SAINT PAUL
Monday, March 23, 2026 - Tuesday, March 24, 2026
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:
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
8:45 – 9:00 a.m.
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
9:00 – 11:15 a.m.
MAIN PLENARY
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Safety and Civility in Family Law Practice: How to Navigate High-Conflict Cases with Professionalism
– Beth Y. Barbosa, Danielle L. DiFiore, Lisa M. Elliott & Paul B. Hunt
– Shawn C. Reinke (moderator)
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.
BREAK
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Judicial Leadership in High-Conflict Cases
– Judge Theresa F. Couri, Judge Erin L. Felten, Judge Anne M. Rasmusson & Judge Charles F. Webber
– Chief Judge Jennifer L. Frisch (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.
– Carl J. Arnold, 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
– Joy Nissen Beitzel
102
2026 Social Science Update: What the Latest Research Tells Us About Kids and Parenting
– Jordan Hart, Ph.D. & Mindy F. Mitnick
103
Minnesota’s New Law on Antenuptial Agreements: How It’s Working in Practice
– Michael P. Sampson & James J. Vedder
104
2026 Legislative Update and Legislative Process Insights
– Bryan T. Lake & Victoria M.B. Taylor
105
A Braver Angels Workshop: Skills for Disagreeing Better
1.0 ADR credit applied for
– Bruce A. MacKenzie
106
Strategic Use of Receiverships in Family Law to Save Time and Money
– Amanda Bloomgren, Jillian K. Duffy & Jason T. Hutchison
107
Beyond the Decree: How Can We Help Our Divorce Clients Rebuild Their Lives? A Roundtable Discussion
– Matthew E. Ludt
108
Myths about Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: Insights from Iverson
– Samantha Sexton & Anna S. Street
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
INSTITUTE LUNCHEON (provided)
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION B
201
Property Division
– Katherine E. Merkel & Michelle L. Travers
202
Guardians ad Litem in Family Court: How Attorneys Can Best Work with GALs
– Laura Miles & Alexandra Noel
203
The High Stakes Side of Gray Divorce: Hidden Social Security Risks
– Mike Miller
204
Post-Judgment Enforcement Issues in Family Law Matters
– George E. Warner, Jr.
205
How to Build a Successful Family Law Mediation Practice
1.0 ADR credit applied for
– Kent M. Kodalen, Ph.D., Diane Reller, Shelly D. Rohr & Nicole J. Tabbut
– Eva L. Cheney-Hatcher (moderator)
206
Smart Strategies for Medicaid Divorces
– Jason C. Brown & Cathryn D. Reher
207
How to Increase Efficiency and Save Money by Using Less Paper
– Jess L. Birken
208
How to Prove Domestic Violence and Coercive Control
– Jocylyn M. Poehler & Melissa Scaia
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
BREAK
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION C
301
Spousal Maintenance
– Victoria J. Brenner & Amy M. Krupinksi
302
How to Calculate Back Child Support
– Magistrate Karen T. Kugler, Margaux C. Soeffker & Marnie J. Zak
303
Social Security Disability in Family Law Cases: Strategies for Success
– Emily K. Cooper & Adam Spees
304
Intersections with Immigration: What the Family Law Attorney Should Know
– Kathleen L. Korniyenko & Eva J. Rodelius
305
Who Does What? Comparing Powers and Duties in Family Law Cases
1.0 ADR credit applied for
– Mary Madden & James J. Street
306
Seeing the Whole Picture: A Family Systems Approach
– Mindy F. Mitnick & Lori Thibodeau
307
What’s Working (and What’s Not) in Your Family Law Practice: A Roundtable Discussion
– Jillian K. Duffy, Heather D. Olson & Tammy J. Stafford
– Kathryn M. Lammers (moderator)
308
OFPs and ERPOs – When Family and Criminal Law Intersect
– Jill A. Brisbois & Samantha Sexton
3:45 – 4:00 p.m.
BREAK
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION D
401
Determining Child Support
– Jill L. Prohofsky & Erin O’Toole Tomczik
402
Understanding Termination of Parental Rights: A Practical Guide for Family Lawyers
– Mallory K. Stoll
403
Demystifying Non-Marital Tracing of Retirement Accounts, Real Estate and Other Key Assets
– Thomas W. Harjes
404
Answers to 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Drug and Alcohol Testing
– Michelle Johnson
405
How to Work Effectively with Parenting Consultants: A Panel Discussion
1.0 ADR credit applied for
– Michael Goldfarb, Jennifer E. Joseph, Deb Link & Christopher L. Vatsaas
– Tifanne E.E. Wolter (moderator)
406
Mistakes to Avoid When Drafting Multijurisdictional Decrees and Custody Stipulations
– Ruta Johnsen & Micaela A. Wattenbarger
407
Bridging the Gap: Effective Collaboration with Mental Health Professionals
– Erin Guyette, Ph.D.
408
Our Family Wizard: Updates and New Features
– Racheal Howitz
5:00 – 5:30 p.m.
RECEPTION
Enjoy refreshments and conversation with faculty, colleagues and friends!
8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
2026 Family Law Update
Gary Debele presents an overview of significant developments and trends in national and international family law.
– Gary A. Debele
9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
(includes 15-minute break)
The Eugene L. Kubes Annual Case Law Update
A comprehensive and indispensable review of the most important cases, issues and trends in family law and legislation.
– Ryan D. Anderson, Seungwon R. Chung, Susan A. Daudelin, Michael D. Dittberner, Lisa D. Kontz, Zachary A. Kretchmer & Dana K. McKenzie
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2026 Legislative Update Highlights
– Victoria M.B. Taylor
12:00 – 12:15 p.m.
BREAK
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
High Conflict, High Stakes: Ethics in Family Law Cases
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 5 live webcasts for free and receive 5 additional CLE credits – 2 ethics, 2 elimination of bias and 1 mental health / substance use credit. Instructions for how to register will be distributed at the Institute.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Elimination of Bias Through Digital Accessibility: Removing Barriers in Court Filings
1.0 elimination of bias credit applied for
– Lindsay K. Forsgren, Kate Malmon & Suzanne Mattefy
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Judicial Ethics: What Family Lawyers Should Know
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Sara P. Boeshans & Amy J. Ihlan
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
AI Ethics for Family Lawyers
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Todd C. Scott
Thursday, April 30, 2026
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Shielding the Carer: Understanding and Overcoming Secondary Trauma in Legal Work
1.0 mental health/substance use credit applied for
– Sarah M. MacGillis
Thursday, April 30, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Elimination of Bias: The Black Lawyer in Minnesota 1973 to 2023 – A Story of Firsts and Those Who Made a Difference
1.0 elimination of bias credit applied for
– Jeffrey A. Hassan
LIVE IN-PERSON
Monday & Tuesday, March 23-24, 2026
Saint Paul RiverCentre
175 West Kellogg Boulevard
Saint Paul, Minnesota
LIMITED ONLINE REPLAY
Monday & Tuesday, April 20-21, 2026
Attend online
Limited online replay includes all main (not alternate) plenary sessions and selected breakout sessions. 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
$149.00 (plus tax)
350 Market Street
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-292-9292
Reserve by: Monday, February 23, 2026
Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown
$115.00 (plus tax)
175 Seventh Street West
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-556-1411
Make reservations at the Holiday Inn
Reserve by: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Hampton Inn Downtown St. Paul
$115.00 (plus tax)
200 Seventh Street West
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-224-7400
Make reservations at the Hampton Inn
Reserve by: Sunday, March 1, 2026
$595 MSBA members / $595 paralegals / $695 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 10.25 CLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credit. In addition to CLE credit, sessions 105, 205, 305 and 405 also qualify for ADR credit. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 10.25 credits.
