Minnesota is a no-fault divorce state, meaning that either party may file and both parties will receive a fair division of marital assets. We can help you through your divorce with your parenting rights and financial interests intact.
We have all heard stories about ugly, expensive divorces that leave spouses fighting for years. At Dove Fretland, we can help you avoid the turmoil and expense of emotional divorce litigation. Find out what Collaborative Divorce is all about.
The attorneys at Dove Fretland are known not only for their ability to litigate complex contested divorce, but also for effective use of their experience, knowledge and talents to achieve negotiated settlements.
If your previous or pending Minnesota divorce includes issues related to spousal maintenance, turn to Dove Fretland, PLLP, for help. Some of the laws governing spousal maintenance are changing. Feel free to contact our office to schedule a consultation regarding your unique set of facts. Click on More Information below.
In Minnesota when parents have difficulty agreeing on custody and parenting time rights, the child's best interests will always be the court's highest priority.
Now that same sex marriage is legally recognized in Minnesota, couples can enjoy the same benefits & protections of marriage as heterosexual couples.
Whether you and your partner are married or unmarried, the attorneys at Dove Fretland, PLLP, can help you protect your rights when your relationship dissolves.
There are very few times in our lives when we are confronted by anything as emotional as divorce. We plan our futures and build our lives around our marriage and family. When we can no longer make our marriage work, it is only natural that we let our worries get the best of us. Wherever you are in the Twin Cities metro area, we can help you get through this with your parenting rights and financial interests intact.
Minnesota is a no-fault divorce state, meaning that either party may file and both parties will receive a fair division of marital assets. Divorce is not just the end of your marriage — it is also the beginning of your new future. Our lawyers understand what divorce is all about and we know how to find solutions that will help protect your rights — today and five years after the dust has settled on your divorce decree.
Laura Fretland & Lori McLaughlin are Minnesota divorce & family law attorneys who practice throughout the Twin Cities seven-county metro area. Call 952-545-9000 or send an email to arrange an initial consultation. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. We can make evening and weekend appointments by special arrangement. We cannot give legal advice over the phone.
What Is Collaborative Divorce All About? Collaborative divorce was developed as an alternative to the highly confrontational, conventional divorce. It is a relatively new option for divorcing couples to resolve disputes respectfully without going to court. It is a humane approach to ending their marriage and is especially effective when children are involved.
SOME BENEFITS OF A COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE:
Staying out of court often means less stress & lower costs. In a collaborative divorce, clients agree not to go to court. Communication is vastly improved during a collaborative divorce because the process is more open and less confrontational. As a result, couples are able to lay the foundation for a healthier relationship during and after the divorce.
TEAM BASED APPROACH:
Call us at 952-479-4376 to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced lawyers. You may also use our convenient email contact form to describe your circumstances. We will reply as quickly as possible to arrange an initial case evaluation. We cannot give legal advice over the telephone
Collaborative Divorce
Although Minnesota family law judges expect divorcing couples to work out their differences through an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process, sometimes resolving complex issues just isn't possible. If your divorce will include serious disputes related to child custody, alimony or property, having the right lawyer on your side will make a significant difference.
COMMON CONTESTED COMPLEX DIVORCE ISSUES
Litigation is necessary in cases where there is high degree of conflict, when one party is unwilling to share information or actively hides it, or when a settlement cannot be reached through other means. Each party retains an attorney who assists him or her in obtaining a legal judgment, including going to court, if necessary. The litigation attorney's role is to gather information through formal discovery methods if needed. The attorney then prepares the best possible presentation of the client's position. The attorney will work toward a settlement, and if needed, advocate the client's position in court. Since we opened our doors in 1983, our lawyers have been very successful helping clients litigate cases in court.
Call us at 952-545-9000 to arrange an initial consultation with one of our Minneapolis divorce attorneys who has experience in contested complex divorce. You may also use our convenient email contact form to describe your circumstances. We cannot give legal advice over the telephone.
Spousal support (alimony) in Minnesota is not determined by state guidelines statutes, the way child support is awarded. Laws regarding spousal maintenance give judges discretion when determining the reasons temporary support may be awarded. Permanent alimony is typically reserved only for cases of long-term marriage, when one spouse will be at a distinct financial disadvantage from loss of income. If the judge or referee agrees to order spousal maintenance, he/she will then determine how much support will be ordered and for how long.
Listed below are some of the FACTORS considered by the judge in making
a decision on whether to grant spousal support under Minnesota alimony laws:
Call us at 952-545-9000 to arrange an initial consultation with one of our Minneapolis family law attorneys who has experience in spousal support and alimony cases. You may also use our convenient email contact form to describe your circumstances. We cannot give legal advice over the telephone.
Count on it: When parents file for divorce in Minnesota and have difficulty agreeing on custody and visitation rights, the child's best interests will always be the court's highest priority. Protecting your child's future is one of the most important issues to be addressed during the divorce or paternity process. At Dove Fretland, PLLP, we are dedicated to creating child custody agreements and parenting time/visitation schedules that enable a safe, healthy future for your child.
Two Types of Custody Under Minnesota Law. In most divorces involving children in Minnesota, there will be two types of custody consideration the courts must deal with:
Contested Custody and Custody Evaluations. When parents are contesting custody, an evaluator will interview the parents, the children and witnesses named by each party. From these interviews, the evaluator will prepare a report that includes recommendations for custody and visitation. This is based on the best interests of the child. These recommendations will have a significant influence on the final outcome.
Call us at 952-545-9000 to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced lawyers. You may also use our convenient email contact form to describe your circumstances. We will reply as quickly as possible to arrange an initial case evaluation. We cannot give legal advice over the telephone
HAVE THINGS CHANGED IN YOUR LIFE SINCE YOUR DIVORCE? VISIT OUR CUSTODY AND SUPPORT MODIFICATIONS information page.
Call us at 952-545-9000 to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced lawyers. You may also use our convenient email contact form to describe your circumstances. We will reply as quickly as possible to arrange an initial case evaluation. We cannot give legal advice over the telephone
Dove Fretland, PLLP has represented hundreds of clients in child support matters, including unique cases involving self-employed persons and cases where both parents had high incomes.
ONLINE CALCULATOR - A GOOD STARTING POINT
The size of child support payments is dependent on the incomes of both parties. The State of Minnesota offers an online calculator which can help you get started with the process. Although, determining the correct level of child support may require investigation and research. Special problems arise in cases where a parent is self-employed or unemployed.
Call us at 952-545-9000 to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced lawyers. You may also use our convenient Email Contact Form to describe your circumstances. We will reply as quickly as possible to arrange an initial case evaluation. We cannot give legal advice over the telephone
Circumstances change in people's lives — the courts know that. One parent may start a new relationship or remarry. The other parent may lose a job or take a new job out of town. The child may decide that the weekly parenting schedule no longer fits his or her social calendar.
Why Parents' Shouldn't Just Work Things Out Between Themselves. Informal changes to child support, parenting time (visitation) and legal residence for the child are not legally binding and can result in costly litigation if things go wrong. Everything may be fine for a while, but when an issue arises about the child's welfare or best interests, handshake deals often break down.
When it is necessary for divorced parents to change custody, parenting time or child support payments, it is best to bring a motion before the court, petitioning for a formal custody or support modification. In bringing the motion, the parent must have witnesses, affidavits or other documents to demonstrate a basis to modify custody. The court will only look at facts that have changed since the original custody order was put in place and will not revisit prior arguments regarding the original judgment.
If your divorce or child custody matter was handled by a court in the Twin Cities area and you need to modify your judgment, turn to Dove Fretland, PLLP. From our offices in St. Louis Park, our Minneapolis child custody modification attorneys represent clients throughout the Twin Cities seven-county metro area.
Call us at 952-545-9000 to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced lawyers. You may also use our convenient email contact form to describe your circumstances. We will reply as quickly as possible to arrange an initial case evaluation. We cannot give legal advice over the telephone.
Both married and unmarried couples have always had to deal with questions of financial responsibilities, property and parental rights. Gay and lesbian couples know this better than anyone. For years, their relationships were not legally recognized in Minnesota, but now, these couples can enjoy the same benefits of marriage as heterosexual couples.
Whether you and your partner are married or unmarried, the attorneys at Dove Fretland, PLLP, can help you understand and protect your rights when your relationship dissolves.
We have more than 30 years of combined experience in Minnesota family law. We are dedicated advocates for families, no matter what form they come in. We are here to help you find solutions to issues of child custody, property division, support agreements and more during this difficult time.
Divorce is often a contentious and frustrating time for couples. Rarely do both parties agree on big issues like who will have primary custody of children and how marital assets will be divided. Even argumentative times can be approached with understanding and negotiation, and it is often in a family's beset interest to work together as much as possible when divorcing.
We know how to use opportunities for collaborative divorce when possible to help our LGBT clients arrive at divorce agreements that work for their personal goals. Our experience has shown that couples who can retain control over decision-making, rather than handing over control to a judge in court, often walk away with a more positive outlook. This is especially important when trying to foster cooperative relationships between parents who will have to work together to raise children after a divorce is final.
Our top priority will be to find the right solutions for you and your loved ones.
Call us at 952-545-9000 to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced lawyers. You may also use our convenient email contact form to describe your circumstances. We will reply as quickly as possible to arrange an initial case evaluation. We cannot give legal advice over the telephone.
Dove Fretland PLLP
5881 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
COPYRIGHT © 2020 DOVE FRETLAND PLLP - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.