Palimony in Minnesota
NBA star Blake Griffin made the news recently. And not because he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. No, he was sued by his ex-fiancé for what is often referred…
KEEPING THE HOMESTEAD SAFE IN A DIVORCE
Divorcing couples who own a home still remain homeowners, even after the divorce; they just aren’t joint owners any longer. Instead, they own the home as individuals who each have…
PRINCE’S LESSON ON PATERNITY
When I think of Prince’s legacy, his immeasurable contributions to the arts and culture, I can’t say that promoting understanding of domestic relations law has a place that legacy. But…
Inconvenient Forum
I recently blogged about the 180 Day Rule and how you (or your spouse) must live in Minnesota for 180 days before you can file for divorce here. But, what…
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…
What can I get out of it? Splitting Joint Property Interests Between Unmarried Cohabitants
Just like married couples, unmarried couples who live together still acquire stuff together (furniture, jewelry, vehicles, and real estate), and when they (hopefully never) split up, they still need to…
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…
To File or Not to File?
In Minnesota, a divorce case commences when the Petitioner serves the Summons and Petition for Marital Dissolution (and usually some other documents, too) upon the Respondent. The law requires that…
Grandparent Visitation: Getting Your Foot in the Door
There are some laws on the books that although neutral on their face, can have different results when applied to different situations. Personally, I question whether the legislature truly intended…