Professional Info

Marian is a compassionate and highly skilled family and juvenile law attorney. In addition to advocating for her clients, Marian enjoys educating, counseling, and empowering her clients.  Marian also provides mediation, social early neutral evaluation, financial early neutral evaluation, parenting-time expediting and parenting consulting services and is included in the Minnesota Judicial Branch's Rule 114 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Roster of Qualified Neutrals to provide such services. ​

 

Marian has been appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Department of Human Services to serve on a number of statewide committees related to children's issues, such as the Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee and the the Uniform Parentage Act Taskforce.

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Her legal expertise has been recognized by inclusion in the Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyer list and the Top 50 Women list in the Minnesota Super Lawyers magazine.  In 2023, Children's Law Center of Minnesota awarded Marian with its Volunteer Champion Award in recognition of her extraordinary commitment to providing pro bono legal representation of foster children. 

 

In 2024, Marian was named a Fellow of the international organization of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (“AAAA”). Fellows of AAAA are considered legal thought leaders and are a highly vetted, experienced group of attorneys who specialize in adoption law, assisted reproduction law or both.  

Education

 

1998
University of Minnesota Law School, Juris Doctor
 

1998
University of Minnesota School of Social Work, Child Abuse Prevention Studies, Certificate
 

1993
Grinnell College, Bachelor of Arts

 

Professional Memberships & Activities

Fellow, Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys

Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Member, Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section

Past Chair, Minnesota State Bar Association, Children and the Law Section

Past Co-Chair, Hennepin County Bar Association, Juvenile Law Section

Member, Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law Section

Past Member, Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee

Past Member, Department of Human Services, Uniform Parentage Act Task Force

Past Member, Hennepin County Citizen Review Panel (child protection practices and policies)

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Speaking Engagements

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Presenter, 10 Things You Need To Know About Step-Parent and Second-Parent Adoptions, Minnesota Family Law Institute, 2022

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Co-Presenter, Late-Stage College Planning and Divorce, Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, 2021

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Co-Presenter, The Financial Aspects of Divorce, Financial Planning Association, Minnesota Chapter Annual Conference, 2020

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Co-Presenter, How to Establish and Prove Paternity in Court, National Webinar, Lorman, 2020

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Presenter, Handling Your First (or Next) Adoption, Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, 2019

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Co-Presenter, The Trauma-Informed Family Court Judge, Family Law Institute - Judicial Track, 2019 

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Panel Member, View from the Bar, Family Law League, 2018

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Co-Presenter, Trauma-Informed Practices in Juvenile Court, Hennepin County Bar Association Juvenile Law Section, 2018

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Presenter, Domestic Infant Adoption in Minnesota, Bethany Christian Services, 2018

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Co-Presenter, Family Law Issues Related to Undocumented Immigrants, Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, 2015

 

Co-Presenter, Seven Things Family Lawyers Should Know About Child Protection, Family Law Institute,  Minnesota CLE, 2014

Guest lecturer,  Third Party Custody Options, Hamline University School of Law, Child Advocacy Clinic, 2008-2013

 

Presenter, Making Children’s Voices Heard in International Child Abduction Cases: The Role of GAL and Children’s Counsel, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2012
 

Co-Presenter, College Costs for Children of Divorce, Minnesota State Bar Association/Minnesota CLE, 2011
 

Faculty, ICWA and Third Party Custody, The Indian Child Welfare Act: Women, Children and Families, Indian Child Welfare Law Center Symposium, 2010
 

Faculty, Representing Youth in ICWA Cases, Children’s Legal Services, 2010
 

Co-Presenter, Intersection of Family Law and Mental Health Services, In-Service Training for The Family Partnership, 2010
 

Faculty, Preparing for and Testifying in Court: A Primer for Guardians ad Litem, Minnesota Judicial Branch Guardian ad Litem Program, Annual Conference: Building Pathways for Children in a Changing World, 2009
 

Faculty, There’s No Place Like Home: Permanency Options for Foster Children, Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, 2009
 

Co-Presenter, Third Party Custody, Minnesota Legal Services Coalition, 2009
                            

Faculty, Representing Children in Family Court, Minnesota Custody and Child Support, Minnesota CLE, 2006

Faculty, Juvenile Protection and Juvenile Delinquency Records, Children’s Records Law in Minnesota, Lorman Educational Services, 2006
                             

Guest, Teens and Domestic Violence, Phillips Community TV, 2005
 

Faculty, Issues Relating to Minority Children in Delinquency and Child Protection Proceedings, Emerging and Innovative Ideas in Juvenile Law:  Celebrating 100 Years of Juvenile Courts in Minnesota, Minnesota Juvenile Court Centenary Planning Committee, 2005
                          

Co-Presenter, Adoption Rules 101, Minnesota State Bar Association Children and the Law Section, 2004

Seminar Co-Chair and Faculty Member, Best Interests of the Child and Alternative Caregiving Arrangements, Minnesota CLE, 2004

Faculty, When Parents Can’t Parent Their Children:  Third-Party Custody, CHIPS Proceedings, De Facto Custodians, Guardianships and Adoption, Family Law Institute, sponsored by Minnesota CLE, 2004

                 
Faculty, Representing Youth In Foster Care, Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, 1999-2003
                            

Faculty, Legal Rights of Children: Fact or Fiction, MILE Juvenile Law Seminar, 2002

Co-Presenter, Uniform Parentage Act Task Force Report: Adoption, Paternity and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Minnesota State Bar Association Children and Law Section, 2002

Guest, Adoption, Meet Your Court (Hennepin County District Court's weekly cable TV program), 2002
 

Presenter, Legal Rights of State Wards and Long-Term Foster Care Youth, Hennepin County Permanency Provider Meeting, 2002
 

Panel Member, Media Orientation: Open Child Protection Proceedings, Minnesota Supreme Court, 2001

Guest Faculty, Improving Outcomes for State Wards, University of Minnesota School of Social Work, Child Abuse Prevention Studies, 1999
 

Presenter, State Wards Project, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, LLP, 1999
 

Panel Member, Guardian ad Litem Training, Ramsey County, 1998

 

 

Publications

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Co-Author, Caring for Children: Third-Party Custody, Adoption and Guardianship, Volunteer Lawyers Network, Tip of the Month, 2024

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Co-Author, Child Protection QuickSheet, published by Minnesota CLE, 2014 and 2018

Author, Representing Children in Family Court, The Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota State Bar Association (1st Edition in 2006 and updates through 2024)

Author, Out-of-Home Placements for Abused, Neglected, and Dependent Children in Minnesota: A Historical Perspective, Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Newsletter (Vol. 21, No.1), 2013

Co-Author, The Intersection of Rising College Costs and Changes in Family Law, The Hennepin Lawyer, November, 2010

Author, The Interplay of Child Protection and Divorce, Solving the Most Difficult Problems in Divorce Cases, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2009

Author, Judicial Profile: Judge Jay Quam, The Hennepin Lawyer, 2007

Author, Out-of-Home Placements for Abused, Neglected, and Dependent Children in Minnesota:  A Historical Perspective, 32 William Mitchell Law Review 1007-1049, 2006

Contributor, Robert J. Sheran and Douglas K. Amdahl, Minnesota System:  Twenty-Five Years of Radical Change, 26 Hamline Law Review 219, 329, Spring 2003 (regarding developments in juvenile and family law)

 

Pro Bono & Community Service

Children's Law Center of Minnesota

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Volunteer Attorney - Wills for Heroes

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Volunteer Attorney - Volunteer Lawyers Network

 

Honors

 

• Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyer® list, Super Lawyer® magazine, 2021 - 2023

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• Top 50 Minnesota Women list, Super Lawyer® magazine, 2016 - 2024

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• Super Lawyer®, Super Lawyers magazine,  2014 - 2024

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• Rising Star®, Super Lawyers magazine,  2006-2009; 2011

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• Recognized as a "North Star Attorney" by MSBA (in recognition of pro bono service), 2014-2019