Elderly woman and man stand angrily back to back Concept for Gray Divorce.

How Gray Divorce Affects Your Estate Plan

December 17th, 2021
The incidence of divorce among couples in their fifties, sixties, and beyond has nearly doubled in the past thirty years. The reasons for the increase in so-called “gray divorces” are many and varied, but the outcome is that more and more older c… Read More
family law court

How to Navigate Delays in Family Court

December 6th, 2021
It seems as if COVID-19 has disrupted every aspect of life: working, going to school, traveling, entertainment, worship services, and even how we get along at home. The pandemic has also made it harder to get things we want — from toilet paper in 2… Read More
national family leave act

Could Paid Family Leave Become a National Policy in the U.S.?

October 25th, 2021
Some of the hardest choices many of us face involve how we care for our loved ones. Do we put our newborn in daycare so that we won’t lose the job that supports them, or stay home with them and slash our budget? Do we stay by the hospital bedside o… Read More
child vaccination

How Divorced Couples Can Handle Vaccine—and Other Health—Disagreements for Their Child

October 20th, 2021
In Minnesota, as in most states, courts prefer divorced parents to share joint legal custody of their children, which means making major decisions for the child as a team. Those major decisions include things like education and health care decisions,… Read More
child tax credit

Understanding Tax Credits When You Have Children

October 18th, 2021
There are many reasons that divorcing or separating parents argue over custody of their children. While gaining a tax advantage may not be the primary reason to seek custody of a child, historically, there have been federal tax benefits associated wi… Read More
dividing a business in divorce

How is a Small Business Valued in Divorce?

October 14th, 2021
Divorce closes one chapter in your life and opens another. In order to move forward, you need a financial foundation. That foundation comes, in part, from your share of the marital assets. Minnesota is an equitable distribution state, in which marita… Read More
aces test

How the ACEs Test Can Be Used in a Child Custody Case

September 1st, 2021
In Minnesota, as in other states, child custody is decided based on what would be “in the best interests of the child.” The list of “best interest” factors considered by the Minnesota legislature in 2015 to reflect developments in the underst… Read More
dying without a will

Dying Without a Will in Minnesota: What is Intestate Succession?

August 27th, 2021
You have no doubt heard the expression, “You can’t take it with you.” But what happens to the assets you must leave behind if you don’t have a will or other estate plan? In that case, dying without a will can cause your assets to pass by what… Read More

What Makes a Will Valid in Minnesota?

August 10th, 2021
There’s no question that every adult should have a valid will to ensure that their wishes are honored after their death. Most people understand this. But the next question many people ask is, “What are the requirements for a will to be valid?”… Read More
remarriage

How Long After a Divorce Can You Remarry?

July 6th, 2021
After a divorce, many people vow never to get married again. Some keep that promise to themselves, and others change their minds when they meet the right person after the pain of divorce has faded. Then there are those who want a remarriage as soon a… Read More
divorcing a narcissist

How to Handle Divorcing a Narcissist

June 7th, 2021
Many factors can complicate a divorce, but the goal of both spouses is usually to get through the process with as little stress and drama as possible. That’s why roughly 95% of divorces settle; people would prefer to avoid an ugly court battle (and… Read More
unfit parent

What is an “Unfit Parent?”

May 20th, 2021
Even the best parents have insecurities about how they are performing in that role. It’s easy to wonder if you are being too strict, or too lenient, a helicopter parent or a neglectful one, putting too much pressure on your kids, or not encouraging… Read More
getting a divorce without a lawyer

Tips for Getting a Divorce Without a Lawyer

May 7th, 2021
Most divorce lawyers will tell you that getting a divorce without a lawyer is a terrible idea. Now, coming from people who make their living helping people get divorced, that advice might sound self-serving—but it’s often right. Sometimes, the mo… Read More
A grieving mother

How Can a Mother Lose Custody of Her Child?

April 20th, 2021
In decades past, it was common for mothers to be granted custody of the children in a divorce, with fathers being given “visitation,” having the children on alternate weekends and perhaps one evening a week. Those arrangements reflected the preva… Read More
Signing Official Document

Contesting a Will in Minnesota

April 12th, 2021
How hard is it to challenge a will in Minnesota? It depends on the circumstances, but in general, contesting a will is not easy. That’s good news for those who want their last wishes honored; not so good for those who feel they have been treated un… Read More