Best Divorce Lawyers in Minnesota
Julianne Markiewicz
Divorce Lawyers
Julianne Markiewicz is a leading nationwide expert in the areas of matrimonial law, dissolutions involving complex financial issues, custody, and spousal maintenance. She is also a recognized specialist in the crafting, negotiation, and drafting of complex prenuptial agreements and all classes of adoptions. A top graduate of Hamline University School of Law, she possesses qualified expertise with decades of courtroom experience. With a deep history forged by her extensive and varied background in civil litigation, she has handled hundreds of cases spanning a myriad of complex issues. The courtroom is Julianne’s backyard.
Recently featured on award-winning Impact Makers Radio, Julianne advised and led listeners through the pitfalls of the emotional divorce process in an information-packed interview entitled “You’re Getting Divorced – Now What?” She is a champion of strategic thinking and decision-making to maximize recovery for divorce litigants with a close eye on costs.
To add to her recent list of accomplishments, Ms. Markiewicz was hand-selected by Remarkable Press’ national search for an exceptional divorce professional to author the litigation chapter in the best-selling divorce book series Stress-Free Divorce: Leading Divorce Professionals Speak. Published by Remarkable Press, this award-winning book hand-picks and places focus on true advocates for the success of divorcing couples in America, while at the same time pledging 100% of the royalties from the retail sales of the book to be donated to Junior Achievement, a nonprofit Corporation focused on leading young people to the exploration of benefits of entrepreneurship.
Julianne is a national leader, practicing law with compassion and integrity. A known fighter and advocate, she is someone that you want to have in your corner in your time of need.
Julianne’s office is centrally located in the small, well knit community of White Bear Lake. Right around the corner from Julianne’s office is the senior living complex of Pioneer Manor, hosting 42 senior apartment units on a beautiful corner lot. Julianne has become known as the “go to” for the legal needs of its elderly population. Having earned the American Jurisprudence Award in Estate Planning for the top grade in law school, Julianne enjoys servicing, on a pro bono basis, the simplicities and complexities of trust and estate planning issues. From health care directives to amending complex trust documents, Julianne performs these services of the communities’ elderly constituents on a pro bono basis. This has resulted in a treasure trove of chocolate chip cookies, homemade lasagna and chocolates, and most recently, a beautiful red crocheted hat! This service to the community is a niche for the needs of the elderly. Julianne’s clients stop by when out for a daily stroll in their walkers, or just to have a small cup of “warmer” coffee as they go about their daily errands. This is just one of the hallmarks of generosity of Julianne’s practice.
Jacquelyn S. Lutz
Divorce Lawyers
acquelyn is a top-rated attorney focusing her practice exclusively in family law. She represents fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, grandparents, and other stakeholders in family law cases.
Jacquelyn is motivated to practice in the area of family law by her own childhood. As the daughter of divorced parents, she has personal experience with the struggles that exist when co-parenting and blending families. As a mother of three children herself, she has an intimate understanding of what is at stake for each client. Jacquelyn is dedicated to counseling her clients through the deeply personal – and often complex – issues involved in family practice. She is solution-focused rather than problem-oriented and works closely with her clients to develop creative resolutions that fit their unique family situation. Jacquelyn has been selected as Rising Star by SuperLawyers since 2019.
Outside the Courtroom, Jacquelyn is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota School of Law and a volunteer attorney ethics investigator for Minnesota’s 19th bar district. She is a passionate advocate for breastfeeding education and has been presenting Continuing Legal Education seminars aimed at the family law bar and judicial bench since 2018. She strongly believes that attorneys and judicial officers should understand the science and practical realities of breastfeeding in order to make informed decisions about families that choose to breastfeed. Jacquelyn also works to boost the accessibility of courthouses for breastfeeding attorneys and other courthouse guests.
In her free time, Jacquelyn enjoys the arts, attending as many musicals and live concerts as she can fit in her schedule. She is a member of See Change Treble Choir, which performs during the Winter/Spring season. She lives in Apple Valley with her spouse and three children.
STEPHANIE J. HILL
Divorce Lawyers
Stephanie J. Hill grew up in small town Detroit Lakes, MN. After graduating high school, Stephanie went on to obtain her Bachelors Degree in American Law and Legal Systems from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN and later her law degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, MN.
Prior to attending law school, Stephanie was introduced to the family court system as a responding party in a family law matter. After nearly two years of litigation, five days of trial and $50,000+ in legal fees, Stephanie prevailed. Stephanie became an attorney to help others faced with divorce and related family law issues. No one understands the stakes better than someone who has been in your very same shoes, and knows first-hand what you stand to lose. Stephanie will approach your case with a fierce advocacy and compassionate understanding.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Divorce
- Family Law
- Military Divorce
- Child Support
- Custody and Parenting Time
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Minnesota
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota
EDUCATION
- University of St. Thomas School of Law, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- J.D.
- Hamline Dispute Resolution Institute
- Honors: Civil Mediation and Family Mediation Certificate
- Hamline University
- Major: American Law and Legal Systems
- Social Early Neutral Evaluator Certification
- Parenting Consultant Certification
- Rule 114 Qualified Neutral
- Custody Evaluation Certification
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Selected Super Lawyer by Minnesota Super Lawyers 2022, 2023
- Selected Rising Star by Minnesota Super Lawyers 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- 4th Judicial District Ethics Committee
Jack Zustiak
Divorce Lawyers
Jack practices Family Law and is passionate about helping people through the difficult times that issues like divorce and child custody bring. Previously, Jack worked in the fields of Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability law. In other words, Jack is experienced in representing people who are going through difficult and painful situations in their lives. Jack knows what it’s like to navigate hardship and will fight to help you reach the best possible destination.
Education
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
- J.D.
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: Dean’s List
- Law Review: Mitchell Hamline Law Review, Assistant Editor, 2015 – 2017
- Hamline University , St. Paul, Minnesota
- B.A. – 2015
- Honors: Dean’s List
- Major: American Law and Legal Systems
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 2017
Pro-Bono Activities
- Certified Student Attorney at Washington County Public Defenders, 2015 to 2015
Past Positions
- Law Offices of Menk & Menk , Associate Attorney, 2018 to 2019
- Hoglund Law, Law Clerk, 2014 to 2018
Current Employment Position
- Associate Attorney
Jill M. Johnson Bigelbach
Divorce Lawyers
Jill M. Johnson Bigelbach practices exclusively in the area of family law. She is a partner in the law firm and focuses her practice on child custody, support, spousal maintenance, property division and business valuation as well as domestic abuse issues. Jill graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 2003. She is an experienced litigator and a member of the Minnesota State and Ramsey County Bar Association.
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
- Child Custody
- Support
- Property Division
- Business Valuation
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 2003
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- J.D. – 2003
- Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
Honors and Awards
- Super Lawyers
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, Member
- Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, Member
- Ramsey County Bar Association, Member
Chantell Bergquist
Divorce Lawyers
Chantell Bergquist is an associate attorney at Burns and Hansen and focuses on family law, estate planning, probate and mass torts litigation.
At a young age, Chantell knew that she wanted to become an attorney because she saw the need for empathic attorneys, not the robotic kind of attorneys people generally picture. Before graduating from Bemidji State University, Chantell was already attending Mitchell Hamline School of Law so she could take the fast track into practicing family law. Chantell is also a published author in Mitchell Hamline’s Law Review. She is thoughtful and meticulous, leaving no stone unturned as she maneuvers through the case toward her client’s goals.
Chantell has worked on family law cases pro bono to ensure equal access to the justice system; she has also worked in civil law at the Dakota County Attorney’s Office and Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office. Prior to practicing family law, Ms. Bergquist worked in mass tort litigation, honing her trial and discovery skills.
Chantell was born and raised in Alexandria, Minnesota and is now residing in Lake Elmo with her German Shepherd, Lambeau. They spend a lot of time at dog parks and going on long walks and cheering on the Packers: don’t hold that against her.
James D. Capra
Divorce Lawyers
Practice Areas
- Family Law
Education
- Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
- 05/1988
- Hamline University
- 1984
- Honors: cum laude
Representative Cases
- Hosley v. Hosley, C9-96-2084
- Nutakor v. Kallys, C0-98-1751
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1989
- Minnesota Supreme Court, 1989
Elizabeth A. Cloutier
Divorce Lawyers
Elizabeth A. Cloutier has been licensed to practice law in Minnesota for almost 24 years, with an emphasis on personal injury law, family law and general civil litigation. She is admitted to practice in Minnesota state and federal courts and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She has extensive trial and litigation experience, as well as experience in arbitrations, mediations, settlement negotiations, motion practice, drafting legal documents and representing clients in state and federal appeals.
She was recently voted “Favorite Female Attorney” in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 by Minnesota Women’s Press, Inc. readers. She was voted “Favorite Female Family Law Attorney” in 2008 by the readers.
Ms. Cloutier began working as a law clerk and legal assistant, and attorney, in her father’s law firm. She and her father worked together over the years to develop a general practice law firm that provides a wide variety of legal services for clients and their families.
During the past 24 years, Ms. Cloutier has been the lead attorney aggressively and successfully representing clients in personal injury matters, such as automobile accidents, work injury, slip and fall, motorcycle/boat accident, animal bite, burn, premises liability, products liability, malpractice, and wrongful death claims. She has represented clients in family law matters, such as divorce, custody/visitation disputes, child support matters, prenuptial agreements, paternity cases and adoptions.
Ms. Cloutier also has extensive experience in discrimination, insurance, corporate, non-profit corporation, business, contract, entertainment and arts, guardianships/conservatorships, wills, trusts, domestic partnership agreements, estate planning and probate law matters, in addition to many other types of cases. Please contact Ms. Cloutier today for a free consultation to discuss your legal needs.
Hiring the best divorce lawyer in Minnesota can offer several advantages when going through a divorce. Here are some benefits you might experience by working with a top-notch divorce lawyer in the state:
Expertise in Minnesota Family Law: Laws and regulations related to divorce vary from state to state. A top divorce lawyer in Minnesota will have a deep understanding of the state’s family law statutes, ensuring that your case is handled in accordance with the relevant legal framework.
Customized Legal Strategy: Every divorce case is unique, and a skilled lawyer will tailor their approach to your specific circumstances. They will consider factors like child custody, property division, alimony, and more to develop a strategy that aligns with your goals and protects your interests.
Effective Communication: A top divorce lawyer will be an excellent communicator, both with you and with other parties involved in the case. Clear communication is essential to ensure that your rights and wishes are accurately represented during negotiations, mediation, or in court.
Negotiation Skills: Many divorce cases can be resolved through negotiation rather than litigation. A skilled lawyer will have strong negotiation skills to help you achieve favorable settlements while minimizing conflict and stress.
Child Custody and Support: If you have children, their well-being is likely a top concern. A knowledgeable divorce lawyer can help you navigate the intricacies of child custody arrangements and child support calculations, always prioritizing the best interests of the children.
Complex Financial Situations: If your divorce involves complex financial matters such as multiple assets, business ownership, or significant debts, a top divorce lawyer can ensure that all financial aspects are thoroughly examined and properly divided according to Minnesota law.
Alimony and Spousal Support: Determining whether alimony (spousal support) is appropriate and how much should be paid requires a careful analysis of various factors. A skilled lawyer can advocate for a fair arrangement based on your financial situation and the length of your marriage.
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution: Minnesota encourages alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation for resolving divorce issues. A skilled lawyer can guide you through these processes, helping you achieve mutually acceptable solutions while avoiding the stress and expense of a courtroom battle.
Protection of Rights: Your divorce lawyer will ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process. Whether it’s your rights as a parent, your entitlement to marital assets, or other legal matters, having a skilled lawyer on your side helps prevent any unjust outcomes.
Emotional Support: Divorce can be emotionally challenging. A compassionate and experienced lawyer can provide not only legal guidance but also emotional support, helping you navigate the emotional aspects of the process.
Efficiency and Timeliness: A seasoned divorce lawyer understands the importance of resolving your case efficiently and in a timely manner. They will work to ensure that your case progresses smoothly while avoiding unnecessary delays.
Minimization of Mistakes: Divorce paperwork and legal processes can be complex, and mistakes can have long-term consequences. A top divorce lawyer will help you avoid making errors that could jeopardize your case or future.
Remember that while hiring the best divorce lawyer can be beneficial, it’s essential to find a lawyer who suits your specific needs, budget, and preferences. Take the time to research and consult with several lawyers before making your decision.