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Jody Ollyver DeSmidt

Jody Ollyver DeSmidt is a partner in the Minneapolis law firm of DeSmidt Rabuse PLLC. She was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar and the U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota Bar in 1982 and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar in 1994. Jody earned her BA degree from the University of Minnesota in 1979 and her JD degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 1982, where she was a law review editor.

 

Jody is a member of the Minnesota State and the Hennepin County and Washington County Bar Associations. Jody devotes her practice primarily to family law, adoption, juvenile law, assisted reproductive technology law (ARTs) and appeals in those areas.

 

Jody has been a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys since 1992 and the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys since 2009. She has been repeatedly designated as a Super Lawyer by Law & Politics.

 

Jody has presented on adoption law, ARTs and Juvenile Law to various groups, including the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Hennepin County Bar Association, Tenth Judicial District, RESOLVE, Rainbow Families and the National Business Institute. Jody is also a frequent presenter to local adoption agencies, high schools and other community and civic groups on adoption, ARTs and related issues. She volunteers for the Volunteer Lawyers Network in Hennepin County representing needy individuals in family and juvenile law matters.

Jody Ollyver DeSmidt

DeSmidt Rabuse PLLC

900 IDS Center

80 South Eighth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

(612) 335-4284

J.DeSmidt@innovativefamilylaw.com

www.innovativefamilylaw.com

Jody Ollyver DeSmidt

J.DeSmidt@innovativefamilylaw.com

(612) 335-4284

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Jody Ollyver DeSmidt - Shareholder and Attorney

Rated by Super Lawyers

Year Began Practice
1987

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

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

Education

William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, Juris Doctorate, June 13, 1982

Law Review: Staff Member, 1980-1981, Editor, 1981-1982, William Mitchell Law

Review, 1980-1982

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Bachelor of Arts, June 1979

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 Weinacht), Mile Seminar 2013

  • 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), 554 N.W.2d 393 (Minn. Sup. Ct.1996)

  • In Re the Matter of the Welfare of L.A.F., 521 N.W.2d 357 (Minn. 1994)

  • Matter of Custody of S.E.G., 1994 WL 714350 (Minn. Ct. App. 1994)

  • Matter of the Custody of K.E.G., 1994 WL 273428 (Minn. Ct. App. 1994)

  • Matter of the Welfare of C.S.C., 1993 WL 328760 (Minn. Ct. App. 1993)

  • Matter of the Welfare of D.A.L., 1992 WL 203253 (Minn. Ct. App. 1992)

  • In the Matter of the Welfare of D.H., 470 N.W.2nd 697 (Minn. Ct. App. 1991)

  • Matter of the Welfare of J.S., 442 N.W.2d 148 (Minn. 1989)

  • Durkin v. Hinich, 442 N.W.2d 148 (Minn. 1989)


Classes/Seminars

  • 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, 1988

  • Speaker, Direct Placement Adoption, Resolve, October 17, 1988

  • Speaker, Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Custody and Dissolution, Volunteer Lawyers Network – CLE, June 18, 1996

  • MILE Topic, March 21, 1996

  • Hoe to Succeed in a Foster Care Adoption, Minnesota CLE, November 19, 1995

  • Panel Discussion on Visitation, Volunteer Lawyers Network – CLE, June 27, 1995

  • Adoption Law Update, Family Law Section Meeting, MSBA 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, MSBA Family Law Section, November 13, 1993

  • How to Advocate for a Child in Foster Care, HSA Foster Parent Association, November 7, 1992


Honors and Awards
Selected to Minnesota Super Lawyers, 1999 – 2022

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • American Adoption Congress, Member, 2005 – present

  • American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA) Annual National Conference – CLE – Co-Chair 2002

  • Minnesota Legislative Task Force on the Uniform Parentage Act, Member 2001-2002

  • American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA), Fellow, 1992 - present

  • Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Member, 1987 – present

  • Hennepin State Bar Association (HCBA), Member, 1987- present

  • Juvenile Law Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA), Co-Chair, 1992-1995


Pro Bono Activities / Community Service
Volunteer Lawyers Network, 1991 – present

Adoption  |  Appeals  |   Family  |  Fertility  |  Juvenile  | Dispute Resolution

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 DeSmidt Rabuse PLLC   |   900 IDS Center   |   80 South 8th Street    |    Minneapolis, MN  55402

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