Laura K. Fretland/Retired
Former Areas of Practice: Family Law, Divorce, Child Support, Spousal Maintenance, Custody, Antenuptial Agreements
Laura K. Fretland / Biography
Laura Fretland concentrated her practice on family law and represented clients in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and throughout Minnesota. She has provided careful guidance and quality legal representation customized to the unique needs of her clients, whether that meant litigation, negotiated settlement, collaborative law, or mediation. Her goal has been fair and efficient resolutions, but she has been an effective litigator when necessary, working hard to safeguard the rights of her clients. During her 35 years as a family law attorney, she has handled complex family law matters involving child custody, divorce and property division.
Ms. Fretland’s background has enabled her to develop the most beneficial solutions to resolve family law issues based on each family’s specific situation. Her goal has been to provide the legal advice and expertise clients need to make good decisions about their divorce and their future.
Laura is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for her work in Family Law and Collaborative Law in the Family Law category and was first recognized in 2014. She has been listed as a Minnesota Super Lawyer each year since 2005 and is rated Distinguished™ for high professional achievement by Martindale-Hubbell.
Ms. Fretland has written and lectured for attorneys on topics, including antenuptial agreements, divorce and elder law. She has been an active member and former co-chair of the Hennepin County Bar Association Family Law Section.
Leadership + Activities
- Minnesota State Bar Association (including Hennepin County Bar Association)
Feedback
Amazing Support – I can’t say enough about how helpful Laura was to me during a time of personal trauma and divorce. Her guidance was objective and valuable with a human touch of caring and kindness that is so appreciated. My case was closed in an extremely timely manner, and Laura’s team was responsive and available throughout the process. I highly recommend Laura Fretland without hesitation.
Professional, empathic, effective – Laura helped me navigate one of the more difficult situations with pragmatic guidance and expertise that I needed. And she was extremely helpful in understanding options and paths that fit my goals for resolution. All good things. And frankly found her style and compassion the best part of working with her. I’d highly recommend to anyone but particularly those that want fast, fair, and frank legal counsel.
Laura is a very knowledgeable and caring attorney, who obtains excellent results for her clients.
Published Articles
- “Special Circumstances in Family Law,” Chapter 25, Minnesota Divorce Practice Deskbook with eFormbook, Second Edition, Minnesota CLE, October 2021
- “Marital Issues,” Chapter 7, Elder Law Handbook, Fourth Edition, Minnesota CLE, December 2018
Education
- Concordia College, B.A., summa cum laude, 1980
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1983
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1983
News + Articles
U.S. Supreme Court Affirms Minnesota’s Revocation on Divorce Statute
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling assures that Minnesota’s revocation-on-divorce statute will operate to revoke all pre-divorce beneficiary designations to the ex-spouse, even on insurance policies entered into before the enactment of the Uniform Probate Code (UPC)....
Attention Zealous Advocates: Don’t Forget Your Shield – Protecting Your Practice and Avoiding Traps in Legal Ethics and Malpractice Claims
Lauren Nuffort presented at the 2018 Trial Techniques Seminar in Duluth from August 16 to 18, 2018. She spoke with Danielle Parry from Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance on the topic, "Attention Zealous Advocates: Don't Forget Your Shield - Protecting Your Practice...
Autonomous Vehicles: Threat or Opportunity
Let’s face it, our industry has been slow to adapt in the technology revolution we find ourselves in today. We operate in a capital-intensive, low-margin, fragmented industry, with a low barrier to entrance. Large and small carriers have been able to co-exist through...
Substitute Parent: What to Consider When Choosing a Guardian
I spend a lot of time talking to clients about property, but at its core estate planning is about family. Clients want to ensure that their family will be taken care of. For parents of young children, the most important family decision is the selection of a guardian....
Marc Johannsen Honored by Boy Scouts of America
Marc Johannsen recently was recognized by the Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America for his volunteer work when he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award. This nomination-only award is the highest award a council can bestow upon a volunteer and recognizes...
Cameron Kelly Completes LL.M. Degree in Estate Planning
Cameron Kelly recently completed his LL.M. Degree in Estate Planning, graduating with honors from the John Marshall Law School. His coursework focused on the taxation of estates, protecting estate assets, and business succession planning. Cameron’s degree will allow...