Agenda

Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.

Please log into the webinar 15 – 30 minutes before start time.

Log into Webinar
8:00 – 8:30 am CDT
Morning Session
8:30 am – 12:00 pm CDT
Break
12:00 – 12:30 pm CDT
Afternoon Session
12:30 – 4:00 pm CDT

 

Assisting with Family Law Case Intake                     K. O’Keefe, D. Howe
Performing conflicts checks
Assisting with initial client interview
Preparing engagement letter, opening file
Collecting information

Preparing Pleadings and Assisting with Motion Practice                     K. O’Keefe, D. Howe 
Preparing initial pleadings
Requesting temporary relief
Preparing for the temporary orders hearing
Preparing the temporary orders

Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information                     J. Deach
Identifying relevant information on assets, debts, income and expenses
Obtaining financial information
• Using financial information questionnaires
• Using interrogatories, requests for production, deposition testimony, private investigators
• Valuing assets
Evaluating the information you have obtained
Working with accountants and financial experts
Preparing financial statements

Assisting with Child Custody and Visitation Issues                     S. Krueger
Recent developments in Minnesota custody law
Obtaining relevant information
• Client interview, custody questionnaires, authorizations for disclosure, formal discovery
Working with guardian-ad-litem
Working with experts
Drafting and reviewing parenting plan

Overview of Tax Issues Involved in Divorce                     J. Brown
Filing status implications
Dependency exemptions
Tax credits
Hidden tax implications in child support
Taxable v. non-taxable property distribution
Tax consequences of spousal maintenance

Handling Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice                     R. Johnsen
Complying with rules of professional responsibility and ethics guidelines for attorneys and paralegals
Avoiding conflicts of interest
Maintaining client confidentiality
Avoiding the unauthorized practice of law
Working with the secretive or dishonest client
Handling allegations of abuse or neglect
Zealous (vs. over-zealous) representation
Fee agreements, retainers, and collection of unpaid fees

 

 Webinar Instructions

All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.

Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.

Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.

GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)

Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled


Internet connection:
 Minimum of 1Mbps       Hardware: 2GB RAM or more

For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com

 

Credits

This webinar offers paralegals
6.5 CLE hours, including 1.0 ethics hour
NALA Approved
NFPA Approved

 

Continuing Education Credit Information
This webinar is open to the public and offers 6.5 CLE hours,
including 1.0 ethics hour, to paralegals.

The National Association of Legal Assistants and the National
Federation of Paralegal Associations have each approved this
event for 6.5 CLE hours, including 1.0 ethics hours.

Completion certificates will be awarded to participants who
complete this event, respond to all prompts, and earn a
passing score (80%) on the quiz that follows the presentation
(multiple attempts allowed).

Speakers

Jason Brown

Attorney at Barna, Guzy & Steffen in Coon Rapids

Mr. Brown is a shareholder with Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd. He has been repeatedly recognized as a Super Lawyer in the area of family law by Thomson Reuters. He has represented a wide variety of family law clients over the last 20 years, including teachers, homemakers, union construction workers, doctors, truck drivers, accountants, business owners, engineers, mortgage brokers and Fortune 500 executives. Many of his cases have involved custody disputes, alimony claims, and high net worth individuals, including several divorces in which the value of the marital estate exceeded ten million dollars. In addition to his work as a lawyer, Mr. Brown provides mediation services for family court litigants.

Jana Deach

Attorney at Moss & Barnett in Minneapolis

Ms. Deach is a nationally recognized family law practitioner who serves as a compassionate advocate for clients and their children. Knowledgeable and responsive, she is committed to understanding her clients’ needs and working with them to achieve positive outcomes. Ms. Deach strives to resolve matters outside the courtroom to minimize distress and disruption, but when the parties cannot reach a consensus, she is fully prepared to represent her clients’ interests at trial. Ms. Deach believes that every client deserves dedicated, competent guidance throughout their family court proceeding, culminating in a conclusion that prepares her clients to confidently move forward. She earned her B.A. degree from the University of North Dakota and her J.D. degree, with distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law.

Denise D. Howe

Lead Paralegal with Arnold, Rodman & Kretchmer PA in Minneapolis

Ms. Howe earned her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton. She completed an ABA approved Paralegal Program at the Minnesota Paralegal Institute. Ms. Howe is a member of the Minnesota Paralegal Association and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.

Ruta Johnsen

Attorney - Nancy Zalusky Berg, LLC

Ms. Johnsen is a family law attorney and her practice includes areas of marriage dissolution, custody and parenting time matters, child support, paternity, spousal maintenance, international family law, child in need of protection and services, termination of parental rights proceedings, and appeals. Her background in child protection and juvenile justice gives her a distinctive perspective in working with families going through a variety of family transitions such as dissolution, custody disputes and child protection proceedings. Ms. Johnsen graduated from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law where she was a recipient of the Student Award of Merit. She is admitted to practice in the state of Minnesota and Federal District Court, District of Minnesota.

Sherri L. Krueger

Partner at Krueger & Juelich, PLLC in Minnetonka

Ms. Krueger is an attorney practicing exclusively in the area of family law. As a Rule 114 qualified neutral, she provides mediation services for parties going through marriage dissolution and custody proceedings. She is committed to helping parents find good child-focused solutions to the disputes they face in their divorce and custody matters. Ms. Krueger strives to provide practical options and solutions for her clients and uses her knowledge of the law to develop plans that will help families long-term. She received her J.D. degree, cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law and received a B.S. degree in Paralegal Studies, magna cum laude, from Winona State University.

Kendal K. O’Keefe

Attorney with Arnold, Rodman & Kretchmer PA, in Minneapolis

Ms. O’Keefe has devoted her practice exclusively to family law, including divorce, custody and parenting time issues, spousal maintenance and child support. She is also a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral and offers family mediation services. Ms. O’Keefe is admitted to practice by the Minnesota Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She serves as aboard member of the Family Law League, a social and educational event-planning organization for family law practitioners that have been practicing for less than ten years. Ms. O’Keefe volunteers with Tubman, a family violence prevention organization in the Twin Cities, and has presented continuing legal education classes through Minnesota CLE, and other providers.