Mission
At Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC, we provide skillful, effective, creative, and ethical family law litigation and alternative dispute resolution, as well as estate planning/probate services. We are caring and compassionate and work diligently to obtain the best possible outcome in your case.
Values
Our shareholders, associate attorneys and professional staff all work together to provide a safe, welcoming, comforting and respectful environment for our clients and to be empathetic to their needs and emotions.
The shareholders at Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC have between eleven and forty years of experience practicing family law in Minnesota. Over the course of those years, we have seen many positive changes to the family court system and processes in Minnesota, including the implementation of alternative dispute resolution programs in some counties, as well as the introduction of electronic filing/service in District Court. These improvements have changed the landscape of divorce in Minnesota and we have embraced these changes, recognizing that they have streamlined court procedures to greatly reduce the stress and cost of family law disputes for our clients.
Our shareholders at Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC are all well-established and actively involved in the legal community. By frequently lecturing at continuing legal education seminars; being active members in various legal professional associations; and earning local and national recognition by Minnesota Super Lawyers® and Best Lawyers® we have developed a positive reputation and good rapport with attorneys, court staff, and judicial officers. In doing so, we have ensured that we will be able to work and communicate effectively with them during the course of your case.
Our core values at Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC is to provide you with thorough, ethical, and compassionate legal representation, regardless of how complex or simple your case. With that in mind, our attorneys and staff are dedicated to providing you with the following:
Prompt and Clear Communication: We will be as responsive to your calls and e-mails as possible and keep you apprised of the status of your case. When your attorney is in Court, or otherwise unavailable, we have associate attorneys, paralegals, legal administrative assistants, and other support staff available to assist you. Paralegals and legal administrative assistants are extremely helpful in assisting you in many instances and can help keep your costs down. Under the ethical rules governing attorneys, as well as state law, non-attorneys cannot offer legal advice. If you have a question about strategy or require legal advice, please contact one of the attorneys. If you want to schedule an appointment, check on the status of a document, or address billing concerns, please contact one of our paralegals or legal administrative assistants.
The Right Approach for your Situation: We at Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC are creative problem-solvers, and will look at all aspects of your case to determine how best to resolve it, whether it be through litigation or Mediation/ADR. Not every case needs to be litigated and in most instances, it is in the best interests of the parties to avoid litigation by working as amicably as possible toward resolution, particularly when there are children involved. However, there are certain situations in which alternative dispute resolution is not effective and litigation is the only remaining option. We are staunch advocates for our clients inside the courtroom and our attorneys have successfully litigated many cases in virtually every area of family law.
Referrals to Outside Professionals: In your high conflict or complex case, we will sometimes recommend the use of outside professionals to assist in resolving your issues. This can include financial professionals and actuaries to help address complicated financial issues, as well as parenting consultants and parenting time expeditors to assist parties in communicating about child-related issues. Additionally, due to the emotional toll that divorce and other family law matters can take, we will encourage you to seek the services of an individual or family therapist, counselor, or support group to help you through this stressful time. See our Family Law Resources page for a complete list of experienced professionals in a wide range of areas.
Modern Technology and Protecting your Data: At Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC, we understand the importance of keeping your electronic data safe. We are diligent about performing multiple back ups of our electronic files to minimize and prevent the loss of any vital data that could occur as a result of computer malfunctions, fire, or natural disaster. The files are backed up instantaneously as documents are created and then on a daily basis to our server. On a weekly basis, the files are backed up to an off-site server. In addition, due to the sensitive nature of the information provided our clients, Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC has ensured that our servers are protected by a firewall and that data is password protected.
Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC uses the most current technology to more effectively manage your information and quickly and efficiently provide that information to the Court. Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC uses Apple Macintosh computers for the stability of the Unix-based operating system, relative safety from viruses, and the creative software available for use in settlement and litigation. We also use Microsoft Office 365 — Word, Excel, Outlook, and Powerpoint which are fully compatible with Windows versions of the same software. At Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC, we are continuously upgrading our computer system and improving our knowledge of technology to ensure that we are on the cutting-edge and able to provide you with efficient and high quality services.
Help Managing Your Attorney Fees: Nearly every client wants to know at the beginning of his or her case how much the case is going to cost. We have handled cases that cost $500 and others that have cost well over $100,000. The cost of your case can depend on a number of factors, including the complexity and number of the issues in dispute and, more importantly, the level of conflict between you and the other party. We are always seeking alternative methods to deliver our legal services more efficiently, without compromising quality. We do this by utilizing computer technology; delegating work to lower billing-rate associate attorneys or paralegals; and encouraging our clients to gather and organize case documents in order to help keep their attorney’s fees down.
Vision
Our vision at Tuft, Lach, Jerabek, & O’Connell, is to be recognized as the preeminent family law firm in Minnesota, guiding families through transitions in all areas of family law, juvenile law, estate planning, and probate.
