Family
Law
Divorce
Child
Custody
Modifying and Forgiving Child Support in Minnesota
Can Parents Modify Child Support Agreements? Yes, parents can agree to modify child support, but it's crucial to involve the court. Any changes to child support arrangements must be formalized with...
Can Child Support be Dropped in Minensota
Can Child Support Be Dropped in Minnesota? In the state of Minnesota, parents can agree to waive or reduce child support. However, the court must then agree that the waiver or reduction is in the...
Stepparent Adoption in Minnesota
Stepparent Adoptions in Minnesota Family law inevitably involves family transitions form divorce, to custody to adoption. One particular type of transition is a stepparent adoption for blended...
Is Tracking Your Spouse with GPS Legal?
CAN I TRACK MY SPOUSE? In our increasingly high-tech world, it is possible to track people and things with a variety of applications and technology. You may have OnStar or other GPS tracking on...
Impact of Domestic Violence on Child Custody
Domestic violence affects individuals of all genders and ages, often leaving a lasting impact on families, especially when it comes to child custody decisions. Understanding the nuances of domestic...
When Can a Child Decide on Parenting Time in Minnesota?
The question of when a child can voice their opinion on which parent to live with is common in Minnesota custody cases. This topic often arises during custody disputes or modifications, where the...
Navigating Immigration and Child Custody Challenges
Imagine facing a custody battle and witnessing a parent being arrested due to immigration status. This is becoming more common, especially under changing immigration policies.Previously, under the...
The Mental Health Crisis and Mediation Solutions in Family Law
Mental health has increasingly become a focus in the United States with many ringing alarms that we are in a mental health crisis. Data in the U.S. Shows that mental health issues were on the...
Divorce, Military Retired Pay and Disability
When a divorce involves a Military Service Member, it may also involve a military pension called Military Retired Pay. I am often asked if a Military Pension is divisible in divorce. the short...
The Importance of a Cohabitation Agreement
While the divorce rate has seen a decline since 2000, it remains significant with Forbes citing a 43% divorce rate in 2025. Alarmingly, this rate jumps to 73% for second and third marriages, with...
Cohabitation – Do I have an Interest in Property & Can I get Support?
Imagine being in love but not getting married. You want to buy a house with your partner, but, because of credit issues, can only put the title of the home into your partner’s name. To qualify...
Navigating Workplace Harassment Laws for Compliance
Workplace harassment is a pressing issue with more than half of employees reporting experiences or observations of inappropriate or illegal conduct at work. This underscores the need for robust...
Termination of Parental Right & Stepparent Adoption
I am occasionally asked if a stepparent can adopt their stepchild. The Answer is - “yes- they can” but the process depends on the circumstances and it is not always easy. Step-parent adoption, in...
DO I NEED A LAWYER FOR DIVORCE?
While you technically do not need a lawyer to get a divorce in most jurisdictions, including Minnesota, it is generally recommended to consult with one, especially if your divorce involves complex...
Minnesota Divorce Questions
How Can I file for Divorce in Minnesota? To get divorced in MN, at least one of the spouses must be living in MN for a minimum of 180 days (or you or your spouse must be a member of the armed...
Impact of Domestic Violence on Child Custody
Domestic violence affects men, women, and children. When couples separate after such incidents, a history of abuse can influence custody and parenting time decisions made in divorce or custody...
Navigating Spousal Maintenance in Divorce: The Karon Waiver in Minnesota
Divorce is a challenging and often emotional process, and financial concerns—especially regarding spousal maintenance (also known as alimony or spousal support)—can be a significant source of...
Life Insurance Beneficiaries After Divorce
Have you ever wondered what happens if you forget to update your life insurance beneficiaries after a divorce? This was precisely the scenario in the case of Mark A. Sveen and Kaye L. Melin. The...
Breach of Promise to Marry: An Outdated Legal Concept
Can you sue someone for breaking a promise to marry? In years gone by, the answer was 'yes.' A jilted fiancé could file a lawsuit for breach of promise to marry. However, today, such claims have...
Navigating Property Disputes: Partition Action and Unjust Enrichment
Imagine a scenario where two unmarried individuals purchase a home, but the property title bears only one name. What happens when the relationship ends? Who retains ownership of the house?When both...
Legal Implications of Marital Infidelity: Exploring Alienation of Affection
In most states today, the process of obtaining a divorce does not require proving any party's fault. This system, known as no-fault divorce, simplifies the end of a marriage without assigning blame...
Divorce Myths Debunked
MYTH #1: Filing for divorce first gives me an advantage.It's generally a misconception that filing for divorce first offers significant benefits. The only advantage is in cases where the parties...
Navigating Divorce When Narcissism is Involved
Divorce can be an arduous journey, especially when accusations of narcissism arise. It's important to approach this with clarity, as not everyone exhibiting narcissistic traits is a diagnosed...
Navigating the Emotional Journey of Divorce
Divorce is often accompanied by a whirlwind of emotions that can significantly influence the legal process. Feelings of being overwhelmed, frustrated, fearful, or even betrayed are just some of the...
Understanding Paternity and Your Rights
Paternity can often be a complex issue, especially when it involves unmarried parents. Many fathers find themselves asking: What rights do I have to see my child? The path to securing these rights...
Navigating the Pretrial Conference: What You Need to Know
The pretrial conference might sound complex, but it's a crucial step that can shape the course of a legal proceeding. For those unfamiliar, the pretrial conference is a mandatory meeting usually...
Navigating Financial Disclosures in Divorce
Divorce often raises the question of financial transparency between parties. Rest assured, part of the divorce proceedings involves the mandatory exchange of relevant documentation pertaining to...
AI and Deepfakes in the Courtroom: A New Era
Seeing is believing... or is it? The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology is making its way into courtrooms, challenging how evidence is perceived and used in legal...
Divorce: Preplanning Strategies
Divorce: Preplanning Strategies Nobody enters a marriage expecting it to end, but the sobering fact is that nearly 40% of marriages today result in divorce. This process can be financially taxing,...
Understanding Divorce and Legal Fees
ABOUT YOUR DIVORCEHOW MUCH WILL THE DIVORCE COST?It is difficult to determine how much a divorce will cost. However, after reviewing the likely issues, your method for resolving those issues, and...
Understanding Third-Party Custody: Rights and Processes
Third-party custody occurs when a court grants legal and physical custody of a child to someone who is not the biological parent. This person could be a family member or even an unrelated...
Understanding Custody: Navigating Evaluations
Parenting Time and Custody EvaluationsIn many counties, custody disputes often involve a Court-appointed evaluator. This person may work for Court Services or could be a private individual or...
Understanding Child Custody: Legal and Physical Explained
CustodyWhen it comes to custody, understanding the key types—"legal" and "physical"—is crucial, as they serve different functions in the lives of parents and their children. What is Legal Custody...
Maintaining Privacy in Divorce: Options to Consider
Divorce proceedings are typically a matter of public record, which means divorce decrees can often be accessed and downloaded online. This realization raises a common question among those...
The Complexities of Hair Follicle Testing in Minnesota Courts
Chemical dependency allegations in family law cases often result in courts imposing testing and restrictions on parents to ensure child safety. However, in Minnesota, courts are increasingly...
Navigating Changes to Minnesota's Spousal Maintenance Law
In Minnesota, the term 'Alimony' has evolved into 'Spousal Maintenance'—a change intended to ease perceptions of financial support obligations during divorce. Yet, the financial burden often...
Navigating Workplace Harassment Laws: Key Compliance Tips
In today's workplaces, the prominence of harassment issues necessitates urgent attention and action. Over half of employees report experiencing or witnessing behaviors that are inappropriate,...
Understanding Opportunities to Adjust Child Support Arrears
Generally, child support arrears cannot be modified by a court. However, exceptions exist which might offer solutions or negotiations potentially leading to reductions. Can I Modify my Child...
Will Student Loans be Divided in Divorce?
Student loans are one of the most common and durable debts a person may incur, and they often become a point of contention during asset and liability division in divorce proceedings. Understanding...
Demystifying Financial Early Neutral Evaluations in Divorce Cases
Understanding Financial Early Neutral Evaluations (FENE) In cases where financial issues are contested, understanding the Financial Early Neutral Evaluation (FENE) process can significantly impact...
Navigating the Social Early Neutral Evaluation Process
Understanding the Social Early Neutral Evaluation (SENE) process and preparing effectively can aid parties in resolving their custody and parenting time issues at an early stage of the proceedings....
Understanding the Order for Protection Involving Family Members
The Order for Protection (OFP) An Order for Protection (OFP) is a type of restraining order used when domestic abuse has occurred among family or household members. It aims to stop the accused...
Decoding the ICMC Hearing in Minnesota Divorces
Understanding the terms and process in your divorce can make all the difference. In Minnesota, one of the key components in a divorce proceeding is the ICMC, or Initial Case Management Conference....
Understanding Antenuptial Agreements: Essential Insights
What is an Antenuptial Agreement?An antenuptial agreement, commonly known as a prenuptial agreement, is a formal contract executed between two prospective spouses before their marriage. This...
Understanding Third-Party Custody: When Non-Parents Take the Helm
What is Third-Party Custody?Third-party custody occurs when a court grants legal and physical custody of a child to someone who is not their biological parent. This could be a family member, a...
Understanding Child Custody Relocation Laws
Our society has become increasingly mobile over the past several decades. As a result, parents often seek to relocate away from the other parent after custody has been determined. Such relocations...
Understanding Custody: Navigating Legal and Physical Custody
When navigating the complexities of custody during a divorce, it is crucial to differentiate between two distinct types: "legal" and "physical." While these terms may seem similar, they each carry...
Understanding Grandparents' Visitation Rights in Minnesota
Did you know that grandparents have their own rights to see their grandchildren? 🌟"On the seventh day God rested. His grandchildren must have been out of town." – Gene PerretEvery year, the...
The Power of Mediation: A Vital Tool in Conflict Resolution
Why Mediation Matters in Today's SocietyIn today's conflict-ridden society, alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation play a crucial role in maintaining harmony and resolving disputes...
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