No matter how necessary, divorce is, by nature, emotionally wrenching for all parties involved. Beyond the inherent conflict between separating spouses, this process may also lead to significant issues between other family members — including, most notably, divorcing parents and their children.

It’s possible to achieve a new normal, but far from easy. Reunification therapy

Child custody and parenting time arrangements vary dramatically from one couple to the next. When resolved in court, these matters largely come down to the best interests of the child. This can be frustrating for parents, who may disagree vehemently on what, exactly, constitutes a child’s best interests. In Minnesota, courts typically take the following factors into account:

Continue Reading How Does the Court Determine What’s in the Child’s Best Interests?

Divorce may be the most common approach for ending a marriage in Minnesota, but it’s by no means the only available option. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for an annulment. First, however, it’s critical to understand the differences between annulment and divorce.

Validity of the Marriage

Both annulment and divorce have the

The decision to divorce can be painful, but it only represents the beginning of a difficult process. Next: serving papers to your soon-to-be ex-spouse. If you don’t anticipate working together to arrive at an agreement, you will need to select the appropriate forms and notify your ex promptly. Unfortunately, this is often easier said than done.

Continue Reading What Does it Mean to ‘Serve’ Papers to Your Ex-Spouse — And How Do You Do It?

Marriage Story recently made a splash on Netflix, where viewers raved about its relatable characters and life lessons. This memorable film diverges significantly from typical marriage and divorce-focused movies in ways that are definitely worth exploring for real-world couples in the midst of change. Key takeaways include:

The Reasons Behind Divorce Are Complicated

Movies tend

When most people picture adoption, they imagine new parents meeting and getting to know kids for the first time. In reality, however, many adults are strongly bonded to the children in their lives long before they undergo the adoption process. Making such relationships official can provide a greater sense of stability while also granting a variety of legal rights and responsibilities.

Continue Reading A Basic Guide to Stepparent Adoptions in Minnesota

While most Minnesota custody proceedings involve birth parents, third parties occasionally play a role in this process. Generally, Minnesota courts emphasize the best interests of the child, which include maintaining strong relationships with both parents. In select circumstances, traditional parental custody might not be ideal for vulnerable children — particularly if birth parents hold a history of abuse or neglect. In such situations, the custody of a third party such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or another adult may be the best option for maintaining the health and emotional wellbeing of the child in question.

Continue Reading How Third-Party Custody Works in Minnesota

The state of Minnesota offers multiple options for adjusting marital status. Divorce may be the most common approach, but some couples prefer legal separation. Although similar to divorce in many respects, legal separation holds a few key distinctions worth taking into account, as outlined below.

Separation Versus Legal Separation

Separation and legal separation are not