8:30 – 9:00 a.m.

CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

9:00 – 9:15 a.m.

Overview of the Family Law Financial Deskbook and 2012 Update

– Stephen G. Dennis

9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

Update on Nonmarital Claims and Tracing

Case law developments related to nonmarital claims, including the Miller v. Stark decision from the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

– Thomas W. Harjes & Ben M. Henschel

9:45 – 10:15 a.m.

Update on Pension and Benefits Division

Health coverage costs; QDROs; Tax consequences.

– Thomas M. Hughes

10:15 – 10:30 a.m.

BREAK

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Financial Issues in Military Divorces

How to determine if a servicemember is on active service; Protections in the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act in divorce cases; Child custody issues for military divorces; How military pay and benefits are calculated; Spousal and family support regulations.

– Johanna Clyborne

11:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Child Support Update

Definition of income; including income that may also be considered for child support, self-employment income, seasonal income, and potential income; Parties with disabilities and special-needs children; Modification of child support.

– Karen T. Kugler & Judith L. Oakes

11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Child Support Questions and Answers

– Karen T. Kugler, Laurie A. Mack-Wagner, Judith L. Oakes & Lymari J. Santana

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

LUNCH (on your own)

1:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Lump-Sum Maintenance and Unequal Property Settlements

Case law and analysis of unequal property divisions and lump-sum maintenance; Creative approaches to financial settlements; Use of ADR as a settlement tool.

– Stephen C. Aldrich & Jana Aune Deach

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Update on Business Valuation and Tax Issues for Family Lawyers

Personal versus professional goodwill; Nonmarital issues related to business interests; Double dipping for property and support; Tax planning related to the dependency exemption and family support.

– Stephen G. Dennis

2:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Update on Bankruptcy and Divorce

Discharge of debts related to divorce; Updated Minnesota exemption amounts.

– Dorraine A. Larison

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.

BREAK

2:45 – 3:15 p.m.

Farm Divorce Update

Update on nonmarital issues including purchases at less than full value, increases in value, and transmutation; Whether agricultural produce is income or an asset.

– Raymond Walz

3:15 – 3:45 p.m.

Update on Spousal Maintenance

The impact of the Passolt case; What is appropriate employment?; The duration of spousal maintenance; The use of step reductions.

– Susan C. Rhode

3:45 – 4:30 p.m.

Avoiding the Financial Mistakes that Family Lawyers Make

A panel of experts explains the most common mistakes that family lawyers make when dealing with the financial aspects of divorce, and how you can avoid making them. You will also have the opportunity to ask the panel your toughest questions about determining income, business valuation, tracing assets, and more.

– Alan T. Eidsness, Kevin McGrath, Laurie Mack-Wagner & Lymari J. Santana
– Stephen G. Dennis, moderator