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Family Law
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Changes to Minnesota Child Support and Removal Laws

In 2005 and 2006, the Minnesota legislature passed a new child support statute, now codified at Minn. Stat. §518A.26, et al, resulting in significant changes to the methodology in calculating a non-custodial parent’s basic child support obligation , as well as each parents’ obligations pertaining to medical and dental support for minor children. Similarly, in [...]

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Child Support Obligations in MN

The obligation of non-custodial parents to provide financial assistance to their children, commonly referred to as child support, has long been a feature of state and federal legislation. However, in recent years legislation has become increasingly creative in the manner by which child support can be collected, particularly in cases where a child support obligor is behind in support payments. Given the ever aggressive state of the law, it is vitally important that anyone facing the possibility of ongoing support obligations or the imposition of retroactive child support obtain the expert advice of legal counsel to ensure the proper calculation of the support obligation and to ensure there is not an over collection of past support allegedly payable.

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Common Marital Dissolution Questions

Our firm has had the privilege of serving hundreds of clients of the years in regard to several family law related legal issues, including dissolution of marriage. In the course of responding to inquiries of several of our clients or prospective clients, it has become evident that we are hearing some of the same questions over and over again. This article will briefly address some of those questions related to divorce proceedings.

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divorcepetition

Divorce and Debt – When to File the Bankruptcy Petition

A divorce proceeding is often accompanied by severe debt issues that may not be resolved just because the parties enter into a stipulated agreement.  A judge in family court cannot modify either parties’ obligations to their creditors, and the debt that was overwhelming prior to the divorce proceeding is no less daunting once the matter [...]

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Family Law Basics

Parker & Wenner, P.A. has extensive experience in family law, from marriage planning and divorce related issues, to step parent adoption and other domestic relations matters.  The firm is committed to assisting individuals during difficult times and we understand that a variety of expertise is appropriate, whether proactive planning or zealous representation. Prenuptial and Postnuptial [...]

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legalseparation

Legal Separation in Minnesota

The process of legal separation in Minnesota is nearly identical to a marital dissolution proceeding.  Such a case begins upon service of a Summons and Petition for Legal Separation and, once filed with the District Court, is subject to the same rules for discovery, and involves similar issues to be resolved such as custody, parenting [...]

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timexpeditor

What are Parenting Time Expeditors?

Parenting time expeditors are governed by Minnesota law at Minn. Stat. §518.1751.   Pursuant to this law, the parties can seek the appointment of a parenting time expeditor, or the court can order the appointment of a parenting time expeditor.  The parenting time expeditor works to resolve parenting time disputes by interpreting and enforcing an existing [...]

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parentingconsultant

What is a Parenting Time Consultant?

A parenting time consultant is not governed by Minnesota Statute, but rather is a position that is created by agreement between the parties.  The parenting consultant agreement is typically incorporated verbatim in the judgment and decree.  In this arrangement, the parties decide in advance precisely the authority that they are willing to grant to the [...]

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Difficult choice

What is a SENE

SENE is the acronym for Social Early Neutral Evaluation, or ENE for short.  This is a confidential process designed to facilitate resolution of custody and parenting time issues in family law matters and is similar in purpose to the Financial Early Neutral Evaluation (FENE).  The ENE was first implemented as a pilot project in Hennepin [...]

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marriagefene

WHAT IS AN FENE

Minnesota courts have implemented a system to help divorcing parties resolve financial issues through a process called “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation”.  This process has resulted in settlements in a significant number of cases and therefore presents an important opportunity early on in the divorce process to resolve difficult financial issues. An FENE is usually a [...]

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