Top Family Lawyers in ZIP 55402 | 25 available

Melissa J. Nilsson practices exclusively in all areas of family law. Melissa frequently works on cases involving spousal maintenance, child support, child custody, parenting time and the division of assets and liabilities, whether a case involves a non-acrimonious settlement or vigorous litigation. Melissa is able to assist in the division of high net worth marital estates, analyzing complex financial issues, such as business valuation, non-marital tracing and executive compensation valuation. Melissa represents clients in a variety of matters through mediation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution processes in order to settle matters, if possible. If a resolution cannot be reached, she strongly advocates for her client through the litigation process. In addition, Melissa has extensive experience with family law appeals if one does not agree with a court’s decision and has the ability to analyze the legal issues and develop creative and persuasive arguments to present to the appellate court. Whether mediating or litigating, Melissa strives to be a calm and considerate advocate for clients during this highly emotional and difficult time in their lives.

Lisa T. Spencer represents clients in all areas of family law, working with her clients to reach resolution and settlement, and litigating only when settlement cannot be attained.  She brings a compassionate approach to the difficult transitions many of her clients face.. Lisa has substantial experience in cases involving complex financial issues including business valuation, executive compensation, intellectual property, and non-marital property.  She helps families create effective parenting plans, specifically suited to each family, with an eye towards minimizing the effects of divorce on children.  Lisa also assists clients in creating premarital and postnuptial agreements that address long-term financial settlement.. She is a member of Henson & Efron’s Management Committee.

Licensed Attorney since 2000 with substantial experience in the area of family law. High premium on ethical practices, rigorous representation and responsive advocacy.

Kathryn A. Graves practices in the area of family law, litigating in the trial and appellate courts on all family law issues, including custody, child support, third party custody, spousal maintenance, property division and complex valuation issues, and post-decree disputes. She provides Alternative Dispute Resolution services as a Mediator (Qualified Neutral under Minnesota’s Alternative Dispute Resolution – Rule 114), is a Financial Early Neutral Evaluator for Hennepin, Ramsey, and Dakota Counties and is on the roster for Moderated Settlement Conferences in Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington Counties.

Jenny is an attorney at Honsa & Associates, P.A., practicing exclusively in the area of family law.  Jenny represents her clients in all aspects of family law, including prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, divorce, legal separation, custody and parenting time actions, paternity actions, post-decree matters, and orders for protection.. Jenny is committed to solving her clients’ problems by listening carefully to the challenges they face and implementing sustainable solutions.  Jenny enjoys the combination of social and financial issues involved in the practice of family law, and she most enjoys complex asset valuation and non-marital tracing claims.. Jenny graduated summa cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law.  After graduation, Jenny served as a law clerk at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.. Jenny’s personal interests include running, reading, and music.

Jaime Driggs practices family law exclusively, representing clients in cases ranging from simple, uncontested divorces to complex proceedings involving non-marital tracing, business valuation, spousal maintenance, and division of high net worth marital estates. He also advises clients on issues that can arise after divorce such as modification of child support and spousal maintenance and modification of the parenting time schedule/custody arrangement. Where custody or parenting time is involved (whether part of a divorce, custody, or paternity case) Jaime will work to find creative solutions for resolving the issues and minimizing the harmful effects of conflict on children. If a successful settlement cannot be reached through mediation or other methods of alternative dispute resolution, Jaime is committed to professional and thoughtful trial advocacy.

In difficult times of transition, like those facing many family law clients, I work to help my clients make sense of a legal system that can often seem disconnected from the realities of their lives. I believe in working closely with clients to help them understand the range of possible legal outcomes so that together we develop a strategy best tailored to meet the client’s needs and objectives. Often that will include pursuing alternative dispute resolution, but may also require litigation to ensure that the client’s rights are protected and that their voice is heard. At base, my central goal is providing the client with value-added expertise and advocacy, whether in the courtroom or the conference room, so that they can make informed and rational decisions in a challenging time of personal and family change.

I am a shareholder in the firm of McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered, and have practiced exclusively in family law for over 30 years.  I am one of only two Minnesota Diplomates of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers (membership obtained by invitation only, and limited to 100 of the top family law trial lawyers in the country) and am one of only six lawyers in Minnesota certified Family Law Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. I have a bachelor's degree in child psychology, and specialize not only in custody litigation but also in hight net worth estates with complex dissolution issues, including business valuation, real estate valuation, non-marital tracing, hidden and dissipated assets, spousal maintenance and child support.  I have successfully challenged and circumvented unfair antenuptial agreements, have argued in favor of substantively fair antenuptial agreements and have drafted antenuptial agreements which can withstand challenge.  I am also an experienced advocate of victims of domestic abuse, and served on the board of directors of Cornerstone Advocacy Service from 2002 through 2010.  I have extensive appellate experience, and have participated in some 80 appeals during my career, successfully arguing cases both in the Minnesota Court of Appeals as well as in the Minnesota Supreme Court.  I am a fellow of both the American and International Academies of Matrimonial Lawyers.   I served as Administrative Vice President of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers from 2009 to 2012 and currently serve as the National Delegate to the Board of Governors.  I was the 2002-2003 co-chair of the Hennepin County Bar Association Family Law section.  I have lectured on various family law topics, and also mediate family law cases.

Elizabeth is an attorney at Henson Efron in Minneapolis. Her practice is focused exclusively on family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, post-decree matters, domestic violence, and third party custody.. Elizabeth is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), comprised of the top family law attorneys in the nation who are recognized as having the highest levels of knowledge, skill, and integrity. She is board-certified in family law trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Elizabeth is also a Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice and has frequently worked as a Parenting Consultant, custody evaluator, and court-appointed neutral. A skilled writer and negotiator, she enjoys crafting creative solutions and is always prepared to advocate for her clients and their children both in and out of the courtroom.. Elizabeth graduated cum laude from St. Olaf College and earned her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas, where she was an editor of the Law Journal. She is a Past President of the University of St. Thomas School Alumni Advisory Board.. Before moving her practice to Minnesota, she practiced family law for nearly 12 years in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she was Managing Partner of her former firm. She is experienced at handling parental child abduction cases and is a member of the International Child Abduction Attorney Network and the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts.. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her family and is a freelance singer and cellist. She also serves on the Boards of Directors of Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF/Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), Minnetonka Theatre Curtain Call Club, and Lutheran Summer Music.

Anne is one of the premier family law attorneys in Minnesota. She has been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® and has been selected as a "Super Lawyer" in Minnesota Law and Politics every year since 2003. She has also been chosen as a TOP 100 Attorney and as a Top 3 Family Law Super Lawyer in 2007.. With over 28 years' experience practicing exclusively in the area of family law, Anne is known for her professionalism, meticulous personal case management, thorough preparation and exceptional knowledge of the law. Most notably, Anne is a dedicated advocate for her clients and is recognized for her expertise in dealing with the many complex issues of family law including finances, business, property and asset valuation, non-marital property and spousal maintenance.. Anne is Board Certified in Family Law Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA).. Her personal interests include biking, marathon running, traveling and golf.