Attorney Jody DeSmidt, Walling, Berg & Debele, P.A., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jody Ollyver DeSmidt
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Vice-President, since 2001 Shareholder, since 1996 Associate Attorney
phone	(612) 326-3453 (888) 340-9311 (Toll Free)
fax	(612) 340-1154
email	Jody.DeSmidt@wbdlaw.com

Families come in many forms. We help clients build families through adoption, third-party custody, and assisted reproduction.

Areas of Practice:: Adoption; Appellate Practice; Assisted Reproductive Technology; Child in Need of Protection or Services; Custody; Domestic Abuse & Harassment; Marriage Dissolution; Paternity

Bar Admissions:: Minnesota, 1982; U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1982; U.S. Supreme Court, 1994

Education:: William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota, 1982
Juris Doctor
Law Review: William Mitchell Law Review, Staff Member, 1980-1981, Editor, 1981-1982, 1980 - 1982; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1979
Bachelor of Arts
Honors: Phi Alpha Theta
Major: Political Science

Published Works:: The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children: Traps for the Unwary (Co-Author with Kimberly A. Weinacht), MILE Seminar, 2003; Foster Parent Adoption, Family Law Forum, Summer, 1996

Representative Cases:: In Re the Petition to Adopt: C.M.A., 557 N.W.2d 353 (Minn. Ct. App. 1996); In The Matter of the Welfare of L.A.F., 554 N.W.2d 393 (Minn.Sup.Ct. 1996); Matter of Custody of S.E.G., 521 N.W.2d 357 (Minn. 1994); In Re Custody of K.E.G., 1994 WL 714350 (Minn.App. 1994); Matter of Welfare of C.S.C., 1994 WL 273428 (Minn.App. 1994); Matter of Welfare of D.A.L., 1993 WL 328760 (Minn.App. 1993); In The Matter of the Welfare of D.H., 1992 WL 203253 (Minn.App. 1992); Matter of Welfare of J.S., 470 N.W.2d 697 (Minn.App. 1991); Durkin v. Hinich, 442 N.W.2d 148 (Minn. 1989)

Classes/Seminars Taught:: Speaker, New and Emerging Issues in Juvenile Law, HCBA-CLE, May, 2002; Speaker, Legal Issues in Adoption, Resolve, October 13, 2001; Speaker, Direct Placement Adoption and Advanced Legal Topics in Adoption, Resolve, October 30, 1999; Speaker, Working with Social Workers and Lawyers as a Team in the Adoption Process, National Conference on Openness in Adoption, October 19, 1998; Speaker, Direct Placement Adoption, Resolve, October 17, 1998; Speaker, Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Custody and Dissolution, Volunteer Lawyers Network - CLE, June 18, 1996; MILE topic, March 21, 1996; How to Succeed In A Foster Care Adoption, Minnesota CLE, November 10, 1995; Panel Discussion on Visitation, Volunteer Lawyers Network - CLE, June 27, 1995; Adoption Law Update, Family Law Section Meeting, Minnesota State Bar Association Annual Convention, June, 1995; Direct Placement Adoption, Resolve, November 5, 1994; Guardian ad Litem Services, HSA Foster Parent Association, October 29, 1994; The Foster Parents Role in the Court System, HSA Foster Parent Association, November 20, 1991; Adoption Law, Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section, November 13, 1993; How To Advocate For A Child In Foster Care, HSA Foster Parent Association, November 7, 1992

Professional Associations and Memberships:: American Adoption Congress, 2005 - Present; Member; American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Annual National Conference - CLE, 2002; Co-Chair; Minnesota Legislative Task Force on the Uniform Parentage Act, 2001 - 2002; Member; American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1992 - Present; Fellow; Minnesota State Bar Association, 1987 - Present; Member; Hennepin County Bar Association, 1987 - Present; Member; Juvenile Law of Hennepin County Bar Association, 1992 - 1995; Co-Chair

Past Employment Positions:: Mahoney, Walling & Kelley, Associate, 1987 - 1991; Wright S. Walling & Associates, Associate, 1986 - 1987; District Court of Minnesota, Fourth Judicial District, Honorable Allen Oleisky, Law Clerk, 1984 - 1986; District Court of Minnesota, Fourth Judicial District, Honorable Rolf Fosseen, Law Clerk, 1983; Lubov & Foster, Associate, 1982 - 1983

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