Lauhead Mary C

Lauhead Mary C is a highly experienced attorney operating in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, a key figure within the "Nearby Lawyers" platform category, offering specialized legal services primarily in Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Her practice, located at 3985 Clover Ave, Vadnais Heights, MN 55127, USA, serves clients in the Saint Paul area and throughout Minnesota, providing crucial legal guidance and representation during often sensitive and challenging personal situations.

While specific details about the interior environment of her office are not publicly detailed, it can be inferred that as a seasoned legal professional, Mary C. Lauhead maintains a professional setting conducive to discussions on complex and emotional family matters. The address in Vadnais Heights suggests a localized presence, making her accessible to clients within the community seeking specialized legal assistance. The nature of family law, which often involves highly personal and emotional issues, necessitates an environment where clients can feel comfortable discussing their circumstances openly and honestly.

Mary C. Lauhead's services are extensive within the realm of Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution. With a career spanning over four decades, having been admitted to practice law in Minnesota since 1977, her expertise encompasses a wide array of legal areas. These include:

• Family Law: This is her primary practice area, covering a broad spectrum of domestic legal issues. Her experience includes trial and settlement work in complex cases related to:

  • Custody Disputes: Assisting parents in navigating the intricate process of determining child custody and parenting time arrangements.

  • Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage: Guiding clients through the legal process of ending a marriage, addressing all related aspects.

  • Business and Professional Practice Valuations: A critical aspect in divorce cases involving high net worth or complex assets, ensuring fair division of marital property.

  • Financial Issues: Handling the financial aspects of divorce, including equitable division of assets and debts.

  • Child Support: Establishing and modifying child support orders to ensure children's financial needs are met.

  • Spousal Support (Alimony): Addressing issues related to spousal maintenance or alimony, where appropriate.

• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Mary C. Lauhead is a highly qualified Rule 114 Neutral, certified for various ADR methods, which include:

  • Mediations: Facilitating discussions between parties to reach mutually agreeable resolutions outside of court.

  • Arbitrations: Acting as a neutral third party to hear arguments and make binding decisions.

  • Evaluations (Social and Financial Early Neutral Evaluations): Providing neutral assessments of case facts and legal merits to help parties understand their positions and encourage settlement.

  • Special Master Appointments: Serving as a court-appointed neutral to oversee specific aspects of a case.

• Parenting Consulting and Expediting: Mary C. Lauhead has experience as a parenting consultant and expeditor, roles that involve assisting high-conflict parents in making decisions regarding their children and enforcing parenting time orders.

• Guardian ad Litem: She has served as a panel Guardian ad Litem in Hennepin County, representing the best interests of children in highly contentious custody litigation.

• Appellate Attorney: Mary C. Lauhead has represented clients in appellate cases, demonstrating her ability to handle cases from trial through the appeals process, focusing on the legal record.

The features that distinguish Mary C. Lauhead's practice are deeply rooted in her extensive experience and approach to law. These include:

• Decades of Experience: With over 45 years in the legal field, predominantly in family law, she possesses an unparalleled depth of knowledge and a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in family-related legal disputes. This long-standing practice equips her to handle both straightforward and highly intricate cases.

• Specialization in Family Law & ADR: Her focused practice areas mean clients benefit from a dedicated expert rather than a general practitioner, particularly valuable for nuanced issues like business valuations in divorce or high-conflict custody matters.

• Super Lawyers Recognition: Mary Catherine Lauhead has been consistently recognized by Super Lawyers, a prestigious peer-reviewed rating service, from 1996-1998 and then continuously from 2001-2025. This enduring recognition highlights her high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement within the legal community. She has also been listed among the "Top 100: Women Minnesota Super Lawyers" on multiple occasions (e.g., 2005, 2006, 2007).

• Distinguished Member of the Minnesota State Bar Family Law Section: Her long-standing involvement and leadership, including serving as chair and co-chair of the MSBA Family Law Section Amicus Committee for over two decades, demonstrate her commitment to shaping family law in Minnesota. She has contributed to over twenty amicus committees in precedential Minnesota cases.

• Rule 114 Certified Neutral: Her certification as a Rule 114 Neutral indicates a high level of training and qualification in various alternative dispute resolution methods, offering clients diverse pathways to resolution outside of traditional litigation.

• Direct and Thorough Approach: As noted in some reviews, Mary C. Lauhead is described as a "no BS attorney" and "extremely thorough," who "may not tell you what you want to hear but will tell you what needs to be said and what the law states." This indicates a direct and objective approach, prioritizing legal accuracy and realistic outcomes over simply pleasing the client.

Promotional information, often found on legal directories and her own professional profiles, emphasizes her extensive experience and respected standing in the Minnesota legal community. Her Super Lawyers accolades are frequently highlighted, serving as a testament to her professional reputation and competence. Her deep involvement with the Minnesota State Bar Family Law Section and her frequent lectures at continuing legal education seminars also underscore her active role and expertise in the field. While no explicit "free consultation" or "contingency fee" offers are broadly promoted for her practice area (which is typical for family law), her established reputation and long career history act as significant draws for potential clients.

It is important to address the mixed nature of client reviews available online, which is common for attorneys practicing in emotionally charged areas like family law. One review criticizes her, stating she "made things way worse," was "abusive," "one-sided," and driven by "a paycheck," suggesting a negative experience, particularly in her role as a Parenting Consultant. This perspective highlights the intense emotional stakes involved in family disputes and how perceptions of a neutral's role can vary significantly.

Conversely, another review offers a strong endorsement, praising her as "very knowledgeable and an expert in her field." This client appreciates her direct communication style, affirming that "she may not tell you what you want to hear but will tell you what needs to be said and what the law states. She is a no BS attorney and extremely thorough." This duality in feedback reflects the challenging nature of her work; a direct and objective approach, while valued by some for its honesty and effectiveness, can be perceived negatively by others who may be seeking a more empathetic or accommodating style, especially when rulings or advice do not align with their personal desires.

In summary, Lauhead Mary C stands as a highly experienced and respected attorney in Vadnais Heights, MN, specializing in Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Her long tenure, professional accolades like Super Lawyers recognition, and deep involvement in the legal community underscore her expertise. While her direct and authoritative approach, as indicated by client feedback, may not resonate with everyone, it is clearly valued by those who seek a knowledgeable and thorough legal professional focused on delivering objective legal counsel and effective resolutions in complex family matters.