Divorce and Taxes in Minnesota: 7 Costly Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Filing status, alimony, the kids, the house and the 401(k): seven divorce tax mistakes that cost Minnesotans thousands, and how to avoid them before the decree is signed.
-
-
Prenups, Postnups, and Antenuptial Agreements: What Minnesota Couples Need to Know
It’s starting to move to Marriage season here in Minnesota. That means only one thing for us Divorce/Family law lawyers: prenuptial agreements! Most people avoid them because confronting the possibility of divorce feels like inviting it. That instinct is understandable. It’s also, from a practical standpoint, a mistake. Consider what happens when a couple with…
-
Divorce vs. Legal Separation in Minnesota: 3 Situations Where Separation Makes Sense
Most people asking about legal separation in Minnesota should probably just get divorced. I know that sounds blunt coming from a family law attorney, but it is the honest answer, and it will save you time, money, and a lot of confusion. That said, there are three specific situations where legal separation is the smarter…
-
Can You Sign Away Your Parental Rights in Minnesota? What the Law Actually Says
In 26 years of practicing family law in Minnesota, this is one of the most common questions I hear, usually from a father who has called the office frustrated, burned out, or at a breaking point in his relationship with his child’s other parent. The question goes something like this: “Is there a form I…
-
Parenting Time Interference in Minnesota: What You Need to Know.
When the Other Parent Won’t Follow the Court Order Picture this: it is your weekend with the kids. You arrive at the scheduled exchange location on time, and nobody shows up. Or the other parent arrives 45 minutes late, blaming you and ready to argue! Or you get a text saying the kids are “sick”…
-
Are Minnesota Courts Biased Against Fathers In Custody Decisions?
Answer: No. But the reason fathers sometimes feel that way is worth understanding. If you are a father heading into a custody dispute in Blue Earth County, Olmsted County, or anywhere else in Minnesota, it is easy to feel like the system is already against you. The story is familiar: “Moms always get custody. Dads…
-
What is A Divorce Retainer?
Retainer is a word we throw around a lot as attorneys, but it’s one that many people who haven’t dealt with a lawyer before may not fully understand, which is what this article is all about. A tip that I would say to begin with is if you don’t understand a word or phrase a…
-
When to Fire Your Divorce Lawyer (And When to Talk First)
There is a line that gets used a lot in breakups: “It’s not you, it’s me.” I have heard variations of it in my office for 25 years; except in divorce representation, it usually goes the other way: the lawyer is often the one firing the client. The client picks up the file, thanks me…
-
How To Win at Minnesota Divorce Mediation
Jason Kohlmeyer “The most dangerous negotiation is the one you don’t know you’re in.” (Chris Voss, Never Split the Difference) Most people who walk into my office for the first time have the same mental image of divorce: a courtroom, a judge, two lawyers doing battle, and a verdict. They picture Kramer vs. Kramer, or…
-
Dividing The Farm In A Minnesota Divorce
I’ve discussed farm divorces before in this blog, and while there are some unique issues during farm divorces, there are some general principles regarding the division of farmland that is pretty standard in how property is divided in a Minnesota divorce. The basic principle is that each spouse is entitled to ½ of the assets in the…
