Susan Teckla Peterson-Lerdahl

Susan T. Peterson-Lerdahl is a shareholder in the Maple Grove, Minnesota Law Firm of Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd. She is Chair of the firm's Estate Planning Department and has years of experience counseling individuals and families in estate planning, elder law, probate and trust administration as well as family business succession planning. Susan provides guidance to individuals and families of all sizes and asset levels. Susan has a heart for her clients and works hard to establish confidence and trust. Susan’s compassion and empathy help her clients feel comfortable sharing their personal information and concerns.

Susan works closely with individuals and families of all sizes and asset levels to identify and prioritize their goals and implement techniques to carry them out. She builds strong relationships with clients, and in turn, clients have great confidence in her and feel comfortable sharing their most personal information and concerns.

Susan assists multi-generation families with high net worth address complex estate and tax issues. She helps numerous families and their advisors structure estate plans that accomplish the multiple goals affecting these families. Some of the issues she routinely assists with include:

Minimizing taxes related to the transition of wealth from one generation to the next.

Assuring the effective transition of management of family wealth from one generation to the next.

Addressing the needs of a family, such as special needs beneficiaries, divorces, premature deaths and educational goals.

Addressing philanthropic interests and strategizing to address these interests.

Susan drafts wills and trusts, as well as other estate planning documents for our clients. She works with families on incapacity planning, guardianships and conservatorships, charitable gifting, asset protection planning, and Medical Assistance Planning. She is also experienced in guiding her clients through contested probate and trust matters and routinely achieves favorable results for our clients.

She is a member of the Hennepin County Bar Association and the Probate and Trust Law and Real Property Law sections of the Minnesota State Bar Association. She is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Minnesota Women Lawyers. Susan is a frequent speaker on topics associated with estate planning, and estate administration, charitable giving, and elder law, and is the author of several articles.

Born in Iowa City, Iowa, Susan received her B.A. magna cum laude from St. Olaf College, her M.A. summa cum laude in English and American Literature from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her law degree summa cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law. Prior to obtaining her law degree, Susan taught English at the college level.

Susan clerked for Chief Justice Russell Anderson of the Minnesota Supreme Court and practiced law both as an associate and as principal of her own law firm before joining Henningson & Snoxell in 2004. She is a past president of the Rotary Club of Maple Grove. Susan resides in Maple Grove with her husband. When not representing clients, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, helping others, exercising and the outdoors.

Publications and Presentations

Official Immunity Survives for IIED Police Misconduct: But Should It?, William Mitchell Law Review, 2002

Opening Probate Estates: What I’ve Learned from Experience, Hearsay, Fall, 2005

The Price of Admission: Liability and Responsibility for Nursing Home Expenses, Bench & Bar, May/June, 2009

Honors and Awards

Minnesota Super Lawyers - 2021-2026

Minnesota Super Lawyers - Rising Star 2008-2010, 2012 Editions, 2016