ANNUAL REPORT
2005-2006 Family Law Section

Membership in the Family Law Section gives a practitioner an excellent opportunity to interact collegially with other practitioners at the monthly Section meetings in Minneapolis. The networking is invaluable, the conversation is always enjoyable, the discussion is always interesting, and the impromptu debates are always lively. Family law attorneys are nothing if not opinionated.

We benefited from the regular attendance at the monthly meetings by a number of practitioners from greater Minnesota, attorneys who do not office in the seven-county Metro area. There were some months when attendance by the greater Minnesotans at the monthly meetings exceeded attendance by the "locals."

Members who attended the monthly meetings had the opportunity to obtain free CLE's each month. Following the business meeting we had CLE presentations on topics including Non-Marital Tracing; Spousal Maintenance: Preparing a Budget; The New Child Support Law; a Panel Discussion: The Effect on Children and Families of a Legal Presumption of Joint Physical Custody; Legal Issues that Affect Same Sex Couples; the Statewide GAL Programs/Rules; the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act and Its Application to Family Law; and Marketing Your Practice.

In March, Minnesota CLE presented the 27th annual Family Law Institute which once again was planned with the input of Family Law Section members under the guidance of Vice-Chair Barb Runchey. Thanks are due to those who contributed their time and talent in planning and presenting this important educational event.

Section members also had the opportunity to participate in the submission of an amicus brief on the Antone v. Mirviss case regarding the limitations period for attorney malpractice in the drafting of an antenuptial agreement. The brief submitted by the Section's Amicus Committee, which is ably chaired by Mary Lauhead and Michael Dittberner, is available for review and down load at the Section website. That case was argued to the Supreme Court in January.

Pamela Waggoner, the Section's Legislative Chair was again very active in monitoring the keeping the Section informed about family law related bills presented to the legislature this year. Her commitment to this Herculean effort and the countless hours she dedicated to this important work cannot go unrecognized.

Loretta Frederick continues to helm the Domestic Abuse Committee, which met a number of times during the year and helped us communicate our perspectives to the legislature about the important bills and enactments relating to domestic abuse in the last legislative session.

Immediate past-Chair Gary Voegele took over the Strategic Planning Committee and under his energetic leadership that committee has focused on the long-range goals and objectives of the Section and proposed a number of initiatives which are sure to enhance the operations and the value of the Section to the members.

One issue of the Family Law Forum was produced. For next year, Jamie Driggs, the new chair of the Publications Committee will be looking into alternate means of publication, including shifting to an on-line interface rather than a magazine format for future issues of the Forum. He will also be looking at re-vamping the Section's Web Page and would welcome input from any and all interested members.
Once again, Pete Taylor, who has served as the Section's Treasurer for a number of years, did not abscond with any money, and for that we can all be grateful. Pete will be stepping down from that position to let new blood take over. We appreciate his participation in a leadership role for the Section.

The officers elected to fill leadership positions in the Family Law Section for 2006-2007 are as follows:
Chair: Ellen Abbott
Vice-Chair/Chair Elect: Cheryl Prince
Treasurer: Ryan Anderson
Secretary: Linda Wold
Legislative Committee Chair: Pamela Waggoner
Publications Committee Chair: Jaime Driggs
Executive Committee Member at Large: Margaret Erickson
Executive Committee Member at Large: Barb Runchey
Executive Committee Member at Large: Gary L. Voegele
These worthy colleagues need and deserve your support in the coming year.

Finally, it should be noted that we lost a good friend and colleague in May of 2006 when Bill Haugh died unexpectedly. Bill was the first Chair of the Family Law Section of the Minnesota Bar Association. In fact, it was largely through his efforts that our practice area came to be recognized as a Section rather than as a Committee of the Bar. Bill's professionalism, his courtesy, his knowledge of the law, and the respect that he afforded to the people he worked with, both the clients and opposing counsel, set a standard that all who knew him respect, and that all who practice in this area should strive to emulate.

Respectfully submitted,
Donald L. Enockson
Section Chair, 2005-2006

ANNUAL REPORT
2004-2005 Annual Report

There are 922 current members of the Section.

Some of the notable achievements of the Section this year include:

The Outreach Social Activity that occurred in August 2004 in Waseca in conjunction with the Cahill-Gallagher Annual Golf Tournament of the Fifth District Bar Association meeting. It was fun to get together and socialize with some of the out-state members of the Bar from the Fifth District. Our Section sponsored a CLE program in the morning for this event that was well attended by the Fifth District Members.

The preparation and distribution of a comprehensive Section Members Survey in the fall. I would invite you to read the results of the Survey that are contained in the Spring 2005 issue of the Family Law Forum.

The 2005 Family Law Institute was a big success. Many members in attendance gave very positive remarks on the program, sessions, and the Section as to the manner in which the Institute was carried out by Minnesota CLE. Many thanks to those who contributed their time and talent in planning of and presenting for our annual educational event.

The authorization of an $11,000.00 disbursement of a portion of the Section fund reserves for Section leadership development and program activities. An Ad Hoc Committee was established to consider suggestions on how to spend this agreed upon amount for worthwhile projects and activities. We received many constructive suggestions on how to put some of our available reserve funds to use for the betterment of our Section and provide value to our members.

Our Section's Legislative Chair for this year has been very active. Pamela Waggoner volunteered countless hours to help monitor legislative activities for this current legislative session. It is a lot to ask for one of our members to dedicate the amount of time and effort necessary to represent our Section in St. Paul at the legislative session to the extent that Pamela did. There were many bills introduced, not to say the least, the new income shares legislation that have been enacted in Minnesota. It was a direct result of efforts of Pamela Waggoner that we have a balanced and well thought out income shares bill that is truly bipartisan, and which has taken some of the best provisions of all competing bills that were being considered. We are all indebted to Pamela for her service in this important position as Legislative Chair for our Section this year.

Other Committees of the Section have also been active, including our Amicus Committee and Domestic Abuse Committee. Our Section voted to petition to intervene as amicus curie in two important cases. One case involved the issue of the State of Minnesota dropping enforcement services for spousal maintenance only cases. The other case dealt with an appeal on what should be the appropriate statute of limitations for practice relating to the preparation of antenuptial agreements. The Domestic Abuse Committee has put its finishing touches on a new and informative brochure for victims of domestic abuse.

Finally, the Publications Committee put out three or four issues of Family Law Forum in the course of our business year.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary L. Voegele
Section Chair

During the year, we were active in the following activities:

a. Appellate Court Pro Bono Program.
b. Updated Family Law Section Brochure.
c. Organized a Futures Committee and submitted a proposal containing Strategic Planning Recommendations.
d. Elected new officers and executive committee members for the upcoming year.
e. Supported proposal for grant application to draft pro se dissolution forms.
f. Participated in MSAB "Meet the Bar" events held at each of the 4 local law schools to introduce students to MSBA.
g. Presented 8 Continuing Legal Education programs.
h. Awarded Distinguished Member designation to William E. Haugh, Jr.

Our legislative committee chair spent countless hours at the legislature testifying for and against various bills affecting the practice of family law. Many pieces of legislation were discussed, analyzed and voted during the course of Section meetings. Much work remains to be done as the legislature will likely propose a re-codification of Chapter 518 and an income shares child support bill.

Two issues of the Family Law Forum entitled "Love & Aliens" and "Put The Money Down" were published and mailed to members.

The 23rd Annual Family Law Institute was planned and presented in connection with Minnesota Continuing Legal Education. Over 75 presenters were involved and 680 individuals attended this Institute.

The Section, which meets on the second Saturday September through May continues to be active and well attended. Scheduled meetings for the 2003-2004 year include: September 13, 2003; October 11, 2003; November 8, 2003; December 13, 2003; January 10, 2004; February 14, 2004; March 13, 2004; April 10, 2004 and May 8, 2004. Free one hour CLE's are offered at every Section meeting. All practicing family law attorneys are encouraged to attend and participate.

MSBA Family Law Section
1999-2000 Annual Report

The Family Law Section, with more than 700 members, has completed another successful year of service to its members, the bench, legislature, and community.

The outgoing Chair of the Section served for 17 months on the Supreme Court Parental Cooperation Task Force, which resulted in recommendations for significant changes in the practice of family law, many of which were subsequently adopted into law.

Our Legislative Committee Chair spent countless hours at the legislature lobbying for and against various bills affecting the practice of family law. Section members proposed several pieces of legislation which were adopted.

One of our members represented the Section on the Child Support Guideline Task Force which will be making a report to the legislature next session. We also had able representation on the Committee which developed the Interim (now permanent) Expedited Child Support Process Rules.

After some production problems, two issues of the Family Law forum were published and mailed to members.

The Section is actively working with the MSBA staff to develop and maintain an extensive web page which is available at no cost only to members of the section.

Section members worked closely with the staff of Minnesota CLE over a period of several months beginning last fall to put on the two day 21st Annual Family Law Institute in March. The Institute was attended by more than 800 people.

The Section, which meets monthly on the second Saturday of the month, September through May, continues to be an active and lively group. Anyone practicing family law is encouraged to attend and participate.

Suzanne Born, Chairperson

- Last Updated 08/03/07 -