Allison Maxim
Top rated Family Law attorney in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh, PLLP
Practice areas: Family Law; view more
Licensed in Minnesota since: 2006
Education: University of St. Thomas School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2011 - 2013 Call today:
651-227-0611
Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh, PLLP
First National Bank Building, Suite West 1100332 Minnesota Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101 Visit website
A highly skilled and well-reputed attorney in Minnesota, Allison W. Maxim is a partner at Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh, PLLP, in St. Paul. She has been practicing law in the state for over 19 years and primarily focuses on complex divorce and family law issues, including child custody and financial matters, as well as interstate and international custody and divorce cases.
Graduating summa cum laude from Ohio University, Ms. Maxim obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology in 1993 and later her M.A. degree in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. In 2002, she joined the University of St. Thomas School of Law to pursue her law studies and received her Juris Doctor in 2005. While in law school, her passion for family law led her to establish the Family Justice Society, a group of like-minded law school students who shared her interest in the field of family law.
Ms. Maxim’s compassion and commitment to her clients are evident in her work. Her extensive background and understanding of psychology provide her with a unique perspective that allows her to understand the complex emotions and dynamics involved in family law cases and navigate challenging family circumstances. She is a problem-solver who believes in working closely with her clients while striving to achieve their desired outcomes most efficiently and effectively possible.
As a result of her hard work and dedication, Ms. Maxim has established a strong reputation as a trusted legal adviser in the Twin Cities. Her dedication to helping clients through difficult times and achieving successful outcomes has earned her the respect and admiration of her peers and clients alike. She has earned a “Superb” rating on Avvo and has been recognized as a North Star Lawyer by the Minnesota State Bar Association.
In addition to her impressive legal career, Ms. Maxim is a committed member of her community. She served as the board president of the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota in 2022 and is involved in various professional organizations, such as the Ramsey County Bar Association, the Hennepin County Bar Association and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
Practice areas
Family LawFocus areas
Divorce
- 100% Family Law
First Admitted: 2006, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: https://www.cbsh.net/attorney/maxim-allison/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Co-President of Collaborative Law Institute Board, 2022
- Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2012
- Minnesota
- Mentor for University of St. Thomas Law School student., 2022
- Board Member, Collaborative Law Institute, 2021
- Mentor, University of St. Thomas School of Law Mentorship Program., 2021
- Board Member, Collaborative Law Institute, 2020
- Mentor, University of St. Thomas School of Law Mentorship Program., 2020
- Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 2020
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2020
- Member, Hennepin County Bar Association, 2020
- Member, Ramsey County Bar Association, 2020
Representative Clients
- Client's Situation: Obtained award of spousal maintenance for client Wife by agreement in dissolution of marriage proceeding. Husband filed motion to suspend spousal maintenance just four months after the divorce was final. Opposed Husband's motion in court and obtained favorable decision for client with Court maintaining her spousal maintenance payments at the same amount as agreed in the divorce. , 2020
- Client's Situation: Long term marriage with two children. Client requested sole legal custody of minor children based on verbal and emotional abuse by Husband and Husband's inability to co-parent. Custody evaluator recommended joint legal custody to the parents. Tried the case to the Court and obtained sole legal custody of children for client., 2020
- Client’s Situation: Long term marriage in which Wife was a spousal maintenance candidate. Complex marital estate that included Husband’s non-marital claims to his pension and to a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, out of the state of New York. Allison’s Approach: Advocated for Wife getting temporary spousal maintenance while the divorce was pending and succeeded in obtaining an order for Husband to pay Wife over $5,000 in spousal maintenance pending the final outcome of the divorce. Husband refused to pay the monthly spousal maintenance amount and we had to go to trial on the issues of division of marital and non-marital property and spousal maintenance. Result: Prevailed in getting Wife permanent spousal maintenance and the entire marital portion of Husband’s pension. Also prevailed in getting Wife over $60,000 of Husband’s 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and in getting an award of attorney’s fees of $7,500., 2016
Honors
- Selected to Rising Stars: 2011 – 2013
Educational Background
- B.A. Psychology, Honors Tutorial College, Ohio University, summa cum laude, 1993
- M.A. Clinical Psychology, Minnesota School of Professional Psychology, 2001
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Women who take their children and flee domestic abuse in another jurisdiction to return to Minnesota may face another set of (legal) problems once they arrive. This article explains how to best navigate such problems., Author, Double Jeopardy: Understanding the Civil Legal Implications of Fleeing Domestic Abuse with Children Across State and National Borders, Bench & Bar of Minnesota, Lawyers, Individuals, Families, 2019
- Overview of the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Author, International Child Abduction: Essential Principles of the Hague Convention, Minnesota Bench & Bar, Lawyers, Individuals, Families, 2012
- Presentation to family law attorneys., Presenter, Negotiating and Litigating International Child Abduction Cases, 2011
- Presentation at the U.S. Chapter Annual General Meeting, Miami, FL, February 19, 2011, Panelist/Presenter, Law in the Foreign Jurisdiction: The Strange, the Mysterious, and the Unusual, International Academy Of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2011
- One-hour presentation at VLN Annual Family Law CLE on June 23, 2009., Child Support: An Overview of Law and Procedure, Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN), 2009
- Cooperative Practice: A Framework for Working with Opposing Counsel in Family Law Cases, Family Law Forum, Family Law Section, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2009
- Minnesota's New Child Support Law: An Overview, Hennepin Lawyer, Hennepin Bar Association, 2007
- Minnesota’s New Child Support Law: The Basics, Hearsay, Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2007
- I Have a Family Law Client, Now What?, Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2008
- Families and Individuals
Office location for Allison Maxim
First National Bank Building, Suite West 1100
332 Minnesota Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651-227-0611
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2026
- Rising Stars: 2011 - 2013
