DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW FIRM EDINA
BETH W. BARBOSA
Serving Clients in Edina, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Excelsior, and Medina Minnesota
With over 20 years of high-profile experience as a family law attorney, Beth W. Barbosa focuses on high-asset divorces, gray divorces, child custody, co-parenting, and more. What really sets Beth apart is her ability to engage with other professionals such as financial neutrals, independent business appraisers, realtors, and others with specialized knowledge. This approach allows her to protect and advance her client’s interests.
“Regardless of the particulars of a specific case,” Beth explains, “my goal is to ensure that each spouse moves forward with dignity and grace after the proceeding has concluded.”
Over the years, Beth has developed a close working relationship with The Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA). In addition to serving on the Hennepin County Bar Association’s Fourth District Ethics Committee, she was appointed to the Family Law Form Committee where she was the main contributor to revising the forms used by other family law attorneys in Minnesota. Beth also presents on emerging family law issues at Continuing Legal Education events and speaks once a month at a program in suburban St. Paul that focuses on the financial aspects of divorce.
“Clients count on me for more than my experience in family law,” she notes. “Divorce is often a period of deep, personal upheaval and I strive to provide clients with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that I’ll be there whenever they need me.”
Beyond her experience as a family law litigator, Beth is also a skilled negotiator who trained at the Harvard Negotiation Institute. This skill often comes into play in her role as a credentialed Parenting Time Expeditor.
EDUCATION
Beth W. Barbosa earned her J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law in 1998. She completed her undergraduate studies at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she studied Political Science.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
- Board Member, Walking Shadow Theater Company, a Minneapolis-based company producing smart, exciting, and savvy entertainment
- “Divorce Litigation from Start to Finish”, presented to National Business Institute, November, 29 2017.
- “Tax Reform: Cutting Deduction for Spousal Maintenance will Hurt Children”, Star Tribune, November 2017.
- “Managing a Dissolution Case with Confidence and Efficiency,” Minnesota State Bar Association, October 2017.
- “Dividing Assets in Divorce: The Ultimate Guide” CLE webinar, presented to attorneys and paralegals from all over the U.S., October 2017.
Physician – One physician I represented in his divorce was concerned about whether the value of his practice may obligate him to pay high monthly spousal maintenance to his ex. Working with other professionals, I was able to estimate his practice’s value. I did this by retaining a neutral appraiser to value the business side of his practice, and a financial neutral to provide a three-year spending analysis. The data we collected from these professionals showed that my client’s wife’s request for spousal maintenance was too high. As a result, we negotiated a maintenance buyout and property settlement. This allowed my physician client to maintain his business without interference from his ex-spouse.
Chief Executive Officer – I represented the CEO of a land development business in his divorce where a point of conflict was the actual value of his business. I consulted an appraiser who was well-versed in land development and found that the business had very little value as it stood. A financial neutral also assessed my client’s finances. The results of these investigations allowed us to negotiate a reasonable settlement where my client was not obligated to ongoing monthly payments to his ex-spouse.
Physician – One client I represented was a doctor going through a divorce where we anticipated a potential spousal maintenance claim. The physician’s wife hoped to receive spousal maintenance because she had financially supported my client through medical school and his residency. I successfully negotiated a settlement for my client where he would not be obligated to pay ongoing spousal maintenance.
Business Partner – I have years of experience representing business executives during divorce, but I have also represented the spouses of executives. In one case, I represented the wife of the owner of a closely held business. We had to establish a fair buyout price of the business which would also contribute to the determination of ongoing spousal maintenance. We retained a business appraiser who determined the company’s value and a financial neutral who performed a cash flow analysis. With this information, we were prepared for mediation. I successfully negotiated for my client a buyout of the business and monthly spousal maintenance.
Corporate Vice President – One of my clients was a retired corporate vice president; he retained me during his divorce and hoped to avoid an ongoing spousal maintenance obligation. I negotiated a multimillion-dollar property settlement for my client in exchange for him not having to pay his ex-wife ongoing spousal maintenance.
Nurse Anesthetist – I represented a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, whose husband was claiming spousal maintenance and a division of his outstanding university loans. We engaged in a mediation process that resulted in no spousal maintenance being owed to the husband and his agreement to take on the full obligation of his student loans. The couple agreed to an equal division of marital debts.
Chief Executive Officer –In representing a financial industry CEO, he hoped to maintain stock ownership and avoid the financial burden of high spousal maintenance payments. I retained a financial neutral who valued my client’s stock and performed a cash flow analysis. We were able to use this information to secure a lower monthly payment to his ex-spouse for ongoing maintenance.
Attorney – An attorney going through a divorce retained me to deal with potential spousal maintenance issues, an equal allocation of debt, division of non-marital property, and the spouse’s potential interest in my client’s law practice. An attempt at mediation failed, so the case went to trial. The court denied the wife any spousal maintenance, awarded my client all of his non-marital property, and determined there would be an equal allocation of marital debt. Finally, my client was awarded his entire interest in his law practice.
MEMBERSHIPS AND BAR ADMISSIONS
- Admitted to the Minnesota Bar Association, 2002
- Admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2011
- Admitted to the Connecticut Bar Association, 1999
- Member of the Minnesota Bar Association
- Member of Hennepin County Bar Association Fourth District Ethics Committee
- Member of the Ramsey County Bar Association
- Member of the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association
- Graduate of the Harvard Negotiation Institute, 2012
- Certified as a Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice
- Trained Parenting Time Expeditor
- Member, Family Law Form Committee, Minnesota State Bar Association
Family Court Lawyers Edina MN
If you’re dealing with family law issues such as divorce, child custody, co-parenting, or prenuptial agreements in Edina or the Twin Cities area, you need to find a family law firm that understands the ins and outs of the process. Beth Barbosa is a family law attorney in Edina, Minnesota who represents family law clients in the seven-county metro area. Beth aims to be there for her clients to take some of the stress and confusion out of family law proceedings. She has worked on countless family law cases over 20+ years and has gained a unique outlook due to her high-profile experience.
Although Beth has developed her own unique approach to family law issues through her experience, she is always looking for new, innovative ways to help her clients reach a favorable resolution of their cases. In addition to providing top-quality legal support, Beth strives to help her clients get through often-emotional experiences a little easier.
Edina Family Law Attorney Near Me
Family law cases can bring up a lot of negative and complicated feelings, so you need to work with a family law firm in Edina that understands both the legal side and the more personal side of family law. Beth Barbosa knows all too well the implications of a family law case on all parties involved, including the children. She is a credentialed Parenting Time Expediter and has trained in negotiation at the Harvard Negotiation Institute. Beth uses these skills as a family law attorney in Edina to help families resolve legal issues as quickly and thoughtfully as possible.
Divorce Lawyers in Edina, Minnesota
Beth Barbosa has extensive experience tailoring the divorce process to fit her clients’ needs. She helps those looking for a divorce law lawyer in Edina negotiate distribution of their assets, spousal maintenance, child custody and child support, and all other aspects of divorce and family law.
Beth has worked with numerous professionals, such as physicians, business owners, and executives, to determine the value of their assets, pinpoint their goals, and use all the tools at her disposal to help them reach those goals. For many clients dealing with a high-asset divorce, a primary concern is their ongoing financial obligation to the other party. Beth works with industry professionals to determine the true value of her clients’ business and personal assets, so she can use that information to minimize the ongoing financial impact of the divorce.
Family Custody Lawyers Edina, MN
Experience isn’t the only important quality when choosing a divorce law lawyer in Edina. Your attorney also needs to understand that divorce is a pivotal time in your life, and you may be feeling shaken or unsure of the future. Regardless of who she’s representing in a divorce, Beth’s aim is always to ensure both parties can gracefully move on from the divorce and begin the next phase of their lives on solid ground.