About Us

Over 20 Years Experience with Complex Family Law Matters

At Pladson Law Office, we have a vision for assisting families in Fargo and throughout North Dakota and Minnesota in their time of need. Attorneys DeAnn Pladson and Kristen Hushka strive to create an environment for their clients where they can speak freely, ask questions and be heard. We spend time with our clients advising them on the options, but letting them self-determine their outcome. Clients are urged to be patient and reflective so that we can move forward confidently. We believe that most family law matters can and should be resolved outside of court. When handling your case, we will explore all options to resolve matters informally without the need for costly litigation. There are times when going to court is the only option, and when it is, we will be tenacious advocates for you. With proven litigation experience and strong credentials in problem solving, our team at Pladson Law Office is ready to assist you with even the most complex divorce or family law matter.

DeAnn M. Pladson

DeAnn M. Pladson was raised in Fargo, North Dakota. She received her undergraduate degree from Moorhead State University in 1989, and was graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1992. DeAnn began her career as a solo practitioner and joined the Maring Williams Law Office in 1997 and became a shareholder in 2001. In 2010 DeAnn started her own law firm, Pladson Law Office, P.L.L.C. and focuses on all areas of family law. DeAnn is licensed to practice in North Dakota and Minnesota and currently practices in all complex family law litigation areas, and provides mediation and collaborative law services. DeAnn is a member of the Family Law Section in both Minnesota and North Dakota. DeAnn's activities in the bar and the community are aimed to make the family law system more accessible and more effective for families going through trying times.

Areas of Practice

95% Family Law
5% Guardian ad Litem in Capacity Cases

Certifications and Training

Collaborative Law Attorney
Certified Divorce Mediator
Financial Early Neutral Evaluator
Parenting Investigator Manual Drafting Committee, Chair
Continuing Legal Education Committee, Member
Social Early Neutral Evaluator
Certified Parenting Coordinator
Custody and Visitation Task Force
SBAND, Volunteer Lawyer Program Mentor
Minnesota Statewide ADR Neutral Roster
North Dakota Attorneys for Justice Law Student Mentorship Program
North Dakota Attorneys for Justice
North Dakota Statewide ADR Neutral Roster
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Judicare Attorney
Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, Consulting Attorney

Bar Admissions

North Dakota, 1992
Minnesota, 1993
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1998

Education

University of North Dakota School of Law, Grand Forks, North Dakota
J.D. - 1992
Moorhead State University (formerly Minnesota State Teachers College Moorhead, MN.), Moorhead, Minnesota
B.A. - 1989
Major: Speech Communications

Classes/Seminars

Speaker, Breaking Down the Best Interest Factors; Red River Paralegal Association
Speaker, Property Division in Family Law, Family Law Seminar
Speaker, Protecting Your Online Reputation, Family Law Seminar
Peoples Law School, State Bar Association of North Dakota
Speaker, Real Property, Probate Trust Seminar, Family Law
Speaker, A Mediation Primer, Clay County, Minnesota
Speaker, Family Law Primer, Red River Paralegal Association
Speaker, “A Summary of North Dakota’s New Laws” CLE by North Dakota State Bar Association
Speaker, “Dealing with Ethics Complaints” Cass County Bar Association CLE
Speaker, “Divorce Mediation Extraordinaire” CLE by North Dakota State Bar Association
Speaker, “18-Hr. Custody Investigator/Guardian ad Litem Certification Training” CLE by North Dakota State Bar Association
Speaker, “Case Groundwork for Family Law Trial,” North Dakota Trial Lawyers
Speaker, Family Law Section Seminar “Using ADR to Develop Parenting Plans”
Speaker, Custody Investigator/GAL Training “Gathering the Best Evidence”
Speaker, Family Law Section Seminar “Gathering Evidence as Custody Investigator”
Speaker, “The Psychological Edge,” CLE by North Dakota State Bar Association
Speaker, SBAND Annual Conference – Family Law Legal Services
Speaker, “Looking Back and Moving Forward,” The ARC of Cass County
Speaker, “Ethics/Legal Issues in Psychological Interventions with Children and Adolescents,” Family Therapy Center, North Dakota State University
Speaker, “The Role of the Guardian ad Litem,” NALS
Speaker, “Family Law in North Dakota,” sponsored by Lorman Education Services
Speaker, “Child Custody Issues,” sponsored by Professional Development Network

Honors and Awards

Nominee, YWCA Woman of the Year
Keynote Speaker, Responding to Ethical Complaints, CCBA
Recipient, Healing the Hurt Award, Rape and Abuse Crisis Center
Inducted, Fargo North High School Hall of Fame
Keynote Speaker, Law Day, May 1, 2001 "Best Interests of the Children"
NALS of Fargo-Moorhead Boss of the Year

Professional Associations and Memberships

Cass County Bar Association
Clay County Bar Association
North Dakota Association for Justice
North Dakota Family Law Section
Minnesota Family Law Section

Past Employment Positions

Maring Williams Law Office, Shareholder, 1997 - 2010

Pro Bono Activities

SBAND, Volunteer Lawyer Program, 1993 - Present
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Judicare Attorney, 1998 - Present

Kristen A. Hushka

Kristen graduated from Boston College in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and earned her J.D. from Pennsylvania State University, the Dickinson School of Law in 2013. While in law school, Kristen was a Senior Editor on Penn State Law Review, the President of the Public Interest Law Fund, and the President of the law school's chapter of Phi Delta Phi, the International Legal Honor Society. Kristen was also a Certified Legal Intern in Penn State Law's Family Law Clinic and completed a year-long externship with the Centre County Women's Resource Center's Civil Legal Representation Project. Kristen was also a Cherie M. Millage Public Interest Law Fund Summer Fellow, a Miller Public Interest Advocate, and the National Association of Women Lawyers Recognition Award Recipient. Kristen is licensed to practice in North Dakota and Minnesota. Kristen currently lives in Fargo, North Dakota with her husband and their rescue dog, Ace.