Background

Elizabeth has practiced for 35 years and specializes in the areas of divorce/​dissolution of marriage, custody cases, adoption, and the Indian Child Welfare Act. Elizabeth also provides parenting coordination, mediation, and family law arbitration services. Her primary geographical practice area is located between Sioux Falls, the Iowa Great Lakes, and Des Moines. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers.

Elizabeth is married, has two adult children, and two grandchildren. Her free time is spent gardening, reading, kayaking, and enjoying her home on the banks of the Missouri River. 

Professional Organizations

• American Bar Association — Family Law Section, Adoptive Committee
• ABA Foundation – Fellow
  
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Fellow and President Central States Chapter
  
• American College of Family Trial Lawyers – Diplomate
  
• Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
• Iowa State Bar Association — Family Law Section, Adoptive Committee
  
• North American Council on Adoptable Children
• South Dakota State Bar Association
  
• Woodbury County Bar Association

Publications/​Presentations

• “Expert Practice Pointers for Family Law Cases,” panel presentation, presented to the South Dakota State Bar Association, Box Elder, South Dakota, May 2, 2024.
• “Helping South Dakota Families – Proposed Home Study and Termination of Parental Rights Legislation” presented to the SDSBA Family Law Section on April 18, 2024
• “Family Law Mediation” presented to Iowa Judges and Attorneys on November 3, 2023
  ​“A Little Bit of This & That XII” – Iowa Legal Aid, Woodbury County Bar Association, Sioux City, Iowa
• “Divorce by Committee” presented to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Mid-Year meeting in Indian Wells, California on March 18, 2022. Co-presentation with Gregory T. Brewers, Professor Kendra Fershee and John S. Slowiaczek
  
• ​“Family Law Update” presented to Iowa Judges and Attorneys on October 28, 2021
  ​“A Little Bit of This & That X” – Iowa Legal Aid, Sioux City, Iowa
  
• “Small Business Valuation and Discovery in Divorce” presented to the South Dakota State Bar 
  Association on December 16, 2020. 
  Co-presentation with Michael W. Snyder JD, CPA, ABV
• “Managing an Efficient, Ethical and Profitable Family Law Practice” presented to University of South Dakota Law School Family Law Class, Vermillion, SD on November 21, 2019
  
• ​“Best Practices in Family Law” presented to University of South Dakota Law School Student Body at Family Law Forum, Vermillion, SD on October 23, 2019 
• Full Vitae available upon request

Support Staff

Practice Areas

• Alternative Dispute/Mediation
• Family Law
• Parent Coordinator
• Indian Child Welfare Act and Tribal Law

Admissions

• Iowa
• South Dakota
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa
• U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota

Education

• University of South Dakota School of Law, Juris Doctor 1989
• University of South Dakota, Bachelor of Science 1985
  
• University of South Dakota, A.D. N. 1981

Community Involvement

• Elmwood Cemetery Association, President
• Martha Washington Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution 
• Naturalization Ceremony Participant — U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa
• Union County South Dakota Historical Society