Why Divorce Sucks

Divorce is a difficult process.  It is jarring.  It is emotional.  Aside from the death of a loved one, divorce is probably one of the more miserable experiences a person will have.  People going through a divorce have anxieties about the future.  They have concerns about how divorce will impact their children.  They have worries [...]

By |2010-01-29T10:05:34-06:00January 29th, 2010|Minnesota Divorce Procedure|0 Comments

MN Divorce Proceeding – Temporary Relief

In a Minnesota divorce proceeding, the temporary relief hearing can be the single most important aspect of the case.  At a temporary relief hearing, the judge will make decisions on a temporary basis--decisions about temporary child custody and parenting time, temporary child support and temporary spousal maintenance, temporary occupancy of the home, and other issues.  Since [...]

Collaborative Law in Minnesota

Occasionally people ask me about "collaborative law."  They want to know what it is, and whether it is "better" than other alternatives.  I never answer this question directly.  I have many attorney friends who practice "collaborative law," and I respect them and what they do.  To answer this question, I just present the questioner with [...]

By |2010-01-20T10:18:15-06:00January 20th, 2010|Minnesota Divorce Procedure|0 Comments

MN Divorce Attorney

The phrase "Minnesota Divorce Attorney" is one of the phrases googled most often by people in Minnesota who are considering a divorce.  I suppose this is appropriate because it does make it easy for someone to find a list of Minnesota divorce attorneys.  But my experience is that after making an inquiry or two, people often select an [...]

By |2010-01-19T14:31:17-06:00January 19th, 2010|Uncategorized|0 Comments

MN Divorce and Bankruptcy

Minnesota Divorce and Bankruptcy: Often people who are contemplating a divorce are also contemplating bankruptcy.  Marriage relationships can deteriorate quickly when there is significantfinancial pressure.  In this circumstance, bankruptcy can be a reasonable option. If you are considering bankruptcy at the same time you are considering divorce, you need to consult with both a bankruptcy attorney and [...]

401(k) Plans and Financial Emergency

People who get divorced often have 401(k) retirement plans.  The funds in a 401(k) plan are "qualified" funds.  This means that the income tax on these funds, and income tax on the interest or gain realized by these funds, has not yet been paid.  The income tax is paid later, as the funds are withdrawn from the account.  The withdrawal [...]

The Future of Divorce in MN

I have practiced divorce law in Minnesota since 1992.  During that time, there have been significant changes both to the law, and also changes to the court system itself.  In my opinion, the most significant change to divorce law in the past 20 years is the change to the way child support is calculated.  Now, [...]

MN Divorce and Guardian ad litems

In contested Minnesota divorce cases, a guardian ad litem is a person who is appointed by the court to represent the interests of children in a divorce proceeding.  Typically, the guardian ad litem does not perform a custody evaluation or parenting time evaluation.  However, he or she will participate in the process, appear at court [...]

MN Divorce and Income Tax Exemptions

Often people who divorce in Minnesota forget to address the issue of the income tax depdency exemptions for their minor children.  This issue should not be overlooked because, cumulatively, it could save a spouse tens of thousands of dollars on his or her income tax return. From the perspective of the Internal Revenue Service, after parents [...]

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