Cook County Family Lawyers

Jay has been a licensed attorney since 1980. He began his career as a public defender before transitioning into insurance defense work where he gained valuable experience and knowledge of the insurance industry and insurance practices. After founding Tentinger Law Firm in 1997, Jay practiced in family law as well as continuing his insurance defense work. Today, Jay focuses his time to working with small businesses and their litigation needs. Jay is a member of the Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska State Bar Associations and a no-fault arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. He is admitted to practice before the...

Attorney Terry Zawacki is a partner with Alliance Law Firm P.A. where he practices in the areas of Divorce/Custody Proceedings, Personal Injury/Litigation, Business Law, and Wills/Trusts/Probate. Terry is passionate about the law, and he understands that his clients expect a hard-working, competent lawyer who is focused on delivering results and capable of effectively advocating for their rights. Terry has a broad legal background, with experience in some of the most demanding and challenging cases. His commitment to his clients is to be accessible and responsive, and to handle each and every legal matter competently and diligently, in accordance with the highest...

I have worked as a child support officer, legal assistant, law clerk, certified student attorney, and attorney. I have over nine years experience working in the area of family law. I also prosecute criminal cases for a small town.

Eva Cheney Hatcher is a respected Family Law Attorney and Qualified Rule 114 Neutral with 19 years of experience. She graduated from Sioux Falls University in South Dakota, Summa Cum Laude, with degrees in English and Business. She was a member of the Honors Society, and named as an Outstanding College Student of America. She attended the University of South Dakota School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate, was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for Legal Research and Writing, a Law School Foundation Academic Scholarship, and was recognized by the Who's Who Among American Law Students. Eva brings...

I help my clients create creative and detailed divorce and co-parenting solutions that will help prevent future conflict and reduce the need to come back to court in the future.

Chelsea Barr is a family law and estate planning attorney with a desire to help families navigate some of the most stressful and sensitive times of their lives.

Chelsea graduated magna cum laude from Minnesota State University, Mankato. During her undergraduate studies, she interned at the Domestic Violence Unit of the Niagara Falls Police Department. Chelsea earned her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. During law school, she worked as a certified student attorney at the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. She participated in the Immigration Appellate Clinic, representing individuals in their immigration appeals. Chelsea also served as...

Laurie’s practice is focused primarily on family law, including complex issues pertaining to divorce, child custody, property division, modifications of divorce decrees, orders for protection, enforcement, paternity matters, and domestic abuse. Ms. Cylkowski also devotes a portion of her practice to issues of civil rights, discrimination in the work place and special education law - advocating for children with Individual Education Plans (IEP's), negotiating special education services with School Districts and enforcement.

Laurie A. Cylkowski is an experienced trial attorney who is diligent in her practice and dedicated to her clients. She is admitted to practice in all courts in the...

Christopher Cain has been practicing in multiple areas of the law in excess of 30 years. The areas include criminal law, appeals, municipal practice, advisory counsel to various governmental departments, criminal defense and family law. Chris served as both a District Ethics Committee Investigator of the Sixth District for five years and as a Vice-Chair and Chair on the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board for six years. He has tried approximately 100 jury trials to verdict. In addition, Chris has handled over 15 appeals and appeared before both the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme...

John Guzik has been a practicing attorney in the Twin Cities area, representing individual clients – not banks, corporations or the government, for over 30 years. His philosophy is to help solve legal problems by applying creative solutions to what are often times difficult and complex legal issues and problems. He works hard to provide his clients with competent, thorough and professional legal advice and representation. If you would like to learn more information about him, and the services his office provides, please call (651) 636-2600 to schedule an initial consultation, at no cost or obligation.

I was a late bloomer. I didn't even start on my undergraduate degree until I was 35. Perseverence pays off, however. I made it all the way through undergrad and law school and have been practicing since 1994. Much of that time was spent as a solo practitioner, but I have a colleague who is an equal owner with me. My practice is limited to estate planning (wills and trusts), probate, guardianship/conservatorships and all aspects of family law (divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, property division, etc.)

Many times in life each of us come to a crossroads or encounter an issue in which we need to get legal advice on how best to proceed forward. At such times it is important to obtain guidance from someone who can act like a beacon in a possible sea of doubt or confusion. Mooney Law Office is committed to providing you with top notch legal representation. Mooney Law Office has represented hundreds of clients over the years in the ten county metropolitan area as well as out-state Minnesota. Every client is approached with a focus on integrity, advocacy and understanding....

Amber is a native of northern Minnesota and is proud to give back to the communities she serves. Amber’s practice includes guiding clients through a variety of residential real estate transactions. Amber enjoys assisting clients with their Estate Planning needs whether the client is looking for a Will or complete estate plan. Amber routinely drafts Wills, Trusts, Health Care Directives, and Powers of Attorney. Amber is dedicated to helping her senior clients with their individual needs and is happy to assist with guardianship and conservatorship matters, long-term care planning and Medicare questions. Amber services areas throughout Minnesota,...

I have been a family lawyer since 1985 and a family mediator since 1993. I joined the Collaborative Law Institute in 2003. With over twenty-five years of experience as a family law attorney and life experiences that include being a mother of two and grandmother of six, I am convinced that people who look back on their divorce are most satisfied when they were able to resolve issues peacefully with dignity and, if there are children, work positively with their former partner as co-parents. Collaborative law is a great process that can work for most people who want...

Todd handles matters in Wills, Trusts, and Estates; Family Law; and Civil Litigation. He also provides pro bono representation to youth in foster care in association with the Children's Law Center of Minnesota. Before moving to Minnesota, Todd practiced law in Denver, Colorado in the areas of Municipal Law and Litigation. He also gained experience in Civil Rights Law while interning with the United States Department of Justice and the University of Iowa Clinical Law Programs. Todd is a graduate of Tulane University and the University of Iowa College of Law. He was born and raised in Independence, Iowa.

Chantell Bergquist is an associate attorney at Burns and Hansen and focuses on family law and civil 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...

I am a Rochester native with over 43 years of experience practicing family law in the Olmsted County and Southeast Minnesota area. I was admitted to practice in 1980. In addition to representing clients in all of the counties in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District, I have regularly represented clients in Goodhue, Blue Earth, and Faribault counties located in the First and Fifth Judicial Districts, as well as other judicial districts throughout Minnesota. I am a graduate of St. Olaf College in 1976 and Hamline University School of Law in 1980. I have taken particular interest in...

Hannah M. El-Bashir
Hannah earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Following her graduation, Hannah went on to complete her Juris Doctorate at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, MN. During law school, Hannah had extensive courtroom experience as a student certified attorney with the Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office. Hannah also had the opportunity to study arbitration and comparative law at BPP University in London, England.

Following law school, Hannah worked as an Associate Attorney at Ed Shaw Law, a general practice firm in Brainerd, Minnesota. Hannah also worked as a...

Crawford Law Office is committed to providing skilled and effective legal representation in divorce and other family law and civil litigation matters throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. At Crawford Law Office we employ exceptional legal expertise with common sense in our work. We offer our clients the advice and counsel they need in order to make informed decisions about their legal matters while making every effort to cost-effectively resolve their case. We understand that each client we represent faces a unique situation and with that in mind we...

Voted Favorite Femal Family Law Attorney by the readers of Minnesota Women's Press 2008

Ms. Kugler practices exclusively in the area of family law. Karen works toward equitable settlements, but is skilled in trial advocacy. Karen discusses the risks and expense of litigation with her clients. She is a knowledgeable, empathetic, and assertive legal advocate and handles all family law issues: spousal maintenance, child support, property division, and custody at the trial and appellate levels. Karen is past Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) Family Law Section and is a past Co-Chair of the RCBA Family Law Section. She is a frequent writer and speaker regarding family law, co-authoring the Child Support...

Kyle Prouty is an experienced family law attorney. Kyle is skilled at providing families with the advice and knowledge needed to go through the family court process in Minnesota. He recognizes that each case brings unique challenges and is passionate about providing tailored legal services to each client.

Kyle graduated magna cum laude from St. Cloud State University. He earned his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline) in St. Paul. Since graduating, Kyle has worked exclusively in family law and has represented clients in the areas of divorce, custody, domestic abuse, third-party custody, and other areas of...

Matt is a knowledgeable attorney practicing in the area of family law. Matt blends empathy, practicality, diligence, and respect to advocate for outcomes that serve clients in the long term and defuse tension among families of all types. Matt favors a creative, collaborative, and results-focused practice style and is keenly aware that every case requires its own unique approach. Prior to joining Messick Law, Matt worked as an attorney editor at Thomson Reuters, as an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Richelle M. Wahi in Dakota County. In addition to...

For over 20 years I have been defending people charged with criminal offenses. I defend cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies. I also practice family law, mainly divorce cases. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and my Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul MN. In 2014 I was selected for Membership in the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers for Criminal Defense. In 2000 and 2003 was selected for inclusion in MN Super Lawyers Editions. I have had many trials during my career....

Susan M. Lach is a shareholder at Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O'Connell, PLLC and a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral. Ms. Lach practices in all areas of family law, including complex property valuation and division, contested child custody matters, spousal maintenance, child support issues, and antenuptial agreements. Ms. Lach is trained in arbitration, as well as mediation. She is a Financial Early Neutral Evaluator for the Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Washington, and Dakota County District Court Early Neutral Evaluation Programs. Ms. Lach is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and is past Minnesota Delegate to...

Ashley M. Beard is a dedicated attorney with a strong background in family law and litigation matters. She is known for her unwavering commitment to advocating for her clients and providing them with personalized and strategic legal representation. Ashley's experience spans across various legal settings, including private law firms, a self-help clinic, and as a certified student attorney, showcasing her versatility and adaptability in handling diverse legal matters. Ashley has successfully handled family law-related matters, such as dissolution, child custody, child support, and parenting time, and provided representation in ex parte proceedings involving allegations of abuse or neglect. Ashley's strategic approach...

At the law office of Judith A. Samson, I strive to provide a compassionate and welcoming atmosphere for clients while aggressively pursuing their defense, acquittal, and freedom. As an experienced criminal defense lawyer, I recognize the need to provide clients with thorough understanding of their options and realistic outcomes while also vigorously defending against the charges. I have been serving clients as a Minnesota defense attorney for more than 15 years and provide comprehensive defense services ranging from drug charges and DUI to assault, theft, and juvenile crimes. Being investigated or charged with a crime can be a frightening and life-changing...