SAINT PAUL
Monday, March 24, 2025 - Tuesday, March 25, 2025
8:45 AM - 5:00 PM | Check-In: 8:00 AM
St Paul RiverCentre
175 W Kellogg Blvd
Saint Paul, MN 55102
New This Year!
Plus These Perennial Institute Highlights:
It's a Can’t-Miss Event for All Minnesota Family Lawyers!
ONLINE REPLAY NOTE:
Online replay includes all main plenary sessions and the selected breakout sessions highlighted in yellow below.
8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
Breakfast sponsored by Jeffrey A. Drayton Financial Group, Inc.
8:45 – 9:00 a.m.
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
9:00 – 11:15 a.m.
MAIN PLENARY
9:00 – 9:40 a.m.
2025 Family Law Update
Gary Debele presents a broad overview of significant developments in Minnesota family law and an update on national trends.
– Gary A. Debele
9:40 – 10:20 a.m.
The Great Minnesota Family Law Quiz
How well do you know your family law history, statutes, cases and people? Test your wits against your family law colleagues in this fast-paced and fun quiz.
– Zachary A. Kretchmer & Dana K. McKenzie
10:20 – 10:35 a.m.
BREAK
10:35 – 11:15 a.m.
What I Know Now That I Wish I Knew Then: A Panel Discussion with Four Family Law Legends
Four recently retired family lawyers reflect on their careers and share advice for succeeding in the practice of family law.
– Alan C. Eidsness, Susan M. Lach, Mary Madden & Susan C. Rhode
– Anna S. Street (moderator)
9:00 – 11:15 a.m.
ALTERNATE PLENARY
Overview of Your First Divorce
The first two sessions in the Your First Divorce track provide an overview of the divorce process in Minnesota, including preparing, drafting and filing the decree and enforcing and modifying family law orders and decrees.
– Laurie A. Mack-Wagner & Lymari J. Santana
11:15 – 11:30 a.m.
BREAK
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION A
101
Custody, Parenting Time and Screening for DV Issues
– Bethany A. Assell & Joy Nissen Beitzel
102
2025 Social Science Update: What the Latest Research Tells Us About Kids and Parenting
– Jordan Hart, Ph.D. & Mindy F. Mitnick
103
Creating Realistic Divorce Budgets: How to Avoid Making 7 Classic Mistakes
– Kelli L. Jordan
104
Spousal Maintenance Update, Including New Laws
– Kristy A. Mara
105
Understanding Partition Actions
– B. Steven Messick
106
AI Tools for Family Lawyers: 4 I Recommend and 3 I Don’t
– Jess L. Birken
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
INSTITUTE LUNCHEON
Lunch sponsored by BGH Valuation
Dessert sponsored by Jonathan Fogel Mediation
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION B
201
Property Division
– Katherine E. Merkel & Michelle L. Travers
202
Answers to Your Most Troublesome Questions About Child Support in District Court and the Expedited Process: Income, Discovery and More
Send your questions to tmorrow@minncle.org
– Jennifer J. Barry, Jennifer L. Cooklock, Lisa D. Kontz, Magistrate Sara J. Lauthen & Magistrate Fue Lo Thao
– Jill L. Prohofsky (moderator)
203
2025 Mortgage Update
– David J. Jamison
Selling and Conveying Real Estate Through Divorce
– Joseph Holmes
204
ARTs and Surrogacy Update, Including New Laws
– Jody O. DeSmidt
205
Introduction to the Work of the SAVES Grant in Minnesota
– Brita A. Carnine, Magistrate Autumn Ladd, Valerie Lunderville & Samantha Sexton
206
Hot Topics in Parenting Consulting and PTE Work: How Can These Third-Party Neutrals Assist in Your Cases?
1.0 ADR credit applied for
– Alicia Norby, Amber M. Serwat & Matthew Shore
– Nicole J. Tabbut (moderator)
207
How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Cases Where Reunification Therapy or Child Resist/Refuse Dynamics Are Present
– Michael R. Borowiak & Mathew Meyers
208
Improving the Client Experience for Your Family Law Clients
– Mara Bain, Katie M. Jarvi & Bradley M. Palmer
– Erin K. Turner (moderator)
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
BREAK
Sponsored by Holmes Group
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION C
301
Spousal Maintenance
– Victoria J. Brenner & Anne R. Haaland
302
Tools for Enforcing Child Support and Spousal Maintenance Responsibilities
– Benjamin G.A. Olson
303
Business Valuations: What the Experts Want Us to Know
– Lindsey E. O’Connell, Sarah Peterson & Dax V. Stoner
304
Updates to Custody, Parenting Time, Temporary Relief and Attorneys’ Fees Issues
– Victoria M.B. Taylor & Bonnie S. Westlin
305
In Her Shoes: A SAVES Simulation and Discussion
– Melissa D. Froehle, Magistrate Autumn Ladd, Valerie Lunderville & Melissa A. Rossow
306
When to Consider Less Common ADR Processes: ENE/FENE, Special Masters, Arbitration and Collaborative Law
1.0 ADR credit applied for
– Angela E. Heart, Steven B. Schmidt & Jenna C. Westby
– Thomas W. Tuft (moderator)
307
New Developments in Appellate Family Law and Advice for Your Next Appeal
– Elizabeth Cadem, Michael D. Dittberner & Timothy D. Lees
– m boulette (moderator)
308
How to Effectively Collect Fees from Family Law Clients
– Alexandra L. Michelson
3:45 – 4:00 p.m.
BREAK
Sponsored by Soberlink
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION D
401
Determining Child Support
– Erin O’Toole-Tomczik & James R. Todd
402
How to Determine Income for Child Support and Spousal Maintenance Purposes
– Magistrate Karen T. Kugler, Laurie A. Mack-Wagner & Lymari J. Santana
403
Understanding the Intersection of Bankruptcy and Divorce
– David C. Gapen & Matthew M. Tande
404
Antenuptial Agreements Update, Including New Laws
– Jana Aune Deach & April L. Will
405
A SAVES Panel Discussion: Issues at the Intersection of Child Support and Domestic Abuse
– Melissa D. Froehle, Valerie Lunderville & Samantha Sexton
406
5 Ways Mediation Can Fall Apart and How to Prevent It from Happening
1.0 ADR credit applied for
– Jonathan J. Fogel
407
Judge Wahl’s Style Guide for Effective Writing
– Judge Edward T. Wahl
408
Employment Law Tips for Family Lawyers and How to Comply with the New Minnesota State Laws
– Leonard B. Segal
5:00 – 5:30 p.m.
RECEPTION
Enjoy refreshments and conversation with faculty, colleagues and friends!
Sponsored by Legal Soft
8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
(includes 15-minute break)
The Eugene L. Kubes Annual Case Law and Legislative Update
A comprehensive and indispensable review of the most important cases, issues and trends in family law and legislation.
– Ryan D. Anderson
– Kelsey B. Daniels
– Susan A. Daudelin
– Michael D. Dittberner
– Lisa D. Kontz
– Zachary A. Kretchmer
– Mary C. Lauhead
– Dana K. McKenzie
– Victoria M.B. Taylor
11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
BREAK
Sponsored by NetDocuments
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Help for Colleagues in Crisis: Recognizing and Responding to Impairment and Other Challenges in the Legal Profession
1.0 mental health and substance use credit applied for
– Chase L. Andersen & Joan M. Bibelhausen
12:45 – 1:00 p.m.
BREAK
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
How’s That Working for You? The Ethics of Hiring and Retaining Lawyers and Paralegals
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Eric T. Cooperstein
The learning continues even when the Institute is over! Following the Institute, all attendees may view 3 live webcasts for free and receive 4 additional CLE credits – 2 ethics and 2 elimination of bias. Instructions for how to register will be distributed at the Institute.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
2025 Attorney Discipline Case Update
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Caitlin Guilford & Joanna Labastida
Friday, April 25, 2025
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Elimination of Bias: Understanding Neurodiversity – Key Considerations for Family Lawyers
2.0 elimination of bias credit applied for
– Sierra Grandy
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
How to Navigate Ethical Issues in Complex Financial Matters
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Courtney Cain & Stephanie M. Wolf
LIVE IN-PERSON
Monday & Tuesday, March 24-25, 2025
Saint Paul RiverCentre
175 West Kellogg Boulevard
Saint Paul, Minnesota
LIMITED ONLINE REPLAY
Monday & Tuesday, April 21-22, 2025
Attend online
Limited online replay includes all main (not alternate) plenary sessions and selected breakout sessions as highlighted in the schedule. A moderator will be available to answer questions by email.
For Attendees of the In-Person Institute:
Minnesota CLE has established room rates with the hotel(s) listed below. Be sure to identify yourself with the Minnesota CLE Family Law Institute to get the best rate, and make your reservations early to ensure room/rate availability.
Saint Paul Hotel
$144.00 (plus tax)
350 Market Street
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-292-9292
To make reservations:
Visit the Saint Paul Hotel website at www.saintpaulhotel.com. Click on Reservations and enter the following information:
Reserve by: Sunday, February 23, 2025
Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown
$119.00 (plus tax)
175 Seventh Street West
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-225-1515
Make reservations at the Holiday Inn
Reserve by: Thursday, February 27, 2025
Hampton Inn Downtown St. Paul
$111.00 (plus tax)
200 Seventh Street West
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-224-7400
Make reservations at the Hampton Inn
Reserve by: Sunday, March 2, 2025
$545 MSBA members / $545 paralegals / $645 standard rate
Other discounts that may apply:
Scholarships available!
Need-based scholarships are available for in-person and online seminars. For further information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact us at 800-759-8840 or customerservice@minncle.org.
Minnesota CLE is applying to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 10.75 CLE credits, including 1.0 mental health and substance use credit and 1.0 ethics credit. In addition to CLE credit, sessions 206, 306 and 406 also qualify for ADR credit. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 10.75 credits.
