Four divorce proceeding mistakes to avoid Getting divorced can be a very difficult time. Many people desire an amicable divorce and seek out an attorney who will work with them to achieve this goal. These parties sincerely want the proceedings to go smoothly so they can minimize the emotional and financial costs. Despite this desire, they often fail to recognize how taking certain actions may impede the settlement process or result in costly and lengthy proceedings. To increase the chances of a reasonable settlement that can truly be labeled as an “amicable” divorce, you will want to avoid the ..read more

Sometimes, splitting with a partner is amicable and effortless. Other times, it’s a nightmare of epic proportions. People who find themselves in a divorce or breakup with a narcissist usually fall into the latter category. If kids are involved, the situation can grow especially fraught. When child custody questions hang in the balance, Minnesota judges weigh each situation on its merits and ultimately decide what is best for the minors. As such, it’s imperative to get all of your ducks in a row before heading into court.  It is also important that you do not attempt to diagnosis your part ..read more

Residents of Minnesota who are members of the military may find it difficult if they decide to get a divorce. Military divorces carry certain unique challenges. It’s important to understand what they entail and how you can work through them. What three matters are challenging in a military divorce? While divorce itself is always a challenge, if you are a member of the military who is ending your marriage, it’s even more complex. You will have to decide what is the most important to you out of three subjects: your children and child support, spousal support you will have to pay your spouse or y ..read more

For Minnesota parents who are separated or divorced, child support is one of the key issues they need to think about. Regardless of whether it was a married couple, a non-traditional family or there were unusual circumstances, having a firm grasp of the law is crucial. The child’s best interests take precedence. Legal aspects of a child support determination There are three types of child support: basic support, medical support and childcare support. Basic support is expected to cover the fundamental needs, including a place to live, food, clothes, educational expenses, transportation, and oth ..read more

All aspects of divorce are daunting, but if you have never been divorced before, even the first meeting with your attorney may seem intimidating. Minnesota has several requirements that divorce attorneys must follow so they can take your case. Here is what you can expect. Prior to your initial consultation Before setting foot in your prospective divorce attorney’s office, the legal practice must perform a check to see whether any conflict of interest exists that would prevent their attorneys from representing you in your divorce case. Once they have determined that no conflict is present, the ..read more

When a married couple divorces, one of the most important things they need to do is divide their property. This can be a very complicated process, and if it’s not done correctly, it can have major consequences. Failing to properly value assets When assets are not properly valued, it can lead to one person getting significantly more or less in the divorce than they should have received. While there are certainly practical reasons for approximating the value of an asset, which is a well-accepted practice, there are also times when approximating values could cost a party significantly more than t ..read more

Navigating a custody or parenting time dispute can be a complex matter, especially if there is little to no communication between the parents.  Parents often have conflicting ideas about what they believe is best for their child and what the child wants to happen with custody and parenting time. Understanding the Wishes of the Child Many parents erroneously believe that once a child reaches a certain age, the child is allowed to choose where the child lives.   Depending on the child’s age, it may be appropriate to directly ask the child’s preference, but it should be clear that ..read more

Divorce involving a federal employee in Minnesota can be stressful and complicated because there are additional complexities that you need to understand and navigate. When you or your spouse are a federal employee, those benefits should be given special consideration; they cover important topics such as retirement annuity payments, Thrift Savings Plan division, Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP), Federal Employee’s Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), and health insurance. Federal benefits Federal benefits are offered to federal employees along with their usual salary. These benefits a ..read more