Practice Areas

For more than 41 years, Attorney Thomas Howard has been representing clients in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and throughout the seven-county metropolitan area, including Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Scott, Dakota, Carver, and Washington counties. To obtain personalized service from an experienced attorney in your legal matter, contact Mr. Howard for a free half-hour consultation.

Mr. Howard practices in the following areas of law:

  • Adoption
  • Criminal Defense
  • Corporate and Business Law
  • Wills and Estate Planning
  • Probate Administration
  • Real Estate
  • Juvenile Defense

Family Law

Family law cases can be some of the most emotionally fraught issues you may have to face. Mr. Howard offers personalized service to guide you through these difficult matters, from uncontested divorces to complex litigation involving spousal support, child support, division of property, and child custody. Mr. Howard also practices in the area of adoption.

In conjunction with his estate planning practice, Mr. Howard also assists in establishing conservatorships and guardianships for minor children as well as for incapacitated adults.

Criminal Defense

Mr. Howard provides criminal defense representation to clients accused of all types of criminal matters, misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and felonies. Areas of representation include:

  • Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
  • Drug Charges, including Possession and Trafficking
  • Assault and Domestic
  • White Collar Crimes

If you have been accused of a crime, you may face serious penalties, including license suspension, probation, mandatory community service, substantial fines, work squad, or imprisonment. The severity of your penalty depends on such issues as whether the crime you are accused of is a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony, whether you are a repeat or first-time offender, and whether there are other mitigating or aggravating circumstances. Depending on what is in your best interest given the circumstances of your case, we can negotiate a plea bargain to reduce the charges against you or aggressively advocate on your behalf at trial. In addition, in certain cases, we may be able to assist you in obtaining an expungement of your criminal record, meaning we may be able to have your record sealed, destroyed or returned to you.

Corporate and Business Law

Mr. Howard has extensive experience in corporate and LLC creation, and business law, including transactions such as business acquisitions or sales, and the purchase and sale of businesses or business assets; and commercial disputes.

Mr. Howard can also assist with the formation and organization of such business entities as limited liability companies (LLC’s) and corporations, as well as the formation and organization of general partnerships, and the representation of shareholders and partners in disputes.

Mr. Howard represents businesses in intellectual property matters, including the registration of trademarks and copyrights, as well as trade secret violations arising under the federal Lanham Act and the Minnesota Unfair Competition Statue and Uniform Trade Secrets Act, respectively.

In addition, Mr. Howard assists businesses in a wide range of employee and personnel matters, including counseling companies, advising regarding proper termination procedures, and drafting business handbooks.

Wills and Estate Planning

Mr. Howard offers estate planning services tailored to your individual needs and long-term goals with comprehensive estate plans aimed at minimizing your potential tax liability, planning for possible future incapacity, and the need for medical assistance, avoiding probate administration whenever possible. Estate planning services include:

  • Wills
  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Durable Financial Powers of Attorney
  • Health Care Directives

In conjunction with his family law practice, Mr. Howard can assist in establishing guardianships and/or conservatorships over incapacitated adults, as well as minor children.

Probate Administration

Mr. Howard assists clients with probating wills and in the administration of estates where the decedent died “intestate,” or without a will. Probate is the court-supervised process whereby the court oversees the administration of an estate, ensuring that taxes and other debts are paid, and that the remaining estate is distributed in accordance with the terms of the decedent’s will and any testamentary trusts, or by Minnesota’s law of intestate succession if there is no will.

Real Estate

Mr. Howard represents clients in all types of real estate transactions involving residential, industrial, and commercial properties. He assists with real estate closings for the purchase and sale of residential, industrial, and commercial real estate, including advising you on your rights and disclosure responsibilities as either buyer or seller, drafting purchase and sale agreements and other necessary documents, and representing you at the closing. Additionally, Mr. Howard provides representation for landlords in a wide range of matters, from drafting lease agreements to assisting in disputes involving such issues as a tenant’s failure to pay rent or eviction for unlawful detainer.

Juvenile Defense

In addition to defending adults against criminal accusations, Mr. Howard also provides criminal defense representation for juveniles. The defense of a juvenile is often quite different from the defense of an adult, and seemingly minor offenses can have serious repercussions including detention or expulsion from school, detention in a juvenile facility, or placement in a foster care facility. The sentences and court records of juveniles are now more often open to potential employers and background checks.

Attorney Advertising. This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer-client relationship.

© 2022 Thomas R. Howard Law – All rights reserved