In Minnesota, there are two parts of the custody issue. First, there is "Legal Custody" which is the right of a parent to co-parent the child by mutually deciding important issues of the child's life, such as education, religion, medical treatment, elective surgery, discipline, and residence, unless the order already directs the decision in that issue.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, both marriage and divorce rates have been declining nationwide, as well as in Minnesota. However, while the percentage of failed marriages has slightly declined, nearly half of all marriages still end up in divorce proceedings. So what happens to assets when a couple decides to divorce?
According to a Pew Research Center study, around 23 percent of children under 18 years of age in the United States live with single parents and no other adults. In every divorce case, determining child custody and support rights are often a vital concern.
“Divorce” or “Dissolution of Marriage”, is the process through which a marriage is dissolved in Minnesota. In Minnesota, we have a “no-fault” divorce where it does not matter, and the court does not consider why one of the parties is seeking to end the marriage.
We can help you resolve this with an ex-partner for the sake of the children.
Maybe you heard the old joke: A society reporter meets a divorce attorney coming out of the post office. The reporter asks the attorney what he was doing in the post office on Valentine’s Day. The attorney replies ‘creating some new business’, to which the reporter replies ‘me too’.
Most court procedure is accomplished by motions and stipulations. Motions are requests for the court to do something with a formal paper notifying someone that this request will be considered by the court on a certain date and time and in a specified courthouse.
Marital Property Marital Property and Liabilities are those obtained during the marriage and up to the statutory valuation date. Minnesota recognizes non-marital property to be: (i) the property which was obtained prior to the marriage; (ii) inheritances to an individual and not to the couple; and (iii) certain parts of personal injury recoveries.
It is often advisable for parties who are not married, but who own assets together, to enter into cohabitation agreements. Cohabitation Agreements define their rights and interests in the property purchased. For example, when parties go into a business venture, they often make partnership agreements for similar reasons.
The Collaborative Divorce Professionals offer a free Divorce Options Workshop on the third Saturday of every month. The workshops are held at the Maple Grove Community Center.