When Minnesota courts rule on custody, the well-being of your children is one of the primary concerns. If you or your spouse struggles with drug or alcohol dependency, a judge must ensure that the substance-dependent parent can maintain a safe environment for the...
Custody & Visitation
What if my ex-spouse cannot stick to our custody schedule?
Minnesota parents are quick to figure out custody situations when divorcing. It is often a parent's first priority. The courts determine what arrangement works best for everyone involved. The standard they work with is the "best interest of the child" standard. But...
Establishing paternity for unmarried fathers
When a child is born out of wedlock in Minnesota, sole custody is automatically given to the unmarried mother. This means that the biological father of the child has no parental rights. In order to access these rights, a father must establish paternity. Establishing...
Tips for working with a difficult co-parent
Parents in Minnesota and across the United States want what is best for their children. Going through a divorce and then trying to co-parent with a toxic individual can make a parent feel like good parenting is impossible. However, there are steps a person can take in...
Joint custody more common in child custody cases
Minnesota fathers who get a divorce or who were never married to the mother of their children are much more likely to get joint custody than they might have decades ago. In 1980, sole custody went to mothers 80% of the time. In 2008, this happened just 42% of the...
What matters can you address in a co-parenting plan?
Raising a child can be difficult under any circumstances, but if you are a resident of Minnesota who is also trying to raise that child alongside someone with whom you no longer share a romantic relationship, it can wind up being even more of a struggle. Often,...
What are co-parenting apps?
You may not be surprised, given the number of apps available for smartphones, that there are indeed co-parenting apps for divorced couples. Whether or not you would use them in your own divorce process could depend on a number of different factors.Believe it or not,...
How is custody determined in a divorce?
When parents separate or file for divorce in Minnesota, children are often the unwilling participants of the separation as well. In most cases, small children do not have a say as to which parent they would prefer to live with. Instead, the court may determine what is...
Shared parenting can provide stability for your children
As you weigh your options for continuing to parent your children even though you are divorcing your spouse, remember that what works for other families you know who have gone through a divorce, may not be as functional for you. Take your time in developing and...
Do grandparents get visitation rights in Minnesota
It is every grandparent's nightmare when their adult children are getting a divorce or breaking up, leaving the grandchild caught between the two parents.Under a recent Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, grandparents can, indeed, pursue reasonable visitation rights...
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