Sometimes, situations occur in your personal life that cannot be managed without legal advice and assistance. When you need support with a divorce, pursuing child custody, enforcing child support, or other family law matters, a Rochester family lawyer could help you understand your available options.
The skilled legal professionals at Kohlmeyer Hagen Law Office, Chtd. have the expertise you need. We could explain the applicable laws, help you set reasonable expectations, and manage your legal matters competently, compassionately, and discreetly.
Many marriages do not last forever. When a couple decides to divorce, they must untangle their financial lives and make arrangements for co-parenting any children of the marriage.
The law calls for an equitable distribution of marital property when a couple divorces. According to Minnesota Statutes § 518.003 subd.3b, marital property is anything either spouse acquired during the marriage, as well as property the spouses acquired together. Anything a spouse owned before the marriage is their separate property, as is anything one spouse received as an inheritance or gift during their marriage. The couple could create an antenuptial or postnuptial agreement designating specified property as the separate property of one spouse.
Equitable distribution does not necessarily mean a 50/50 split of the marital property, but the division must be fair considering all the circumstances. The law also permits but does not require, one spouse to pay maintenance to a spouse who is not prepared to be self-supporting after a divorce. A Rochester attorney could explain the factors a court may consider when deciding whether to award spousal maintenance for family law matters.
When parents live apart, they must submit a parenting plan to the court for approval. The parenting plan describes the parents’ wishes regarding where the children live, which parent makes significant decisions for the children, how much time the other parent spends with them, and other issues. The law favors shared legal and physical custody arrangements in most situations.
A judge must evaluate any plan and determine whether it supports the children’s best interests. The law provides a list of factors a court should consider when determining the children’s interests. When parents cannot agree on a plan, the court will impose one.
There are many situations that arise in family law matters that require court intervention. Our Rochester family attorneys could pursue or defend against the following cases:
When a person needs help with any family law matter, our experienced attorneys could diligently advocate for them. We understand that people come to our firm during stressful times in their lives, and we are here to help protect and preserve the best possible outcome.
By nature, family law issues touch on delicate personal topics. Resolving them in a private and sensitive way is a priority. Negotiation between the parties is usually the best way to manage family law disputes. Mediation is often helpful and effective at resolving issues regarding parenting time, spousal support, property division, and most family law issues. Alternatively, the parties’ legal representatives could negotiate directly with each other.
Negotiation will not solve every disagreement; sometimes, a more aggressive strategy is necessary. A Rochester attorney skilled in family law is prepared to go to court and make a persuasive case to a judge in favor of a client’s desired result.
Any family issue that triggers legal implications is likely to produce emotional distress. You need a capable attorney to guide you through the process.
Contact a Rochester family lawyer when you are considering divorce or require assistance with any family law matter. The diligent attorneys at our firm have the skills and knowledge to give you the best chance of achieving your desired outcome. Call to schedule a consultation today.
