Category: Family Law
Spousal Maintenance in Minnesota
February 10, 2017 | Elizabeth A. SchadingGoing through a divorce is never easy for a family. The spousal support laws vary from state to state and can be extremely confusing. Thankfully, you can rely on your family law attorney to be a valuable resource in navigating these complex issues. What are the spousal support laws in Minnesota? Minnesota courts have the power to order one spouse to pay alimony to the other (also referred to as spousal maintenance.) Often, the spouse who earns less money annually will make a request for spousal support from the higher earning spouse. This ensures that they can each maintain a reasonable standard of living to which they have become accustomed. Other reasons to request spousal support include the inability of one spouse to work due to giving full time care to a child that possesses a high level of need. This demonstrated need can be medical, physical, or mental. Minnesota courts can decide on three different kinds of spousal support: Temporary support. In this case, the support is paid by one spouse to the other during divorce proceedings. The income of both spouses is taken into account. Short-term support. This type of support helps one spouse achieve job training or continued education, with the intention that they will be able to earn more…
Read MoreNew Family Law Associate Joins The BGS Law Family!
September 30, 2016 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.Barna, Guzy & Steffen LTD. announces the addition of a new associate to our firm. Lindsay K. Fischbach has joined the firm’s Family Law department. She will be working closely with attorneys practicing in the firm’s growing Family Law/Divorce area serving existing clients and enhancing the firm’s ability to serve our community. Prior to joining the BGS Family Law legal team, Lindsay worked at a Twin Cities law firm representing business and individual clients, primarily in the area of family law. She has also had the opportunity to serve as judicial law clerk for two Judges. She first served for the Honorable Robert R. Benson of Filmore County from 2012-2013, followed by clerking for the Honorable Robert A. Awsumb, Ramsey County, from 2013-2015. During that time she worked closely with the Judges, court staff, attorneys and litigants on legal issues and gained valuable experience in the court room. BGS is pleased to have Lindsay bringing her experience serving as a judicial clerk and as a practicing family law attorney to the firm’s growing Family Law department. Lindsay graduated magna cum laude from University of St. Thomas School of Law in 2012 ranked in the top 10{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of her class. She was on the Dean’s List several semesters and received the Dean’s Award in…
Read MoreLegal Separation vs. Informal Separation in Minnesota
April 13, 2016 | Elizabeth A. SchadingInformal separations happen when one spouse simply moves out of the home. As covered in a previous post, this can give the other spouse significant advantages if a divorce occurs down the road. If a divorce is later decided upon as the way to proceed, the person who had remained in the home may have more rights to maintain ownership as well as more access to the items within the home. The person who moved out may find him/herself at a disadvantage if the relationship has now dissolved past the point of being able to negotiate openly and fairly. However, sometimes informal separations are a cooling off period and the couple may decide to remain together. Every couple’s situation is different. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] Legal separation is uniquely different from Informal Separation because it actually goes through the court system. It does not dissolve the marriage, but it still allows the courts to outline the rights and responsibilities of each party during the separation period. Many of the same issues are covered by a legal separation in Minnesota as by a divorce. You may divide up property and debts, decide who maintains possession of the house or cars, and get clarity on who sees the children and when. However, you and your spouse…
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