What Is a Prenup and Why Should You Get One?
February 3, 2026 | Jason C. Brown
A prenuptial agreement is a legal contract that two future spouses make with each other before getting married. Its primary purpose is to outline how assets and debts will be divided in the event the marriage ends due to divorce or the death of one spouse. While a prenup may seem uncomfortable to discuss with your future spouse, it’s an incredibly practical tool used to protect both of your finances. Let’s take a closer look at what prenups are, how they work, what they’re used for, and why to get one. How Does a Prenup Work? Generally, a prenup lists each person’s assets and debts. Assets include cash, bank accounts, retirement funds, real estate, investments, and valuable items such as cars. The agreement then states specific instructions for how each asset and debt should be allocated if the marriage ends. A prenup can cover future assets and earnings in addition to present assets. A prenup can also detail how expenses and debts should be allocated during the marriage, not just after it. What Is a Prenup Used for? A prenup protects the financial interests of both parties before a marriage is finalized. It’s useful for any couple entering marriage, not just for the wealthy. A prenup is especially useful if one or both…
Read MoreUnderstanding Vanessa’s Law for Teen Drivers in Minnesota
January 21, 2026 | Adriel B. Villarreal
Minnesota teen drivers who are convicted of an impaired driving crime or crash-related moving violation are subject to a penalty that would bar them from driving until they are at least 18 years old. This penalty is due to Vanessa’s Law. If you or your child are at risk of losing driving privileges because of Vanessa’s Law, an attorney can help you secure the best possible outcome. What Is Vanessa’s Law in Minnesota? Vanessa’s Law is a Minnesota statute that restricts driving privileges for teens convicted of an impaired driving crime or crash-related moving violation. Teens penalized under Vanessa’s Law cannot obtain a driver’s license until they are at least 18. There are slight differences in how the law applies to unlicensed teens versus teens with provisional licenses, which we’ll explain below. Vanessa’s Law was passed in May of 2004, one year after Vanessa Weiss was killed just days before turning 16. Vanessa was a passenger in a vehicle driven by an unlicensed 15-year-old. Vanessa’s Law was named in her memory and aims to protect people from injuries and fatal accidents caused by teen drivers. How Vanessa’s Law Applies to Unlicensed Teens Unlicensed teens convicted of a crash-related moving violation or alcohol/controlled substance violation cannot receive a license, provisional license, or instruction permit…
Read MoreMinnesota 2025 Legislative Employment Law Updates
December 11, 2025 | Kristin Kingsbury
The 2025 Minnesota legislature amended various employment law statutes. Here are some changes that are important for employers to know: Mandatory Rest Breaks – Amendments to Minn. Stat. § 177.253 subd. 1 and 3: The new rest break statute goes into effect on January 1, 2026, and requires employers to permit employees a rest break of at least 15 minutes or enough time to utilize the nearest convenient restroom, whichever is longer, within each four consecutive hours worked. If the employer does not allow these rest breaks, the employer could be liable for the employee’s rest break time that should have been allowed at the employee’s regular rate, plus an additional equal amount in liquidated damages. Mandatory Meal Breaks – Amendments to Minn. Stat. § 177.254 subd. 1, 2, and 4: Effective January 1, 2026, employees working six or more consecutive hours must be allowed a meal break of at least 30 minutes. If the employer does not allow an employee to take meal breaks, the employer could be liable for the employee’s meal break time that should have been allowed at the employee’s regular rate, plus an additional equal amount in liquidated damages. Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) – Amendments to Minn. Stat. § 181.9447 subd. 2, 3, and 4 and…
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