Sarah J. HewittAttorney, Associate

My role is to prepare and guide clients through the family court process with the goal of setting them up for success on the other side of that process.

My experience clerking in Hennepin Family Court gave me valuable insight into family law from a judge’s perspective. For more than two years I attended all types of hearings and trials on a near-daily basis, consulting with the judge afterwards and drafting court orders. At Henson Efron, I draw on that experience to advise clients about what they can expect from the family court process, how the judge is likely to view their case, and the most effective path to achieving their goals.

My practice is focused exclusively on family law, including domestic abuse (Order for Protection) cases and motions, as well as:

• Divorce
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Custody and support
• Spousal maintenance
• Property division

I was drawn to family law because I’m passionate about supporting people facing difficult life challenges. Before becoming a lawyer, I found fulfillment through volunteer work with hospice patients and their caregivers. For my first several years practicing law I worked in business litigation, but I volunteered my time working on pro bono cases in family court. It didn’t take me long to realize that family law was where I belonged, so I applied to clerk in family court. That experience prepared me to tackle a wide variety of family law issues, including international custody disputes over jurisdiction, complicated spousal maintenance claims, and third-party custody cases. 

The key strengths I bring to family law are listening skills, strategic analysis, and persuasive legal writing.

CLIENTS AND COLLEAGUES SAY:

“[Sarah] made a pretty horrible situation as stress-free, manageable, and clear as possible.”

“There is no way things would have worked out as they did without [Sarah’s] wisdom, clear but polite emails, and understanding of the situation.”

“I would not have been able to get through this whole process without [Sarah] and [her] guidance.”

“Sarah is smart, warm and kind. She is respectful, optimistic and focused on the needs of others.”

“I admire Sarah’s emotional intelligence. She genuinely wants to help people improve their lives.”

“Sarah is easy to work with. She is approachable, supportive and has a great sense of humor.”

“What makes Sarah stand out is her ability to both see the big picture and to focus on the details.”

“I would not have been able to get through this whole process without [Sarah] and [her] guidance.”

“[Sarah] helped me gain an understanding of the whole process.”

ASSISTANT

Nina Adelson

(612) 252-2873

nadelson@hensonefron.com

• J.D., University of Minnesota Law School (Minneapolis, MN), 2014
  • Graduated magna cum laude
  • Dean's List (2011-2014)
  • Hale Scholarship; “Best Brief” for 1L legal writing section
  • Student Articles Editor, Law and Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice (2013–2014)
• BA in Philosophy, BA in Religious Studies, Albion College (Michigan), 2007
  • Graduated cum laude, 2007
  • Dean's List (2004-2007)

• Minnesota, 2014
• District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2016

• Hennepin County Family Court, Law Clerk for Judge Terri Yellowhammer (2021) and Judge Margaret Daly (2019-2021), Minneapolis, MN
• Stinson Leonard Street, LLP, Litigation Associate (2014-2019), Minneapolis, MN

• Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section
• University of Minnesota Law School, Mock Trial Program, Hosting Committee for regional tournaments

• Volunteer, Albion College Alumni Mentorship Program
• Volunteer, Reader/Writer program at a local middle school

• Co-Presenter, "Special Considerations in Third-Party Custody Cases," Minnesota CLE Family Law Institute, March 2023
• Co-Presenter, Spousal Maintenance 101, Minnesota Paralegal Association, April 2022
• Author, “A Time to Heal: Eliminating Barriers to Coverage for Patients with Eating Disorders Under the Affordable Care Act,” Summer 2013 Volume