Disabled four year old boy studying or reading in wheelchair

Children with Special Needs and Minnesota Custody Determinations

August 24th, 2015
In our last blog post, we reviewed the state legislature’s significant changes to the “best interests” factors that Minnesota judges must consider when determining custody of a children in a divorce or action between unmarried paren… Read More

Minnesota's “Best Interests” Factors: What's New in 2015

August 10th, 2015
In Minnesota, child custody decisions are made based on the “best interests” of the children involved. Like other states, Minnesota has a list of factors that courts must consider when determining what custody arrangement would be in the children… Read More
Potential income during a divorce.

What is "Potential Income" When Calculating Minnesota Child Support?

April 2nd, 2015
In Minnesota, children have the right to be supported financially by both parents. Minnesota law presumes, therefore, that both parents are capable of working and earning income to provide that support. Child support is calculated on an “Income… Read More
Overtime pay counting toward my child support.

Does My Overtime Count When Calculating Minnesota Child Support?

March 17th, 2015
Minnesota parents who pay child support (obligors) and parents who receive it (obligees) are often concerned about whether the amount of child support in their case is accurate. There are many factors that go into Minnesota child support calculations… Read More
Self employment income counting toward child support.

How Does Self-Employment Income Affect Minnesota Child Support?

March 1st, 2015
In Minnesota, ​child support is calculated according to guidelines set forth by the state legislature. Of course, calculations are only as good as the information on which they are based, which includes the parents’ gross income. When a paren… Read More
6 month review for child support and parenting.

Minnesota Six-Month Reviews of Parenting Time and Child Support

February 17th, 2015
What happens after the decree is final, the divorce is over, and the dust settles? Ideally, families should settle into the routine of their “new normal.” Parenting time would take place as agreed, and child support would be promptly and… Read More
Basics of calculating child support payments.

Basics of Calculating Minnesota Child Support

February 2nd, 2015
Under Minnesota law, both parents are obligated to support their children in accordance with their respective incomes. The state calculates child support according to what’s called an “Income shares” model. Minnesota child support h… Read More
Custody Labels in play between a divorced couple.

Custody Labels: Do They Matter in Minnesota?

December 8th, 2014
In Minnesota, it used to matter a great deal, on multiple levels, how a parent’s custodial relationship to his or her child was described. Custody labels affected child support and a parent’s ability to move out of state. Changes in Minne… Read More
What to know about co-parenting.

Co-Parenting: What Does It Really Mean for Minnesota Families?

November 18th, 2014
When Minnesota parents divorce or separate, their relationship doesn’t end. Instead, it transforms from a romantic relationship into a co-parenting relationship, in which the children are the focus of the parents’ interactions with each o… Read More
Communicating effectively with the other co-parent.

Communicating Effectively With Your Child's Other Parent

October 28th, 2014
If you have a child with another person, whether you’re divorced or have never been married, you know that it is impossible to completely sever ties with your co-parent so long as both of you want to have a relationship with your child. Almost… Read More
A guide to unmarried new father's.

What Unmarried New Fathers in Minnesota Must Know

October 14th, 2014
When is a father not a father? In Minnesota, the answer is sometimes, “when he’s not married to his child’s mother.” That is to say, even if a man is a biological father, if he’s not married to his child’s mother,… Read More
The co parenting method of 2/2/5/5 in action starting with Dad.

The 2/2/5/5 Parenting Schedule: Important Considerations

September 22nd, 2014
Minnesota, like other states, operates on the premise that it is in a child’s best interests to have regular, frequent, and meaningful contact with both parents. While it’s difficult to argue with this premise, the way parents and courts… Read More
The decision of school choice.

School Choice

August 21st, 2014
Its getting to be that time of year again, back to school. Which for some parents is a great relief, but for separated parents it can be quite stressful. What happens when you have joint legal custody and you disagree with your ex about where your ch… Read More
Helpful books about co-parenting.

Helpful Books on Co-parenting

December 9th, 2013
One of the most challenging aspects of any divorce can be learning how to cope with the changes that divorce brings, after the papers have been signed and the court proceedings are over. For couples with children to the marriage, adjusting to shared… Read More
When can your child fully decide to live with their parent in divorce.

At What Age Can My Kid Decide to Live With Me?

November 12th, 2013
For parents going through a divorce or attempting to modify a custody order, this is a question that is often on their minds. In Minnesota, this question does not always have a simple answer. Under state law, custody is determined based on what is in… Read More