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The webcasts in the Divorce A to Z Webcast Series are based on Minnesota CLE’s Minnesota Divorce Practice Deskbook and provide an “A to Z” approach to what you need to know about divorce practice in Minnesota. Materials include access to the LinkedLaw edition of the deskbook and all of its in-depth chapters covering every procedural aspect from the commencement of the attorney-client relationship to the post-decree tasks necessary to wrap up the case. The Divorce A to Z Webcast Series brings this indispensable guide to life. These webcasts are a fabulous companion resource and practice aid for all Minnesota family law practitioners!
ADDED BENEFIT: All series purchasers will receive a free 1-year subscription to the LinkedLaw edition of Minnesota CLE’s Minnesota Divorce Practice Deskbook.
The Divorce A to Z Webcast Series is sponsored by OurFamilyWizard. Watch short video here.
Times listed are Central Time.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Divorce A to Z: Antenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements and Their Impact on the Divorce Process
Jana Deach provides an overview on the law regarding antenuptial and postnuptial agreements and discusses the impact of those agreements on the divorce process. Topics include drafting, amending, revoking, execution, enforcement, and challenging the agreement.
– Jana Aune Deach; Moss & Barnett PA
Friday, May 2, 2025
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Divorce A to Z: The Initial Consultation and Domestic Violence Screening
Leigh Frost shares her tips and best practices for how to start the divorce process on the right foot at the initial consultation stage. Topics include:
Rana Alexander explains how the existence of domestic violence in a divorce matter can have a serious impact on custody, ADR options and the safety of all participants. Understanding domestic violence and effective screening is crucial to providing effective representation of all parties. Topics include:
– Rana S. Alexander; Assistant Hennepin County Attorney
– R. Leigh Frost; Sapientia Law Group
Thursday, May 8, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Divorce A to Z: Commencing the Dissolution Proceeding
Learn what you need to know about commencing a family court proceeding. Topics include:
– Rebecca K. Schack; Meier Schack, LLC
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Divorce A to Z: A Primer on International and Interstate Child Custody Issues
Join Minnesota Divorce Practice Deskbook author and experienced international family law practitioner Valerie Arnold for a review of what you need to know and consider if you are dealing with an interstate or international custody situation. Valerie will discuss how to analyze child custody jurisdiction issues as well as how to address issues of noncompliance.
– Valerie D. Arnold; Arnold & Cain PA
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Divorce A to Z: ADR and ECM in Minnesota – How to Optimize Outcomes Through Early Intervention
Most family law cases in Minnesota are resolved without going to trial before a judge because the state has effective alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods and a comprehensive early case management (ECM) system for handling family disputes. These systems provide numerous opportunities for parties to achieve favorable outcomes without needing to go to trial. In this presentation, Lindsey O’Connell and Christopher Vatsaas provide an overview of these processes as well as tips and best practices for using ADR and ECM in Minnesota.
– Lindsey E. O’Connell; Tuft Lach Jerabek & O’Connell PLLC
– Christopher L. Vatsaas; Tuft Lach Jerabek & O’Connell PLLC
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Divorce A to Z: Categorizing and Dividing Property
Property classification and division in dissolution cases can pose numerous challenges for attorneys. The key to navigating these challenges effectively lies in thorough preparation. This involves gathering all pertinent information for the client to make an informed decision and then assisting the client in obtaining that result. Gain valuable insights from experienced family law practitioners Anne Haaland and Melissa Nilsson on how to locate and gather the right information for your clients so that they can make the best-informed decision for their situation.
– Anne R. Haaland; Henson & Efron, P.A.
– Melissa J. Nilsson; Henson & Efron, P.A.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Divorce A to Z: Establishing Parentage, Custody, and Parenting Time
What you need to know about determining parentage, custody and parenting time in family law matters. Topics include:
– Referee Victoria Elsmore; Second Judicial District
– Kendal K. O’Keefe; Chestnut Cambronne PA
Friday, May 16, 2025
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Divorce A to Z: Collecting Fees from Clients
Even the best lawyers cannot succeed unless their clients pay their invoices. This session will focus on the best practices for ethically drafting fee provisions in representation agreements, managing retainers, and using various fee collection tools.
– Eric T. Cooperstein; The Law Office of Eric T. Cooperstein
Friday, May 16, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Divorce A to Z: The Nuts & Bolts of Motion Practice and Pretrial Hearings in Minnesota
Family court motion practice has its own set of rules, distinct from the general Rules of Civil Procedure. In this presentation, our panel of judicial officers will lead you through the nuts and bolts of family court motion practice and provide practical advice on the ins and outs that may not be readily apparent from a simple review of the rules and procedures. Also included are discussions of pretrial hearings and temporary motion hearings.
– Referee Elizabeth Clysdale; Second Judicial District
– Referee Christy Snow-Kaster; Fourth Judicial District
– Victoria Brenner; Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP (moderator)
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Divorce A to Z: Child Support Essentials
This session provides a brief overview of the child support system in Minnesota and explains how child support is determined and modified. Topics include:
– Melissa A. Rossow; Deputy Magistrate Manager, State Court Administrator’s Office
– Karen T. Kugler; Child Support Magistrate, Tenth Judicial District
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Divorce A to Z: Preparing Your Case for Trial – Discovery and Working with Experts
Knowing how to conduct effective discovery and how to work effectively with experts are two crucial trial preparation skills for the family law practitioner. Our esteemed presenters will guide you through the specialized discovery practice that applies in family law matters and provide practical tips, including how to conduct the ever more popular process of "informal discovery." They will address how to work with the wide variety of experts used in family practice, including: identifying necessary experts; what questions to ask; and what information to provide to ensure reliable advice and feedback.
– David C. Gapen; Gapen Larson & Johnson LLC
– Kathryn M. Lammers; Heimerl & Lammers LLC
Thursday, May 22, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Divorce A to Z: Mental Health and Substance Use in the Practice of Family Law – Suicide Awareness and Prevention
The stress lawyers face is a predictor for depression, and untreated depression is the #1 predictor for suicide. Lawyers also must deal with the fact that clients can be suicidal. This program will:
– Joan Bibelhausen; Executive Director, Minnesota Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
– Faith Amdahl; Amdahl Law Office
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Divorce A to Z: Enforcement, Contempt, and Closing Out a Divorce File
Family law practitioners are often consulted in instances where a party is failing to comply with the court’s order in some respect. There are multiple remedies available in these situations, and Laurie Mack-Wagner is here to discuss which ones are appropriate in different situations and the requisite steps involved. Properly closing a dissolution file is critical. Failing to do so may create significant problems for the client and potentially for the practitioner. Letty M-S Van Ert discusses closing work and the importance of using the checklist included in the Deskbook.
– Laurie A. Mack-Wagner; Mack & Santana Law Offices PC
– Letty M-S Van Ert; Tuft Lach Jerabek & O’Connell PLLC
Thursday, May 29, 2025
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Divorce A to Z: How to Appeal Decisions in Family Court Matters
Appellate practice is highly specialized, with its own set of rules, deadlines, and procedures. Failure to follow these rules can result in loss of the right to appeal. Therefore, it is critical to have a good understanding of appellate procedures when representing family law clients – even if appellate counsel will be stepping in at some point. Join us for a thorough overview of family law appellate practice. Topics include:
– m boulette; Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
– Seungwon Chung; Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
– Hannah Fereshtehkhou; Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Friday, May 30, 2025
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Divorce A to Z: Understanding the Determination of Spousal Maintenance
This presentation will provide an overview of a spousal maintenance case, beginning with the initial determination and through modification issues.
– James J. Vedder; Moss & Barnett PA
$595
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.
This package provides 17.0 total CLE credits. Credits should be reported individually for each webcast attended, not the package as a whole.
Minnesota CLE has applied to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for the standard, ethics, elimination of bias, and mental health/substance use CLE credits as listed below. Application has been made to the Minnesota State Bar Association for any "specialist" credits and to the Supreme Court ADR Program for any continuing education in ADR credits.
Click titles for credit status and individual event codes.
Divorce A to Z: Antenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements and Their Impact on the Divorce Process
1.0 standard CLE credit
Divorce A to Z: The Initial Consultation and Domestic Violence Screening
1.5 standard CLE credits
Divorce A to Z: Commencing the Dissolution Proceeding
1.0 standard CLE credit
Divorce A to Z: A Primer on International and Interstate Child Custody Issues
1.0 standard CLE credit
Divorce A to Z: ADR and ECM in Minnesota – How to Optimize Outcomes Through Early Intervention
1.0 standard CLE credit
Divorce A to Z: Categorizing and Dividing Property
1.0 standard CLE credit
Divorce A to Z: Establishing Parentage, Custody, and Parenting Time
1.5 standard CLE credits
Divorce A to Z: Collecting Fees from Clients
1.0 ethics credit
Divorce A to Z: The Nuts & Bolts of Motion Practice and Pretrial Hearings in Minnesota
1.0 standard CLE credit
Divorce A to Z: Child Support Essentials
1.0 standard CLE credit
Divorce A to Z: Preparing Your Case for Trial – Discovery and Working with Experts
1.5 standard CLE credits
Divorce A to Z: Mental Health and Substance Use in the Practice of Family Law – Suicide Awareness and Prevention
1.0 mental health/substance use credit
Divorce A to Z: Enforcement, Contempt, and Closing Out a Divorce File
1.5 standard CLE credits
Divorce A to Z: How to Appeal Decisions in Family Court Matters
1.0 standard CLE credit
Divorce A to Z: Understanding the Determination of Spousal Maintenance
1.0 standard CLE credit
