Parents’ & Grandparents’ Rights; Fundamental and Protected
In Minnesota, and the United States, parents have a fundamental and protected right to make decisions about their children’s care and custody. This right is recognized by the United States…
PARENTING TIME & CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES: LEAVE YOUR KIDS OUT OF IT!
Parents should know better than to involve their children in parental disputes. After all, whatever the reasons for the breakdown of the parents’ relationship; it isn’t the kid’s fault. For…
Paternity; Still a Matter of Biology
In Minnesota, the legal relationship between a child and parent is recognized because there are rights awarded and obligations imposed by that relationship. The State has an interest in not…
Minnesota Adoption Laws; Timing is Everything.
Minnesota allows a child to be placed for adoption without the consent of the natural father, unless that father acts fast in getting a legal action started. A sad illustration…
The Significance of Sole Physical Custody (or lack thereof)
In any Divorce Decree with minor children, there will be a designation of physical custody. Either Mom or Dad will be granted “sole physical custody” or both parties will be…
Custody Modification: What do you have to Prove?
In contested child custody cases, the Court determines the issue of custody and parenting time based upon what is in the “best interests of the child.” This is not an…
THE NEW CHILD SUPPORT LAW; FROM “CLIFFS” TO “BUCKETS”
Beginning August 1st, a change to the Minnesota child support law takes effect which should come to the relief of many parents who are paying too much child support under…
Missed Parenting Time: Who’s to Blame?
My law partner Tim recently blogged about missed parenting time. See “Stop Messing With My Parenting Time! What Happens When Parenting Time is Lost Because a Parent Isn’t Following the…
STOP MESSING WITH MY PARENTING TIME! WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PARENTING TIME IS LOST BECAUSE A PARENT ISN’T FOLLOWING THE SCHEDULE?
What happens when time with your children is being interfered with by the other parent? What if “activities”, “homework”, “sleepovers with friends”, or “illnesses”, become common themes of why your…
Changes Coming to Child Support in Minnesota
A variety of factors go into calculating child support. The law considers the income of both parents, the number of children, and each parent’s parenting time percentage, among other factors….