Top Best Family Lawyers | 21033 Available

Named the 2015 Minneapolis Area Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America, Dan O’Connell has been guiding clients through the legal system for 30 years. Only a single lawyer in each practice area in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year”. He helps his clients overcome the fear and uncertainty of divorce. He works hard to help his clients achieve a fair and amicable settlement, but if there is not a fair settlement to be had, Mr. O’Connell is a skilled trial attorney who will take the case to trial.. He helps clients make marriage dissolution decisions out of their highest aspirations instead of their worst fears and impulses. Dan is also a licensed CPA, so is able to understand, negotiate, and litigate complex financial and tax issues, business valuations, retirement, executive compensation, intellectual property, and other business issues, as well as non-marital asset issues. He has handled pre-marital and post-marital agreements, as well as cohabitation agreements. He represents clients in child custody, parenting time, grandparent visitation, and third-party custody/parenting time matters.. Dan’s calming demeanor and empathetic manner help him assist clients and lawyers toward amicable and dignified resolutions through ADR. He is also named by Best Lawyers in America for Family Law Mediation. Dan has been appointed by the courts to act as a neutral evaluator in dozens of cases involving financial issues and custody and parenting time issues. He is an arbitrator and CSM (private judge). He is a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and a member of the Collaborative Law Institute and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. He is immediate past president of the Minnesota Chapter of the AAML. Dan practices law regularly in Ramsey, Hennepin, Washington, and Dakota counties, but has had cases in many other counties throughout Minnesota.. He mediates both civil law and family law disputes. He has represented lawyers, doctors, dentists and other professionals in licensing and ethics matters for over twenty-five years.

Letty M-S Van Ert is an associate with the Maplewood law firm of Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC and a Rule 114 qualified neutral. She practices family law, estate planning and probate.. Ms. Van Ert received her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law where she graduated cum laude and served as an editor of the Law Review.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish/Portuguese, English, and International Relations from the University of Minnesota where she graduated magna cum laude.. She is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and has received recognition for public service, most notably for her work with prisoners, the elderly, and victims of domestic abuse. Ms. Van Ert has published articles regarding family caregiver legislation, deathbed deeds and estate planning for digital assets.. Ms. Van Ert is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law League, Ramsey County Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association and Minnesota Women Lawyers.

Robb Olson has represented clients in the Twin Cities metro area since 1984. After graduating cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, Robb joined a Minneapolis firm in its business litigation and construction claims group. He has since honed his legal career in on handling family law, probate and estate planning, and municipal law matters. He has gained extensive courtroom experience through his private practice and his years spent as the lead prosecutor for the cities of White Bear Lake, Lino Lakes and Gem Lake.. When it comes to representing clients, Robb takes a pragmatic, goal-oriented approach. He understands that a legal issue is often the most important thing happening in a client’s life, so he focuses on providing the attention and time needed to ensure each client understands what is going on. He provides clear, easy-to-understand options so his clients can make informed decisions about their representation.. In addition to his success as a lawyer, Robb has experience owning, managing and selling his own company. He understands the intricacies of running a business and knows the complications a business or professional practice can face during a divorce. This first-hand knowledge is especially useful when handling high asset divorces that require business valuations and related matters.

1980 Cum Laude Graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. 1984 Juris Doctor from William MItchell College of Law. 1985-Present Private practice of law primarily in areas of family law, mediation, probate and personal bankruptcy.. Licensed to practice in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

When Attorney Jenifer DeCristofaro first became a lawyer nearly 20 years ago, she chose to concentrate on family law because she wanted to help people in a meaningful way, providing sound legal counsel and zealous advocacy for men and women dealing with intensely personal and highly emotional matters that have a profound impact on the rest of their lives.. Attorney DeCristofaro loves the personal relationship she develops with each of her clients, and she’s represented hundreds of men and women of all ages and financial statuses, in a variety of divorce and family law matters over the years. Whether it’s a simple or complex divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, modification of support or parenting plans, parental alienation, fathers’ rights, or grandparents’ rights, she has handled them all.. “Family law is about so much more than just the law -- it’s about children and families and marriages and messy, busy lives,” she says. “I’m the attorney who always hugs my clients and holds their hands while they cry. But I am also always honest with them about what they can realistically expect to see in their situation. It’s hard for clients to see the big picture when they are dealing with so many emotions and that is my job, to keep their focus where it needs to be in the case.”. She also has extensive experience dealing with clients whose divorces involve immigration issues, including those with spouses are all over the world or in parts unknown. She has successfully divorced clients here with spouses in Iceland, the Congo, Rwanda, Ghana, and Canada.. With nearly 20 years of experience in the Massachusetts probate and family courts, Attorney DeCristofaro knows all of the judges and clerks and the ins and outs of the system so she knows how best to make things happen, quickly and efficiently.. Her clients rave about her extensive knowledge of divorce and family law and her masterful skills in negotiations and in the courtroom. She is known as a straight shooter who takes time to get to know her clients and listens to their needs. But what they love most is her genuine care and concern for them and their families. Her clients take comfort knowing that once they’ve hired Jenifer she’s got their back and they’ve got her support every step of the way.. “I’m honored that my clients trust me, literally with their lives,” Attorney DeCristofaro said. “That’s why I put my heart and soul into each and every case – and I will make you laugh, even in your darkest hour.”. Attorney DeCristofaro said that being the mother of two small children has made her an even better, more compassionate family law attorney. She understands when clients are distracted by their children, often telling them: “Get the kids to bed, grab a glass of wine and call me at 9 or 10 p.m. so we can really focus on what needs to happen.”. She also takes time to talk to clients about life after divorce; how to move forward and manage their new financial situation, as well as encouraging them not to give up on love or marriage despite all they’ve been through.. “My favorite part of being a family law attorney is helping families create their ‘new normal’ so that divorce does not become a crushing life change,” Attorney DeCristofaro says. “I love when people who originally came to me distraught and feeling trapped are able to triumph and take back their lives.”. Attorney Jenifer G. DeCristofaro is a graduate of Davidson College in Davidson, NC, and the New England School of Law. She also attended University College Galway in Ireland. She is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and the U.S. District Court. She’s a member of the Middlesex Bar Association and the Essex Bar Association, and she is a notary public in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. When not working with clients, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, as well as playing tennis. She also is an avid reader and writer of fiction and short stories.

Most weekends, I hike in the White Mountain area in New Hampshire.  I also love to read and work on crossword puzzles and sudoku challenges.  I also enjoy the beach, and during the summer, I will go in the water regardless of water temperature.

Mr. Barriere has extensive litigation experience in the areas of divorce, abuse prevention orders, custody disputes, actions involving the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”), paternity actions, and post-divorce modification and enforcement of alimony, child support, and other judgments. He routinely negotiates and drafts prenuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, and divorce agreements. Mr. Barriere also serves Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties as a trained family law mediator. As a neutral mediator, he helps couples amicably resolve family law issues – such as divorces, custody and support disputes, and paternity matters - through informed negotiation. He is also a trained conciliator, certified by the Barnstable County Bar Association.. In his probate litigation practice, Mr. Barriere has represented donors, trustees, executors, and beneficiaries in will contests, fiduciary disputes, and equity actions in the probate court.. Mr. Barriere has extensive experience working with athletes, screenwriters, actors, songwriters, and musicians in both litigation and non-litigation contexts.