Lesley B Foss

Lesley B Foss

Moving you forward. Experienced family, divorce, custody and support attorney.
  • Family Law, Divorce
  • Minnesota, North Dakota
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Biography

Lesley is committed and dedicated to helping her clients through what can be one of the more challenging times in their lives. Lesley focuses her legal practice almost exclusively in family law, and represents clients through all stages, aspects, and phases of family law proceedings, including divorce, custody, post-judgment modification or enforcement proceedings, parenting time disputes, prenuptial agreements, child support, guardianships, and name changes. Lesley is also a trained guardian ad litem, is a parenting investigator in North Dakota, and is a qualified neutral mediator in family law proceedings. Before joining Fremstad Law, Lesley represented the State of North Dakota at the Fargo Regional Child Support Unit, where she was responsible for all aspects of paternity, child support, and medical support legal actions

Lesley graduated with distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law and served as Managing Editor for the North Dakota Law Review. She had a case comment published in the North Dakota Law Review (82 N.D. L. Rev. 1 (2005)), which was awarded the Outstanding Note or Case Comment Award from the North Dakota Bar Foundation. Lesley graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor’s Degree from the Walsh School of Foreign Service, majoring in Foreign Policy & Policy Process.

Lesley is a member of the Cass County Bar Association, the Family Law Section of the State Bar Association of North Dakota, and the Minnesota State Bar Association. Lesley volunteers as a Georgetown University Alumni Admissions Program interviewer for prospective Georgetown students.

Lesley grew up on a small grain farm near Devils Lake, North Dakota. Lesley enjoys riding and showing American Quarter Horses, is active in the North Dakota Quarter Horse Association, and currently has an AQHA registered horse named Simon. Lesley enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her son, siblings, and extended family.

Education
University of North Dakota
J.D. (2006) | Law
Honors: Graduated With Distinction; Winner of North Dakota Bar Foundation Outstanding Law Review Note/Case Comment Award
Activities: Managing Editor, North Dakota Law Review
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Georgetown University
B.S. (2000) | International Politics, Foreign Policy and Policy Process
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Professional Experience
Attorney
Fargo Regional Child Support Unit
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Law Clerk
Minnesota 9th Judicial District - Judge Tamara Yon
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Attorney
Private Law Firm - Minot, North Dakota
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Law Clerk
Minnesota 9th Judicial District - Judge Michael Kraker
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Publications
Articles & Publications
CASE COMMENT: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - PERSONAL, CIVIL, AND POLITICAL RIGHTS: THE RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED TO PHYSICAL AND LEGAL ACCESS TO THE COURTS IS UPHELD UNDER TITLE II OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT Tennessee v. Lane, 541 U.S. 509 (2004)
North Dakota Law Review
Awards
Outstanding Note/Case Comment Award (North Dakota Law Review)
North Dakota Bar Foundation
Professional Associations
State Bar of North Dakota  # 06218
Member
Current
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Cass County Bar Association
Member
Current
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Minnesota State Bar Association
Member
Current
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State Bar Association of North Dakota - Family Law Section
Member
Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Minnesota
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North Dakota
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Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
Practice Areas
    Family Law
    Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
    Divorce
    Collaborative Law, Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
Additional Practice Areas
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Guardianship
  • Adoptions
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • German: Written
Legal Answers
Q. What are the benefits of using mediation instead of the court system to resolve divorce disputes?
A: In North Dakota, if your divorce involves minor children, you are required to attend and participate in the Family Law Mediation program, which provides divorcing couples with 6 free hours of mediation services. If the divorce does not involve minor children, you do not receive a referral to mediation, but you still can greatly benefit from engaging in mediation. Mediation will cost you the time/services of the mediator (and likely of your attorney), but it can be less costly than engaging in lengthy, protracted litigation through the Court and taking the matter to trial.

With mediation, while you would likely have to make compromises in order to get an agreement with your soon-to-be ex-spouse done, you still have a measure of control over the outcome and over the process. You can craft provisions of your agreement which the Court may overlook but which may be important to you. ... Read More
Q. How can i change my parenting plan if both party's agree.
A: You would need to write up and file with the Court a written Stipulation reflecting what provisions of the Judgment you've agreed to modify. Both parties would need to sign and notarize the Stipulation. You then need to prepare and file a proposed Order and a proposed Amended Judgment.
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Fremstad Law Firm
Blog
Fremstad Law Blog
Contact & Map
Attorney at Law
3003 32nd Avenue S., Ste. 240
Fargo, ND 58103
Telephone: (701) 478-7620