Family Law Guides

Plain-English guides to Minnesota family law, written by divorce lawyer Jason Kohlmeyer of Kohlmeyer Hagen. Each guide answers the questions people ask most, in plain language, with the Minnesota law behind each answer. Start with the one that fits your situation.

• Divorce

  Minnesota Divorce Guide (2026)

  No-fault rules, how to file step by step, forms and filing online, how long it takes, what it costs, and who gets the house.

  Read the divorce guide →
• Custody and parenting time

  Minnesota Child Custody and Parenting Time Guide (2026)

  Legal vs. physical custody, the 12 best-interests factors, the 25 percent minimum, the 50/50 myth, temporary hearings, moving with a child, and changing custody later.

  Read the custody guide →
• Property division

  Minnesota Property Division Guide (2026)

  Marital vs. non-marital property, who gets the house, 401(k)s and QDROs, how a business is valued, goodwill, and how a family farm is really divided, with worked examples.

  Read the property division guide →
• Child support

  Minnesota Child Support Guide (2026)

  How support is calculated, 50/50 parenting time, modification, when support ends, and what happens when it is not paid.

  Read the child support guide →
• Fathers’ rights

  Father’s Rights in Minnesota: Paternity, Custody, and Parenting Time

  The Recognition of Parentage, paternity cases for unmarried fathers, how judges decide custody, and moving a child away.

  Read the fathers’ rights guide →
• Spousal maintenance

  Minnesota Spousal Maintenance Guide (2026)

  Who qualifies for alimony, how long it lasts under the 2024 law, how judges set the amount, taxes, and changing or ending maintenance after the divorce.

  Read the spousal maintenance guide →

Free tools: the Minnesota Child Support Calculator gives you a basic support estimate in under a minute, and the Minnesota Divorce Cost Estimator shows what your divorce is likely to cost based on what you and your spouse agree on.

Written by Jason Kohlmeyer, a Minnesota family lawyer practicing since 2000 with Kohlmeyer Hagen, Law Office Chtd., offices in Mankato and Rochester.

These guides are general information, not legal advice for your case. To request a consultation, call 507-625-5000.