for and why.

Then we walk you through the roadmap for a family law case. What to expect, what the process looks like, and what support is available along the way. The number of light bulbs that go off in that conversation is something we never take for granted.

Family law is not just paperwork. It is one of the most personal, emotionally demanding experiences a person can go through. We built our intake process around that reality because we believe you deserve to feel informed and supported from the very first day, not just when you are sitting across from a judge.

That is what it means to us to be a trauma-informed, person-centered firm.

Visit marlerlawpartners.com to learn more about how we work.

Most people associate marital agreements with prenuptials, something you do before the wedding. But postnuptial agreemen...
07/24/2026

Most people associate marital agreements with prenuptials, something you do before the wedding. But postnuptial agreements are becoming a much more common conversation, and for good reason.

A postnuptial agreement is a legal contract created after marriage that outlines how assets, debts, and financial responsibilities would be handled if the marriage were to end. Couples consider them for all kinds of reasons. A significant change in income, a new business, an inheritance, a period of financial strain, or simply a desire for more clarity and transparency between partners.

What makes a postnuptial agreement valuable is not that it signals trouble in a marriage. For many couples, it actually does the opposite. Putting financial expectations in writing can reduce tension, open honest conversations, and give both people a clearer sense of where they stand.

In Missouri, these agreements can address property division, spousal support, and debt allocation in ways that go beyond what the court would decide by default. To be enforceable, they need to be drafted carefully, with full financial disclosure and voluntary agreement from both parties.

At Marler Law Partners, we help couples navigate these conversations with care and without judgment. If you are curious about whether a postnuptial agreement makes sense for your family, we are happy to talk it through.

Visit marlerlawpartners.com to schedule a consultation.

07/23/2026

My client wanted to settle. I wanted to go to trial. And I had to sit with that, because it wasn't my call to make.

A younger version of me might have pushed. Might have leaned on my professional opinion hard enough that she felt like she didn't really have a choice. I've seen it happen. It's not malicious. Lawyers genuinely believe they know what's best. But that's not the same as what's right for the person sitting across from you.

So instead, Brittany sat with us and walked her through every possible scenario. Not just the legal outcomes but the emotional ones too. What each path actually meant for her life, her kids, her peace of mind. We kept asking "are you sure?" until she could answer it from a place of clarity, not fear.

She settled. I still think about it. But I know she made that decision for herself, fully informed, with someone in her corner who wasn't trying to steer her anywhere.

Clients come to us carrying a lot of emotion. Most lawyers want that out of the room. We pull up a chair for it.

That's the difference.

Follow along to see what client-centered family law actually looks like.

"Best interests of the child" is a phrase that comes up in almost every custody case. But what does it actually mean in ...
07/21/2026

"Best interests of the child" is a phrase that comes up in almost every custody case. But what does it actually mean in practice?

In Missouri, courts use this standard to guide every decision about where a child lives, how parenting time is divided, and who makes decisions about their education, healthcare, and daily life. It is not a single factor. It is a full picture. Courts look at each parent's ability to provide stability and safety, the child's relationship with each parent, any history of abuse or domestic violence, the child's adjustment to their home and school, and in some cases, the child's own wishes depending on their age and maturity.

Missouri law does not favor mothers over fathers or fathers over mothers. What it favors is the arrangement that genuinely serves the child's well-being. For parents navigating this process, understanding what courts are actually weighing, and how to demonstrate your role in your child's life, matters enormously.

At Marler Law Partners, we take the time to understand your family's full story before we ever walk into a courtroom. We are here to make sure your voice is heard and your child's needs stay at the center of everything.

If you have questions about custody in Missouri, we would love to talk. Visit marlerlawpartners.com to get in touch with our team.

She'd met with several lawyers before she called us. Every one of them talked about her divorce like it was a business d...
07/20/2026

She'd met with several lawyers before she called us. Every one of them talked about her divorce like it was a business deal to be closed.

She didn't hire them.

What she was living through wasn't a transaction, it was grief. A shift in how she'd parent her kids. A complete renegotiation of her identity and her future. Divorce touches things that don't show up in any asset spreadsheet, and most people going through it have no idea what's actually coming.

We do. So we help prepare them for it.

That means explaining why your kids come home from a transition day acting completely different, and what to actually do about it. It means giving clients space to process before making decisions, not pressuring them toward a resolution before they're ready. It means no judgment, real education about their options, and someone genuinely in their corner.

Our clients know divorce is about far more than finances. We think their lawyers should know that too.

If you've been looking for a firm that sees the whole picture, we'd love to talk. marlerlawpartners.com

Follow along to watch me build the anti-law firm law firm.

Summer is supposed to be the easy part. But for co-parents, it can bring a whole new set of pressure points.School-year ...
07/17/2026

Summer is supposed to be the easy part. But for co-parents, it can bring a whole new set of pressure points.

School-year routines disappear, schedules shift, and small misunderstandings about pickup times, camps, or vacation plans can escalate quickly when there is no structure holding things together. A little planning before summer starts goes a long way.

Finalizing your summer schedule early, putting all communication in writing, building in flexibility for last-minute changes, and keeping your children's experience at the center of every decision are all practical steps that reduce friction before it starts. Co-parenting apps can also help by creating a clear, documented record of conversations and agreements.

When conflict does come up, the goal is not to win. It is to protect your kids from being caught in the middle of it.

At Marler Law Partners, we help parents navigate custody arrangements with clarity and care, whether that means reviewing your parenting plan, addressing a violation, or modifying an agreement that no longer fits your family's needs.
We are here when you need us. Visit marlerlawpartners.com to learn more.

When a divorce case closes, most lawyers close the file.For a lot of firms, that is where the relationship ends. The pap...
07/16/2026

When a divorce case closes, most lawyers close the file.

For a lot of firms, that is where the relationship ends. The paperwork is done, the order is signed, and you are on your own to figure out what comes next.

At Marler Law Partners, we see it differently. The legal process ending does not mean your questions stop. Custody arrangements shift as children grow. Circumstances change. Agreements that made sense two years ago sometimes need revisiting. Life after divorce is not static, and the support you need should not be either.

We stay connected to our clients because we genuinely care about what happens to them after the case is closed, not just during it. That is what it means to us to be a trauma-informed, person-centered firm.

If you are navigating life after divorce and need guidance on what comes next, we are still here.

Call us or visit marlerlawpartners.com to connect with our team.

Most law firms move cases. We move people through them.Family law clients are often dealing with the collapse of a life ...
07/15/2026

Most law firms move cases. We move people through them.

Family law clients are often dealing with the collapse of a life they built, custody of children they'd do anything for, or safety situations that kept them up at night for years.

The legal system simply was not designed with any of that in mind.

At Marler Law Partners, we built our entire practice around the reality that the people sitting across from us are carrying a lot more than a case file. That means slowing down when the system wants to speed up. It means asking different questions. It means having a Licensed Clinical Social Worker on our team, not as an afterthought, but as a core part of how we work.

Trauma-informed family law isn't a marketing phrase for us. It's the reason this firm exists.

If you've ever felt like the legal system treated you like a number, you deserve to know there's a different way to do this.

Visit marlerlawpartners.com to see what it can look like.

People often use the words "divorce" and "legal separation" as if they mean the same thing. In Missouri, they do not.The...
07/13/2026

People often use the words "divorce" and "legal separation" as if they mean the same thing. In Missouri, they do not.

The core difference is this: divorce legally ends your marriage, and legal separation does not. But both allow you to divide assets and debt, live apart, and establish court orders around custody and child support. The practical day-to-day structure of your life can look very similar under either option.

Where they diverge is in what comes after. With divorce, the marriage is over and both parties are free to remarry. With legal separation, you remain legally married. Some families choose that path for religious reasons. Others want to preserve health insurance coverage, or simply need more time before making a final decision.

Both options involve real legal processes and real consequences. Understanding which one fits your situation, your finances, and your family's needs is worth taking seriously before moving forward.

At Marler Law Partners, we take the time to understand your full picture before offering guidance. There is no one-size-fits-all answer here, and we would never treat it like there is.

If you have questions about your options, we are here to help you think it through.

Reach out at marlerlawpartners.com to schedule a consultation.

Address

123 Main St.
St. Louis, MO
63136

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sara Marler • Trauma-Informed Lawyer posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category