Tough Love
As the party to a divorce case, you see the world through a different lens than I do. Your perspective is necessarily clouded by emotion and the daily grind of…
The 180 Day Rule and Jurisdiction
Almost every state has a requirement that you must live in that state for a certain amount of time before you can file for a divorce there. Minnesota is no…
RE-OPENING A SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE AWARD – NO SLAM DUNK
The Court of Appeals recently reminded us that alimony (or spousal maintenance as it is called by statute) is still very much alive and well in Family Court. After a…
Prenuptial Agreements – Not Always Enforceable
If you’re reading this blog, it’s probably because you’re related to me and doing it out of obligation (thanks, Mom). Or, it might be because you’re looking for information about…
Who Claims The Kids? The Riddle of Claiming Tax Dependency Exemption
If you’re a parent, and you’ve filed taxes, you’re probably aware that the US tax code permits a taxpayer to claim an exemption for each of his or her dependents….
FATHER’S RIGHTS IN DETERMINING A CHILD’S NAME
I sometimes get asked by mothers whether they can change their child’s name, without the permission of the father. It’s a fair question; why should the child not have the…
A Lesson In Attorney’s Fees
As a lawyer, I don’t have any great products to sell you. My office is not like Best Buy or a car dealership. Other than a bunch of paper, you…
Are Style Points Important?
When I am meeting with a potential client during an initial consultation I am sometimes asked, “What is your style?” Or more to the point, they may simply say, “I…
Child Custody: The Importance of Making it Legal
When married couples separate with the intention of making it permanent, a divorce almost always follows. That is because the law recognizes the legal relationship known as marriage. In order…
Financial Infidelity
KARE-11 recently did a series on what they called “financial infidelity.” We linked one of the pieces to our Facebook page. By financial infidelity, KARE-11 is referring to situations where…