Thomas W. Tuft, Attorney -

Email: tom@tuftlaw.com
Phone: (651) 771-0050
Fax: (651) 771-0850
Download: vCard

Thomas Tuft, a native of the East Side of Saint Paul, is a shareholder at Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC practicing in all areas of family law, including complex divorce, child support, paternity, and child custody. He is a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral, a Social Early Neutral Evaluator (SENE) and Financial Early Neutral Evaluator (FENE). Thomas Tuft has been named to the list of SuperLawyers® since 2002 and has been named to the list of the Top 40 Family Law SuperLawyers in Minnesota since 2004. He has been named to the list of Top 100 Superlawyers in Minnesota each year since 2006 and named to the list of Best Lawyers in America®. He is rated AV (the highest possible rating in both ethics and legal skills) by Martindale-Hubbell®, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected attorney listings. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association, and Ramsey County Bar Association.

Mr. Tuft is a Fellow and past President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers — Minnesota Chapter, and is a past chair of the Second District Ethics Committee. He frequently lectures on various family law matters, including divorce, custody, child support, as well as legal ethics and law practice management and law office technology.

When he is not practicing law, he enjoys attending Minnesota Wild games and time on the lake with family and friends.

Current Employment Position

Shareholder/Attorney
Rule 114 Qualified Neutral
Parenting Consultant

Bar Admissions:

1993 Minnesota Supreme Court
2002 United States Supreme Court

Education:

University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1993
Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.)
University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota
B.A. Summa Cum Laude
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Published Works:

Minnesota Child Focused Parenting Time Guide, September 2019, co-author with Minnesota State Court Administration Committee Members.
Minnesota Child Custody and Support Deskbook, “Interstate and International Jurisdiction and Custody Issues,” Minnesota State Bar Association, September 2006, co-author Valerie Arnold.
“International Parental Child Abduction,” Bench & Bar, December 2004, Volume LXI Number XI, co-author Valerie Arnold.
“International Custody Jurisdiction: The Hague Convention.” Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Forum, Spring 2002, Volume 12, No. 3, co-author Valerie Arnold.
“Preventing Parental Kidnapping: Jurisdictional and Enforcement Issues,” Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Forum, Spring 2002, Volume 12, No. 3, co-author Valerie Arnold.
“How to File for Divorce in Minnesota,” Sphinx Publishing 2001.
“Determining Child Custody Across Jurisdictions,” Bench & Bar, December 1999, Volume LVI Number XI, co-author Valerie Arnold.
“Parental Kidnapping and Child Safety: Current Case Law Trends,” MILE Seminar, Bloomington, MN (April 1999), co-author Valerie Arnold.

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Co-Lecturer, Minnesota CLE (December 7, 2020), “2020 Advanced Family Law Series” webinar, co-lecturer Referee James J. Street and Alexandra Connell
Co-Lecturer, Hennepin and Ramsey County Bar Association (June 10, 2020), “Practicing Family Law During a Pandemic” webinar, co-lecturer Referee Elizabeth Clysdale, Referee Jason Hutchison and Kevin McGrath
Co-Lecturer, AFCC Lunch and Learn (May 21, 2020) Best Practices for Quickly Taking your Family Law Neutral Work Online webinar, co-lecturer Carl Arnold, Michelle Millenacker Steven Bradley, Jai Kissoon and Kelly Rogosheske
Co-Lecturer, Minnesota CLE Center (November 18, 2019), Child Focused Parenting Time Guide, co-lecturer Mindy Mitnick
Co-Lecturer/Co-Coordinator, Olmstead Family Bar Presentation (October 17, 2019) Child Focused Parenting Time Guide, co-lecturer Mindy Mitnick
Co-Lecturer, AFCC Lunch and Learn (Mary 25, 2019), Washington County, Child Focused Parenting Time Guide, c0-lecturer Mindy Mitnick
Co-Lecturer, AFCC Lunch and Learn (December 13, 2018) Child Focused Parenting Time Guide, co-lecturer Mindy Mitnick
Co-Lecturer, 2018 Annual Conference for Judges (December 5, 2018) Ten Court Strategies to Manage Complex Family Law Cases, f/k/a “High Conflict”, co-lecturer Referee James J. Street
Lecturer, Cooperative Practice Network (September 19, 2018) “Child Focused Parenting Guide”
Co-Lecturer/Coordinator, University of MN Continuing Ed Center (February 23, 2018), “High Conflict Family Forum”
Co-Lecturer, Minnesota State Bar Association (December 6, 2017): “Transforming your Family Law Practice Through Technology”, co-lecturer Daniel J. Van Loh
Lecturer, Minnesota CLE Conference Center (August 27, 2015): “How to Handle Divorce in MN CLE”
Co-Lecturer, Minnesota CLE Conference Center (November 10, 2014): “The What, Why and How of Early Neutral Evaluation” co-lecturer Susan Rhode
Coordinator/Lecturer, Ramsey County Bar Association, Saint Paul, MN (January 2013): “Ramsey County ADR Training/Roundtable”
Lecturer, Ramsey County Bar Association, Saint Paul, MN, (October 2012): “Social Early Neutral Evaluation”
Lecturer, Dakota County Bar Association, Hastings, MN, (January 2012): “Ethical Guidelines for Attorneys Using Social Media”
Lecturer, Ramsey County Bar Association, Saint Paul, MN, (September 2011): “ADR Innovations and Changes/Moderated Settlement Conferences”
Lecturer, Washington County Bar Association, Stillwater, MN (August 2011): “Ethical Guidelines for Attorneys Using Social Media”
Lecturer, the 32nd Annual Family Law Institute, Saint Paul, MN (March 2011): “Family Law Practice: There’s an App for That”
Lecturer, the Social Media Seminar, (November 2010): “Use of Social Media in Family Law Litigation”
Lecturer, the Volunteer Lawyers Network Seminar, (November 2010): “Ethical Issues in Family Law; Lawyers are from Mars, Mental Health Professionals are from Venus”
Lecturer, ADR Institute, (October 2010): “Alternative Dispute Resolution”
Lecturer, Solo and Small Firm Conference, Duluth, MN (August 2010): “Early Neutral Evaluation in Family Law Cases – How It’s Working in Minnesota”
Lecturer, Minnesota CLE Webcast (July 2010): “New Lawyers Experience: Family Law Basics”, co-lecturer, Susan Rhode
Lecturer, Family Law Internet Webcast (June 2010), “Early Case Management and Early Neutral Evaluations” co-lecturers, Referee Mary Madden, the Honorable Tanja Manrique, Sara Beth Swanson, and Susan Rhode
Lecturer, Hamline Law School, Saint Paul, MN (June 2010): “Interstate and International Child Custody Jurisdiction”
Lecturer, the 31st Annual Family Law Institute, Saint Paul, MN, (March 2010): “How to Prepare for an Early Neutral Evaluation”, co-lecturers, the Honorable Kevin McGrath and Joani Moberg
Lecturer, William Mitchell College of Law, Saint Paul, MN, (February 2010): “Child Custody and Support: What You Need to Know”, co-lecturers, Scott Rodman, Letty M-S Van Ert, and Nicole E. Billings
Lecturer, Ramsey County Bar Association, Saint Paul, MN, (November 2009): “Custody Law from Start to Finish”, co-lecturers, Scott Rodman, Letty M-S Van Ert, and Nicole E. Billings
Lecturer, the Annual Meeting of the Family Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, (May 2009): “Interstate and International Child Custody”
Lecturer, the 29th Annual Family Law Institute, Saint Paul, MN (March 2008): “Family Law in the Electronic Age, co-lecturer, Nicole E. Billings
Lecturer, Ramsey County Bar Association CLE, Saint Paul, MN (January 2008): “Electronic Data Privacy and Legal Technology”
Lecturer, Ramsey County Bar Association CLE, Saint Paul, MN (November 2007): “Electronic Issues for Family Law Attorneys”, co-lecturer, Nicole E. Billings
Lecturer, Continuing Legal Education Internet Seminar, (November 2006): “Interstate and International Child Custody Jurisdiction”
Lecturer, The 27th Annual Family Law Institute, Bloomington, MN (March 2006): “Employment Law Essentials for the Family Law Practice, co-lecturer, Christine Tuft
Lecturer: Minnesota Child Custody and Support Deskbook, “Interstate and International Jurisdiction and Custody Issues,” Minnesota CLE, September 2006, co-lecturer Valerie Arnold.
Lecturer, The 26th Annual Family Law Institute, Bloomington, MN (March, 2005): “Productivity, Profitability and Paralegals in Your Family Law Practice”, co-lecturer, Amber J. Lang, RP.
Lecturer, Lorman Education Services, Bloomington, MN (March 2001 & March 2002): “Custody Issues: An Overview of Child Custody Law in Minnesota”
Lecturer, Ramsey County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Saint Paul, MN (September 2000): “Interstate Enforcement of Child Support and Child Custody Orders”
Lecturer, Lorman Education Services, Bloomington, MN (August 2000): “Children’s Records Law in Minnesota: Medical and Mental Health Records”
Lecturer, Ramsey County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Saint Paul, MN (April 2000): “Taming the Beast: The Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act”
Lecturer, “Parental Kidnapping and Child Safety: Current Case Law Trends,” MILE Seminar, Bloomington, MN (April 1999), co-lecturer, Valerie Arnold.

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American Bar Association – Member
Minnesota State Bar Association – Member
Ramsey County Bar Association – Member
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Fellow, Past president of MN Chapter, Board Member
Co-Chair of Washington County Early Neutral Evaluation Program (2009-present)
Statewide Early Case Management/Early Neutral Evaluation Steering Committee (2009-present)
Second District Ethics Committee (Ramsey County) – (Chair, 2003-2008)
Ramsey County Social Early Neutral Evaluation Roster (2009-present)
Ramsey County Family Court Steering Committee (2009-present)
Ramsey County Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Panel (2007)
Dakota County Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Panel
Washington County Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Panel
Hennepin County Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Panel
Warren E. Burger, Inn of Court (2009-2013)
10th Judicial District ENE Committee Member (2014-2017)
Child Focused Parenting Time Guide Workgroup (2015-2019)
Family Court Enhancement Project
High Conflict Families Initiative (Ramsey County) (2017-present)
Parenting Consultant Consult Group (2013-present)
2nd Judicial District Future Planning Committee (March 2020 to June 2020)

Honors and Awards:

Named to the Minnesota list of Rising Star Attorneys 2000, 2001
Named to the Minnesota Law & Politics SuperLawyers® List since 2002
Named to the Minnesota Top 40 Family Law SuperLawyers® list since 2004
Named to the Minnesota Top 100 Superlawyers® list since 2006
Named to list of Best Lawyers in America®
2017 Recipient of The Honorable Robert Varco Pro Bono Award

Volunteer/Pro Bono Activities:

Ramsey County Volunteer Mediation Program (Coordinator, 2010-present)
Ramsey County District Court Pro Se Clinic (2005-2009)
Chrysalis/Tubman (1994-present)
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (1994-present)
Hennepin County Volunteer Mediation Program (Director, 2012-present)
Friends of St. Paul Hockey Board (2013-present)