Gary A. Debele

• Represented all manner of family law clients in more than 50 appeals before the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals, as well as numerous appeals at the Minnesota Department of Human Services resulting in significant appellate decisions affecting adoption, litigation leading to the creation of the Minnesota Father’s Adoption Registry, child protection, relocation issues in divorce, and third-party custody.

• Represented numerous clients at the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court on matters including spousal maintenance; First Amendment free speech and religious liberty issues; third-party custody; dissipation of assets; business valuation; and custody and parenting time.

• Represented aunt and uncle seeking custody of their niece and nephew before the Minnesota Supreme Court, establishing a seminal precedent and leading to a revision of Minnesota’s third-party custody and visitation statutes.

• Represented owner of large closely-held business in divorce that included a billion-dollar estate with multi-generational estate plans, high-conflict and high-stakes litigation and requiring coordination with multiple advisors,  with the result being obtaining successful resolution without publicity or disruption to the business.

• Represented numerous clients residing in other states (e.g., Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, California) or countries (e.g., Lebanon, Kuwait, France, Venezuela)  with divorce and custody matters, addressing implications under the Hague Convention and Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act in state and federal courts.

• Represented members of Indian tribes located throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, in matters involving divorce, custody, paternity, adoption, surrogacy, child welfare, conservatorships and guardianships, and complex jurisdiction disputes, including one case  requiring representation of a  tribal member client in tribal court, a Canadian provincial court, federal district court, and state district court all in the same divorce proceeding.

• Represented adoptive parents, foster parents, birth parents, children, and adoption agencies involved in all kinds of adoptions  —  ranging from the simplest step-parent, relative, and adult adoptions, to complex state ward adoptions involving foster children and governmental entities, complex interstate and direct placement adoptions, and also international adoptions and litigated adoptions.

• Represented many intended parents, gestational carriers, traditional surrogates, and donors of genetic material in a whole variety of assisted reproduction matters, including  drafting complex contracts to address all aspects of assisted reproduction,  assisting in legal proceedings to establish parentage through  a variety of legal proceedings in various judicial venues, and helping to protect clients’ stored genetic material  in the event of death or divorce.

• Represented parents and children in various juvenile proceedings involving child protection investigations and threatened terminations of parental rights, maltreatment findings and appeals, removals of children from the family home, child protection issues in family court, and threatened criminal charges.  Cases have included children injured in daycare settings, shaken baby allegations, intra-family sexual abuse allegations, with many of these cases requiring working with criminal defense attorneys and forensic evidence and experts.

• Represented gay and lesbian clients over the years in various family law issues, including drafting cohabitation agreements, litigating complex and challenging custody and parenting time issues,  completing many second parent adoptions  before the adoption code specifically allowed for these, and now working with same sex couples to address their family law needs in a  post Obergefel (legalized same sex marriage) world.

• Represented clients with modest estates who have just divorced or who have built families through adoption or assisted reproduction and who are in need of basic  estate planning instruments such as simple wills, health care declarations, powers of attorney, and funeral and burial directives.

Publications

• Author, “Adoption Law,” The Complete Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2026
•  Co-Author, “Constitutional Issues in Assisted Reproduction” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 537, 2023
• Reviewer, “Designing Babies: How Technology is Changing the Ways We Create Children” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 545, 2022

• Co-Author, “Legal Issues Surrounding Embryos and Gametes: What Family Law Practitioners Need to Know” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 701, 2018

• Co-Author, “Shifting Ethical and Social Conundrums and ‘Stunningly Anachronistic’ Laws: What Lawyers in Adoption and Assisted Reproduction May Want to Consider” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 101, 2017

• Editor, The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2015

• Author, “Third Party Custody” – The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2015

• Author, “Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Technology” – The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2015

• Reviewer, “Marriage Markets: How Inequality is Remaking the American Family” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 491, 2015

• Co-Author, “Ethical Issues in Assisted Reproduction: A Primer for Family Law Attorneys” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 289, 2015

• Author, “Family Law Issues for Same-Sex Couples in the Aftermath of Minnesota’s Same-Sex Marriage Law: A Family Law Attorney’s Perspective” – William Mitchell Law Review 157, 2014

• Reviewer, “Intimate Associations: the Law and Culture of American Families” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 257, 2014-2015

• Editor, The Family Law 50: the 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012

• Author, “Third Party Custody” – the Family Law 50: The 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012

• Author, “Adoption and ARTS” – the Family Law 50: The 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012

• Editor, Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011

• Author, “The History of Custody” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011

• Co-Author, “Tribal Court Practice and the Indian Child Welfare Act in Minnesota” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011

• Author, “Third Party Custody” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011

• Co-Author, “Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011

• Author, “Children’s Issues and Tribal Courts” – Minnesota State Bar Association, 2008
• Editor, “Summary Guide to Minnesota Adoption Law and Procedure: Resources, Timing, and Deadlines” – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2008
• Author, “Custody and Parenting by Persons Other than Biological Parents: When Non-Traditional Family Law Collides with the Constitution” – North Dakota Law Review, Vol 83 Number 4, 2007
• Co-Author, “Prenuptial Agreements in the United States” – International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Law Journal, 2007
• Reviewer, “A Century of Juvenile Justice,” 2004
• Author, “Adoption Mediation” – Adoption Law: Practice and Procedure in the 21st Century, New York State Bar Association, 2004
• Author, “The Current State of Third-Party Custody Law in Minnesota” – The Hennepin Lawyer, 2003
• Author, “The Nuts and Bolts of Amicus Curiae Practice” – MSBA Family Law Forum, 2000
• Reviewer, “Family Matters: Secrecy and Disclosure in the History of Adoption” – American Journal of Legal History, 1998
• Reviewer, “The Supreme Court and Juvenile Justice” – American Journal of Legal History, 1998
• Author, “A Children’s Rights Approach to Relocation: A Meaningful Best Interests Standard” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Volume 75, 1999
• Author, “Adoption Law and the Family: Facing the 21st Century” – Bench & Bar of Minnesota, 1997
• Co-Author, “Post-Decree Custody Modification: Moving Out of State” – American Journal of Family Law, 1996
• Co-Author, “Private CHIPS Petitions in Minnesota: the Historical and Contemporary Treatment of Children in Need of Protection or Services” – William Mitchell Law Review, 1994
• Editor, Legal Stuff – Hennepin County Bar Association, 1994
• Author, “The Due Process Revolution and the Juvenile Court: the Matter of Race in the Historical Evolution of a Doctrine” – Law & Inequality, 1988

Presentations

• Co-Presenter, “Modern Families and Assisted Reproduction” – International Academy of Family Law Attorneys Institute Webcast, December 30, 2025
• Co-Presenter, “Navigating ICWA, MIFPA, and Tribal Jurisdiction: Key Minnesota Cases” – 2025 Indian Law Conference – Minnesota CLE, May 16, 2025
• Plenary Speaker, “2025 Family Law Update” – 46th Annual Family Law Institute – Minnesota CLE, March 24, 2025
• Presenter, “2024 Minnesota Assisted Reproduction Legislation: What Passed and What Did Not” – American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Minnesota Chapter, January 3, 2025
• Panelist, “Hot Topics in Family Law Appellate Mediation: Understanding the Challenges at this Stage and How Difficult Cases can Settle” – Minnesota CLE, December 11, 2024
• Co-Presenter, “Ethical Boundaries for the ART Practitioner” – Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Midyear Conference, September 15, 2024
• Presenter, “The Historic 2024 Family Law Legislation: Assisted Reproduction” – Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section Webcast, September 13, 2024
• Presenter and Moderator, ” Learning from Fiction: Avoiding Legal Pitfalls in Surrogacy Agreements and Other Complex Areas of the Law” – Minnesota CLE, June 13, 2024
• Plenary Speaker, “2024 Family Law Update” – 45th Annual Family Law Institute – Minnesota CLE, March 25, 2024
• Co-Presenter, “The Problems of Child Support and Spousal Maintenance Across Borders” – Minnesota CLE, November 28, 2023
• Plenary Speaker, “2023 Family Law Update” – 44th Annual Family Law Institute – Minnesota CLE, March 20, 2023
• Co-Presenter, “The Impact of Recent United States Supreme Court Decisions of Family Law” – 2022 Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, November 30, 2022
• Co-Presenter, “2022 Marriage and Paternity Demographics in Minnesota” – 2022 Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, November 17, 2022
• Co-Presenter, “Juvenile Court Guardianships for At-Risk Youth in SIJS Proceedings” – Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Roundtable, June 21, 2022
• Moderator and Presenter, “The Indian Child Welfare Act and Your Practice: What You Need to Know” – 43rd Annual Family Law Institute – Minnesota CLE, March 22, 2022
• Plenary Speaker, “2022 Family Law Update” – 43nd Annual Family Law Institute – Minnesota CLE, March 21, 2022
• Presenter, “Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook – Third Party Custody and Alternative Custodial Arrangements – Minnesota CLE, February 22, 2022
• Presenter, “Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook – The Indian Child Welfare Act and Tribal Courts in Minnesota” – Minnesota CLE, February 22, 2022
• Presenter, “Quick Answers to the Legal Questions Friends, Relatives, and Strangers Will Ask Anytime, Anywhere” – 2022 New Lawyers Experience – Minnesota CLE, January 13, 2022
• Course Chair and Moderator, “2021 Advanced Family Law Series” – Minnesota CLE, November 5, 2021
• Presenter, “The Complete Lawyer Series: Adoption Law and ARTS Law” – Minnesota CLE, June 9, 2021
• Plenary Speaker, “2021 Family Law Update” – 42nd Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 15, 2021
• Presenter, “Assisted Reproduction and Its Implications for Family Law” – Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section, March 13, 2021
• Presenter and Panelist, “LGBTQ+ – Paths to Pregnancy: Using Donor Sperm to Build Your Family” – Family Equality, December 10, 2020
• Moderator, Presenter, and Course Chair, “Elimination of Bias: the Impact of Race, Culture, and Family Structure in the Courtroom” – 2020 Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, November 23, 2020
• Presenter, “Stepparent Adoption in Minnesota” – Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section, November 14, 2020
• Plenary Speaker, “2020 Family Law Update” – 41st Annual Family Law Institute, March 23, 2020
• Co-Presenter, “Third Party Custody” and “Adoption & Assisted Reproductive Technology” – The Complete Family Lawyer, Minnesota CLE, January 27, 2020
• Moderator, “Minnesota’s Family Law Appellate Mediation Program: Why Some Cases Settle and Others Don’t” – Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, November 19, 2019
• Presenter, “Hot Topics in Minnesota Parentage Law” – Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, November 18, 2019
• Presenter, “Advanced Contract Disputes and Resolution in Assisted Reproduction” – Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Annual Meeting, September 23, 2019
• Presenter, “Ethical Issues in Assisted Reproduction, Adoption, and Family Formation” – Hennepin County Bar Association, April 12, 2019
• Presenter, “Custody and Parenting Issues Affecting the LGBTQ+ Community in Minnesota: Legal Trends and Developments Post-Obergefell” – 40th Annual Family Law Insitute, Minnesota CLE, March 18, 2019
• Presenter, “Perspectives on the Indian Child Welfare Act: In the Aftermath of Baby Girl and Its Progeny” – 40th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 18, 2019
• Plenary Speaker, “2019 Family Law Update” – 40th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 18, 2019
• Presenter, “Family Law Update” – Washington County Bar Association, February 27, 2019
• Course Chair & Moderator, “An Update on Spousal Maintenance and Antenuptial Agreement Litigation Trends Statewide” and “Understanding and Using ACES Evidence in Custody Cases” – 2018 Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, November 16, 2018

• Presenter, “An Overview of Assisted Reproduction for Family Law Attorneys: History, Terms and Concepts, Practice, and Ethics” – American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Annual Meeting, November 9, 2018

• Co-Presenter, “Custody and Parenting Issues Affecting the LGBTQ+ Community in Minnesota: Legal Trends and Developments Post-Obergefell” – Fourth Judicial District Fall Bench Retreat, November 2, 2018

• Presenter, “Brief Legal Update: Family Law” – Minnesota State Bar Association Convention, June 28, 2018

• Presenter, “Ethics and Dealing with the Alleged Birth Father” – American Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys 2018 Annual Conference, April 30, 2018

• Presenter, “Indian Child Welfare Act: Avoiding Litigation and Settlement with Tribes” – American Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys 2018 Annual Conference, April 29, 2018

• Main Plenary Speaker, “2018 Family Law Update” – 39th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 26, 2018

• Presenter, “Contested Adoption Proceedings in Juvenile Court: A Review of the Statutes and Practical Pointers” – Hennepin County Bar Association, February 27, 2018

• Facilitator, “Law & Literature: Legal Ethics & Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, February 22, 2018

• Co-Presenter, “What is the Standard of Care? How Various State Statutes And Professional Guidelines Address ARTS Ethics Issues — And Why You Should Care” – Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Webinar, January 10, 2018

• Presenter and Course Co-Chair, “Same-Sex Issues in Minnesota Family Law” – Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, November 29, 2017

• Presenter, “Domestic Adoption 101” – RESOLVE: 33rd Annual Exploring Paths of Hope/Infertility, Adoption, and Family Building Summit, November 18, 2017

• Presenter, “Assisted Reproduction and Family Law” – Family Law Section of the Olmsted County Bar Association, October 10, 2017

• Co-Presenter, “Modern Day Matchmaking in Assisted Reproduction: Ethics and Standards of Practice” – Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Mid-Year Conference, September 17, 2017

• Co-Presenter, “Avoiding A Mad Tea Party: Malpractice 101 for ARTS Attorneys” – Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Mid-Year Conference, September 17, 2017

• Presenter, “Inside Minnesota’s Child Protection System: What Works and What Doesn’t Work” – Minnesota CLE, May 30, 2017

• Co-Presenter, “What is the ‘Standard of Care’ for Assisted Reproduction: the Ongoing Evolution of Professional Ethics and Liability and Why You Should (Really) Care” – American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys Annual Conference, May 10, 2017

• Presenter, “Surrogacy and the Indian Child Welfare Act: the Next 25 Years in Indian Law – Cutting-Edge Issues” – 2017 Indian Law Conference, May 5, 2017

• Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, April 6, 2017

• Presenter, “How to Make the Transition from Associate to Partner/Owner in a Family Law Practice” – 38th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 22, 2017

• Main Plenary Speaker, “2017 Family Law Update” – 38th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 21, 2017

• Course Chair and Co-Presenter, “Advanced Family Law Series: The Interplay of Juvenile Court and Family Court: Practice, Procedure, and What All Family Law Attorneys Must Know” – Minnesota CLE, December 1, 2016

• Course Chair and Co-Presenter, “Advanced Family Law Series: The Indian Child Welfare Act: New Guidelines and BIA Regulations and Federal Court Challenges to ICWA” – Minnesota CLE, December 1, 2016

• Co-Presenter, “Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook – Adoption and ART Law: Creating Families by Traditional and Non-Traditional Means” – Minnesota CLE, November 30, 2016

• Presenter, “Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook – Alternative Custody and Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases” – Minnesota CLE, November 22, 2016

• Plenary Co-Presenter, “Ethics in Adoption and ARTS: Evaluating Decisions, What Duties Are Owed, and Whose Interests Are Served” – American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys Mid-Year Conference, September 24, 2016

• Presenter, “The Complete Lawyer Series: Adoption Law and ARTS Law” – Minnesota CLE, July 27, 2016

• Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, June 16, 2016

• Presenter, “Adoption Law and ARTS Law” – The Complete Lawyer, May 11, 2016

• Lecturer, “Legal Aspects of Third Party Reproduction: Issues Surrounding the Use and Handling of Cryopreserved Genetic Material and Other Topics” – Mayo Clinic: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Didactics Program, May 11, 2016

• Presenter, “Update on the Indian Child Welfare Act: Appellate Case Law in the States after Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl – Trends and Controversies” – Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, May 5, 2016

• Presenter, “Out of the Freezer and Into the Divorce: What Family Law Attorneys Need to Know about Cryopreserved Genetic Material” – 37th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 29, 2016

• Presenter, “The Creation, Storage, and Use of Genetic Materials in Assisted Reproduction: What Divorce Lawyers Needs to Know” – International Academy of Family Lawyers, USA and Canadian Chapters Annual Meeting, February 4, 2016

• Presenter, “Family Law Series: Receiverships and Divorce” – Minnesota CLE, November 20, 2015

• Course Chair and Presenter, “The Complete Family Lawyer: Answers to 101 Questions in 16 Areas of Family Law” – Minnesota CLE, November 18, 2015

• Co-Presenter, “Unlocking the Secrets of Chambers Conferences” – Walling, Berg & Debele, P.A., October 13, 2015

• Presenter, “Embryo Planning in the Context of Parentage, Divorce, and Death: Is an Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure?” – American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys, October 6, 2015

• Course Chair & Presenter, “Minnesota’s New Family Laws” – Minnesota CLE, August 24, 2015

• Presenter, “A Brief History of Minnesota’s Child Protection System” – Inside Minnesota’s Child Protection System: How New Reforms Will Better Protect Children, Minnesota CLE, August 10, 2015

• Co-Presenter, “Complex Civil Jurisdiction Issues in Tribal Court: The Teague Factors and Beyond” – 2015 Indian Law Conference, May 15, 2015

• Presenter, “Adoption Law (and ARTS)” – The Complete Lawyer: Answers to 101 Questions Asked by Your Clients, Family, and Friends, Minnesota CLE, May 6, 2015

• Co-Presenter, “Juvenile Protection Law In Minnesota” – Minnesota CLE, April 20, 2015

• Co-Presenter, ”Smoke Screen or Fire: Sexual Abuse Allegations in Family Court – Part II: Legal Issues and Judicial Involvement” – AFCC-MN Chapter, February 20, 2015

• Presenter, “Representing Children in Juvenile, Probate, and Family Court” – Advising the Disadvantaged 2015, Minnesota CLE, February 4, 2015

• Keynote Speaker, “How to Earn a Good Reputation as a New Lawyer” – The New Lawyer Experience, Minnesota CLE, January 29, 2015

Admissions

• Minnesota

• Wisconsin

• U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit

• U.S. Supreme Court

• Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Tribal Court

• Prairie Island Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Court

• Lower Sioux Community Tribal Court

• Upper Sioux Community Tribal Court

Associations

• American Bar Association, Family Law, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Sections, Member

• Minnesota State Bar Association, Children and the Law, Family Law, Elder Law, Probate and Trust Law Sections, Member

• Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law, Probate and Estate Law Sections and Juvenile Law Committee, Member

• Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Special Member

• Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, Contested Adoption Committee Chair, Amicus Committee, Mediation Committee, International Practice Committee, Ethics Rules Committee, Fellow
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Board of Editors Member, Fellow
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Board of Managers, Legislation Committee, Amicus Committee, Member
• Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Editorial Board, Member
• Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota, Member
• International Academy of Family Lawyers, Assisted Reproduction Services Committee, Fellow
• Minnesota State Court Administrator’s Advisory Committee on Child-Focused Parenting Time, Appointed Member
• Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society, Preservation Committee Chairman, Board of Directors
• Uniform Parentage Act (UPA) Stakeholder and Drafting Committee, Appointed Member

Certifications

• Adoption Mediator, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys

• Mediator, Minnesota Court of Appeals Family Law Mediation Project

• Qualified Neutral under Rule 114, Family & Civil Mediator, Minnesota Supreme Court

Community Involvement

• Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, Volunteer Attorney

• Lafayette Club, Member
• Masterworks Chorale of Augsburg College, Member
• Saint Olaf College Liberal Arts and Law Committee, Member
• Wayzata Community Church (Congregational), Member

• Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers, 2013-Present
• Fellow, Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, 2017-Present*
• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Chicago, 1998-Present
• Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® For Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
• Recognized Lawyer, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2001-2026
• Top 10 Super Lawyer, Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2007, 2009, 2025
• Top 100 Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics and Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2005-2025
• Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics and Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 1998-2025
• Minnesota Monthly: Top Lawyer in Minnesota, 2016-2025
• Family Law Lawyer of the Year in Minneapolis, Best Lawyers®, 2019
• Family Law Lawyer of the Year in Minnesota, Minnesota Monthly Magazine, 2019
• Family Law Lawyer of the Year in Minneapolis, Best Lawyers®, 2011
• Lawyer of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2010
• Professional Award Recipient, Hennepin County Bar Association Family Law Section, 2010
• Century III Leadership Award, Cloquet Senior High School
• Honors Graduate, Cloquet Senior High School, 1980
• Representative, Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, Washington, D.C.
• Junior Rotarian & Scholarship Recipient, Cloquet, Minnesota

*The American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (“AAAA”) and its specialty division, the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (“AAARTA”) were unified in 2017 under one name: The Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.