Minnesota family law deals with a number of legal issues related to family relationships, including divorce, child custody, maintenance (alimony), and matters related to domestic violence. These issues have the potential to significantly affect your life in a variety of ways. In some cases, the outcome of a family court proceeding could have a direct impact on your financial situation as well as your relationship with your children. Family law is an often complicated area that requires a thorough understanding of the various statutes and case law that can affect a particular legal issue. Consequently, it is important for anyone who is involved in any family law matter to consult with a qualified Minnesota family law attorney as soon as possible. If you need guidance, call our professionals today for Minnesota family law advice today.
Minnesota Divorce
A Minnesota divorce is almost always an emotionally trying and complicated process for everyone involved. Minnesota courts require that the spouse filing for divorce allege that the marriage is irretrievably broken, without requiring either party to prove the other was at fault. However, there are a number of important ancillary issues in divorce, as well, including child support, spousal maintenance, the division of assets and debts, and child custody. Because these issues can have a significant impact on your life, and because you cannot have a divorce granted without settling these issues, anyone considering divorce should call our legal team for Minnesota divorce advice as soon as possible.
Minnesota Child Support
The law recognizes that a child has a right to financial support from both of his or her parents, therefore Minnesota child support is an issue in many family cases. Child support generally falls into one of three categories: (1) child care support, intended to help pay for childcare when a parent goes to school or work; (2) medical support, which is used to pay for health and dental insurance or for health care directly paid for by a parent, and; (3) basic support, which is intended to cover the costs associated with a child’s food, clothing, housing, education, and other basic expenses. In awarding child support, courts examine the gross income of both parents, the amount of time each parent spends with the child, each parent’s potential income, and the minimum amount of child support established by law, in the event that the parties do not provide specific information about their income. If you have any questions regarding your case, call for Minnesota child support help today.
Minnesota Child Custody
For most parents, their relationship with their child is among the most important relationships in their lives. For people who are going through a divorce or other family law matter, child custody may become a serious issue. Minnesota child custody determinations involve legal and physical custody, meaning how the parents will make decisions for the child and with which parent the child will spend time. To make a custody determination, state law requires courts to base decisions on the “best interests of the child” and to consider factors such as the wishes of the child (if the child is deemed to be old enough to express preference), the wishes of the parents, the child’s primary caretaker, the intimacy of the relationship between each parent and the child, as well as many others. Minnesota courts have significant discretion in deciding child custody issues, so it is important for anyone who is party to a child custody dispute to contact our professionals for Minnesota child custody advice.
Minnesota Father’s Rights
Historically, family courts have tended to favor the parental rights of mothers over fathers. Consequently, many fathers facing divorcing need to know how to protect their Minnesota fathers rights in custody or support determinations.. Additionally, under Minnesota law, a biological father who is not married to the child’s mother has no legal rights until he and the mother signs a “recognition of parentage” or through a court order to establish paternity.
Therefore, unmarried fathers should be sure to aggressively assert their rights in proving paternity and seeking custody. If you have questions, please contact us for Minnesota father’s rights help today.
Minnesota family law can cover a wide variety of issues that can be extremely important to parents and spouses alike. Speaking with an experienced professional for Minnesota family law assistance and retaining an experienced Minnesota family law lawyer will help ensure that your case is resolved in the most favorable way possible.