When picturing the financial implications of divorce, most spouses worry about their houses or alimony. Often, however, other issues warrant more attention. For some couples, retirement can be the most impacted aspect of divorce — and also, the most difficult to navigate. This is especially true in Minnesota, where courts make it clear that, when one spouse earns retirement benefits, the other spouse enjoys a “just and equitable” share, merely due to their status as married.…

Continue Reading How Will Divorce Affect Your Retirement Plans? What Can You Do About It?

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…

As you prepare to inform your children of your impending divorce, expect questions — most of which will be difficult to answer. How you respond to these queries may, in part, determine how well your children handle your divorce. A few top questions are highlighted below:…

Continue Reading The most heartbreaking question your child will ask as they conceptualize your divorce

These days, the nuclear family sometimes feels like little more than a myth that we occasionally witness on reruns of classic TV sitcoms. United States Census data indicates that, while 40 percent of 1970 families consisted of two married parents living with children, this arrangement comprised just 19 percent of homes as of 2013. These…

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?

Divorces are rarely as amicable as spouses desire, but most spouses are at least able to limit their aggression to verbal outbursts in court. Sadly, for some spouses, divorce is more than a battle over property or child support; it is, quite literally, a life-or-death situation. It is far from unheard of for spouses to…

Divorce is never easy, but mental health issues can add an additional layer of complication. Minnesota is a no-fault dissolution state, so illness (whether physical or mental in nature) cannot serve as grounds for divorce. Still, mental illness can play a significant role in several aspects of divorce — most notably, maintenance and child custody.  …

Continue Reading Divorcing Someone with Medical Challenges: Special Considerations

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…

Whether you’ve voluntarily ended your rights as a parent or suffered involuntary termination of parental rights, your life is about to change. Not only will your relationship with your child evolve considerably (or cease to exist), your financial situation may also look considerably different now that you’re freed of your previous rights and obligations. Read…

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