Originally from Cuba, Illinois, Kathy K. Hart brings a grounded, practical perspective to family law. She graduated from high school in her rural central Illinois hometown, then earned a B.A. in International Relations from Bethel College, St. Paul in 1990. Before becoming an attorney, Kathy spent four years as a legislative aide at the Minnesota Senate and later worked in government relations and corporate communications for West Publishing Corp. in Eagan (now Thomson Reuters). She earned her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in 2000, was admitted to practice in Minnesota that year, and was admitted to the United States District Court in 2005. Kathy is a seasoned litigator who has also handled appellate work, including a successful Minnesota Court of Appeals case that resulted in a published decision: Frank-Bretwisch v. Ryan, 741 N.W.2d 910 (Minn. App. 2007). She believes clients are usually better served when they can make their own family decisions rather than leaving outcomes to a judge. For that reason, she aims for efficient, creative, and cost-conscious solutions and often recommends mediation. Kathy is also a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral mediator. She represents clients throughout Minnesota and the Twin Cities in divorce, custody and visitation disputes, parenting time, paternity, child support, alimony, marital agreements, domestic abuse matters, termination of parental rights, property division, and appeals.