Family Law

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In Minnesota, "family law" involves a multitude of practice areas, including divorce, custody, child support, paternity, grandparent rights, adoption, prenuptial agreements and domestic abuse. Some counties have a separate and distinct family court, while other counties do not.

At one time, DNA testing kits seemed like little more than a science fiction concept. Today, however, these tests are not just available — they’re easily accessible. Fueled, in part, by BOGO deals and other discounts, these tests are blowing up. As of late 2017, over 12 million people admitted to using these direct-to-consumer tests. Ancestry.com announced that over 1.5 million customers sought tests during the 2017 Black Friday weekend alone.…

Continue Reading Complicated Family Law Challenges Posed By Companies Like 23andMe and Ancestry.com (Part 1)

Research suggests that Facebook prompts approximately one-third of modern divorces. But that’s just the beginning. Once the separation process is underway, couples find themselves navigating new social media complications. What can they post? What can be used as evidence? In this blog series, we’ll take a look at some of the most shocking social media…

For families, the ideal divorce outcome includes happy children who maintain strong relationships with both parents. In turn, parents will hopefully enjoy an amicable relationship. All too often, however, divorce devolves into a power struggle, as evidenced by the increasingly prevalent issue of parental alienation.  …

Continue Reading Parental Alienation: What Is it? How Bad Is the Problem?

Blended families are increasingly common, especially as many parents bypass marriage altogether. Whether parents split through divorce or legal separation, their family’s classification as blended can cause unique complications. Below, we examine some of the most common issues Minnesota parents face when divorcing for the second or third time:

Custody And Visitation

For blended families…

You recently took your case to the Minnesota Court of Appeals and, against all odds, emerged victorious. Problem is, what initially seemed like a success may no longer feel desirable. Chances are, your case was remanded back to the same judge who, in your opinion, messed up in the first place. Talk about frustrating! While it may seem that there is no rhyme or reason to this arrangement, there may be some wisdom in presenting the same case before the same judge on two different occasions — as we clarify below:…

Continue Reading Why the Same Judge Is Used For an Appeal

Amicable divorces may be the holy grail of dissolution, but often, couples bicker as much in divorce as they did while married. While some level of compromise should always be expected, you shouldn’t be the only one making concessions. Follow these suggestions to increase the likelihood of changing your stubborn ex’s mind:…

Continue Reading When Your Ex Is Controlling And Stubborn — And Won’t Budge

Parenthood is tough in the best of circumstances. Sometimes, parents just aren’t cut out for the task of successfully raising children. In select cases, termination of parental rights may be the best option for both the parent and his or her children. This is a sensitive manner that warrants considerable thought, however. Read on to…

Court costs and attorney fees are a natural concern when pursuing divorce via litigation. Financial fears sometimes push couples into making unacceptable compromises in mediation. Thankfully, there’s another way. Section 518.14 of the Minnesota Statutes provides the basis for recovering need-based attorney fees, as we explain below:  …

Continue Reading Guide to Recovering Need-Based Attorney Fees

Whether you’re looking to divorce, adopt, or pursue a protective order, you need assistance from a family law firm. Not just any practice will do; thorough vetting can help you choose a law firm suited to your unique needs as a client. Keep an eye out for these top qualities as you vet prospective Minnesota family law firms:  …

Continue Reading How to Know If You’re Hiring the Right Family Law Firm — And What to Look For

You took your family case to court in hopes of emerging with a favorable outcome that would benefit not only you, but also those you love most. Unfortunately, you were extremely disappointed with the court’s verdict — and you suspect that the negative results stemmed from a misapplication of state law. What now?

Depending on…