About
Sara
Sara E. Saltmarsh
Because of Ms. Saltmarsh’s many years of experience and active participation in professional organizations, she utilizes a network of well-qualified experts as needed. To assist in your case, she may recommend utilizing experts such as Certified Public Accountants and licensed Appraisers. It may be advisable to engage a child psychologist, child specialist, or other mental health professional to offer suggestions, give guidance, or testify about sensitive and important issues such as custody and visitation of children – always with an emphasis on their well-being. We have impeccable standards of honesty and integrity and understand the client’s need for discretion and privacy. Ms. Saltmarsh has represented many high-profile individuals, including celebrities, artists, and professional athletes, who make their home in the central Texas area.
Ms. Saltmarsh is a frequent and popular speaker at Continuing Legal Education seminars. She has also authored legal articles on topics such as mediation, divorce procedure, local civil practice, and retirement benefits.
She is an active community volunteer and has volunteered for many local organizations, including her children’s schools, the Austin Bar Association, and Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas. She is very interested in local arts and history and serves on the Board of Governors for Pioneer Farms.
Primary practice area includes Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties, and Ms. Saltmarsh will practice outside that area with the affiliation of local counsel.
Credentials and Awards
Member in Good Standing, State Bar of Texas, 1987-Present
Member in Good Standing, The Florida Bar, 2004-Present
Adjunct Professor, University of Texas School of Law, 2017-Present
President, Collaborative Divorce Austin; Board Member, 2017-Present
American Bar Association Directory of Women in Dispute Resolution
American Bar Association Mediation Committee
Member, Collaborative Divorce Texas (CDT)
Treasurer, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section of Austin Bar Association, 2023-Present; Past Chair 2017-2020, Board of Directors 2014-Present
Past Chair, Family Law Section of Austin Bar Association
Member, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists (TAFLS)
Member, Travis County Family Law Advocates (Family Law Specialists in Travis County, Texas)
Member, International Association of Collaborative Professionals
Member, Texas Association of Mediators (TAM)
Member, Austin Mediators’ Association (AMA)
Chairperson, Collaborative Law Section of State Bar of Texas
Chairperson, Collaborative Law Council of State Bar of Texas
President, Collaborative Divorce Austin
Member, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
Chair, Preservation Committee of Austin Bar Association, 2022-Present
Past Chair, Women’s Law Section of Williamson County, Texas
Texas Monthly Top Attorneys in Texas, 2020-Present
Member, Pro Bono Committee of Austin Bar Association, 2019-2023
Texas Monthly Top Women Attorneys in Texas, 2022-Present
Member, Board of Directors of Austin Bar Association, 2017-2020 and 1991-1992
The Legal Network Top Attorneys in Texas, 2015-2018
Dallas Morning News Top Rated Attorneys, 2016
Pro Bono Award, Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association, 2009
Courthouse Security Committee, Travis County Commissioners Court, 1991-92
University of Texas, J.D., 1986
American Jurisprudence Awards (Highest Grades) in Marital Relations & Divorce, and Wills & Estates, 1986 (UT School of Law)
Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Scholar, U.S. Congressional Intern, 1976
Givens Distinguished Scholar, 1974-75
Past Chair, Women Lawyers’ Section, Williamson County Bar Association
Florida State University, B.A., magna cum laude, Honors in English, 1978
Phi Beta Kappa, Lambda Iota Tau honorary societies (Florida State University)
Member, Phi Beta Kappa of Greater Austin
Member, Austin, Williamson County, and Hays County Bar Associations
Specialized Training in Alternative Dispute Resolution & Collaborative Law
Course Director, State Bar of Texas Collaborative Civil Law Conference, Austin, April, 2026
Collaborative Divorce Texas Annual Spring Conference, Plano, March, 2026
Annual Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Course, State Bar of Texas, January, 2026
International Association of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) Annual Conference, New York City, October, 2025
Annual Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Course, State Bar of Texas, January, 2025
American Bar Association Arbitration Training, Atlanta, GA, June 2024
Annual Collaborative Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas, March 2024
Annual Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Course, State Bar of Texas, January 2024
American Bar Association Arbitration Training, New York City, NY, March 2023
Annual Collaborative Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas, March 2023
Annual Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Course, State Bar of Texas, January 2023
Annual Collaborative Law Course, State Bar of Texas, March 2020
AFCC Annual Conference, Washington, DC, June 2018
Advanced Collaborative Law Interdisciplinary Training, Collaborative Law Institute, June 2018
Annual Collaborative Law Course, State Bar of Texas, March 2018
Annual Collaborative Law Course, State Bar of Texas, March 2017
Annual Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Course, State Bar of Texas, January 2017
Basic and Advanced Collaborative Law Training, Nova Southeastern University, 2017
Board Member of Collaborative Divorce Austin, 2017-Present; President, 2023-Present
Annual Collaborative Law Course, State Bar of Texas, February 2015
New Ways for Families Training Seminar, High Conflict Institute, 2013; NWFF Update Training, 2015
Interdisciplinary Two-Day Collaborative Law Training, Collaborative Law Institute of Texas, November 2010
Annual Collaborative Law Course, State Bar of Texas, March 2010
Member of Collaborative Divorce Texas (formerly Collaborative Law Institute), 2010-Present
Member of Collaborative Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2010-Present
Basic Collaborative Law Training, 2003, Tampa
Member of Central Texas Collaborative Law Group, 2001-2003, 2008-2016
Basic Mediation Training, 1998, Texas Senate and Texas A & M University System
Family Law Mediation Training, 1998, South Texas College of Law
Numerous CLE seminars featuring Mediation, Collaborative Law, and Alternative Dispute Resolution topics, 1990-Present
Mediated Family Law and other legal disputes since 1990
Settlement Week Training, beginning in 1990, for Travis County District Courts, Austin
Mediated Family Law and Personal Injury cases during Travis County and Williamson County Settlement Weeks
Member of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Family Law Sections of the Austin Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas
Professional & Community Service
Volunteer Attorney, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
Travis County Women Lawyers Association
Travis County Bar Association, Judicial Affairs Committee, 1992-93, 1996-98, and 2010-2014
Recipient, Pro Bono Award, Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association, 2009
TCBA/AYLA Mentor Program Committee, Member, 1990-94 and 1996-98, and Chairperson 1993-94 and 1996-98
Travis County Bar Association Legal Services to the Indigent Committee; Member, 1991-93, and Co-Chairperson 1992-93
Travis County Bar Association Board of Directors, 1991-92, 2017-2020
Austin Young Lawyers Association, Co-Chairperson, It’s the Law Committee, 1990-92
Sierra Club, 1986-Present
Board of Governors, Pioneer Farms Foundation, 2009-Present
Volunteer in multiple roles, Eanes ISD schools, 1999-2020
Former member, Ballet Austin Guild
Hobbies & Interests
Sara’s hobbies and interests include basketry, ice and inline skating, skiing, swimming, windsurfing, reading, yoga, dancing, theatre, writing, attending arts events, traveling, spending time with her family, and walking her dog (Pepper).
What Our Clients Say
“Thanks very much for your help, and particularly moral support. You did an EXCELLENT job and I will recommend your services at every opportunity.”
~ D.B.
Meet Pepper
Clients love Pepper! She is an 11 year-old labrador retriever, who has been Sara’s faithful office companion since she was three months old. Sweet and gentle in temperament, Pepper has been a source of comfort to numerous clients and staff through the years. Pepper will be happy to keep you company if you wish.
