200 Coon Rapids Blvd. NW, #400
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Legal disputes involving loved ones can be difficult and emotionally draining. At Barna, Guzy & Steffen, we understand those difficulties, especially in the case of a divorce. This process is much more complicated than getting married and it may take months before a divorce becomes final. We work hard to ensure that you understand the divorce process in Minnesota as well as the options available to you throughout.
If you are going through a divorce, you need to understand your rights and legal obligations to your spouse. Our personalized approach to your situation makes your priorities our priorities. Because the divorce process can be emotionally taxing for all involved, including children, it’s often a good idea to bring in a knowledgeable advocate who can help you make sound, informed decisions.
Many questions can arise during the divorce process involving custody of the children, division of assets, spousal support (or alimony), threats of domestic violence, cost of divorce, and much more. Divorce varies by case and can become a long, drawn-out process if the parties disagree. When you schedule an initial consultation, we’ll go over potential fees and costs for a divorce. These include court fees, attorney’s fees, “service of process” costs, and more. These costs vary and fluctuate depending on each individual divorce.
Under Minnesota law, a divorce is called a “Dissolution of Marriage.” To get divorced in Minnesota, one of the spouses must have lived in the state for at least 180 days before starting the case. All of our divorce attorneys are fully licensed to practice law in Minnesota. We have more than 75 years of combined experience with Minnesota family law proceedings. Each member of our team is sensitive to the financial and personal challenges our clients face. We work effectively, accurately, and persistently to resolve legal issues in the best interests of our clients.
Appointments are available during our office hours, Monday through Friday, as well as after-work appointments on Tuesday evenings. In addition, Liz Schading offers appointments at 7 a.m. Contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation.
Read about standard procedures that may occur during the divorce process.
A divorce begins with one party serving a Summons and Petition for Dissolution of Marriage on their spouse. The spouse then has a 30-day period to serve the Petitioner with an answer or a Counter Petition. Once the Petition has been filed, the case is assigned to a judge.
Several counties in Minnesota have adopted the Early Case Management program. Within three weeks of filing, both parties and the attorneys for both parties meet with the assigned judge for an Initial Case Management Conference.
The Initial Case Management Conference, or ICMC, focuses on both parties finding resolutions to contested issues in order to eliminate barriers to a settlement.
If both parties cannot resolve disputed issues, a pretrial conference will be scheduled to discuss these issues.
After pretrial, the court sets a trial date. Between the pretrial and trial dates, parties typically continue to negotiate disputes and disagreements through their attorneys. Your attorney will prepare you and gather all necessary witnesses and information for trial.
Modification of child support, custody, or parental access is often necessary after a divorce due to changes in circumstances. We can continue to help even after the decree has been entered.
Please call our offices to inquire about making an appointment to speak with an attorney. The knowledgeable staff will be able to answer your questions regarding the appointment and make sure that everyone is prepared for the initial consultation.
While some attorneys have free initial consultations, there are some areas of law that require a small fee for an initial consultation. You will be informed of any and all fees associated when you call to make an appointment.
Our attorneys offer highly sought-after professional services for which there is an associated fee. These fees will be discussed in your initial consultation.
Billing and payments are determined by individual attorneys who will discuss these issues with clients at their initial appointments.
Our attorneys and staff are professionals experienced in providing legal services with efficiency and the utmost of client confidentiality. Trust, dedication, and professionalism are essential to the success of any business relationship. We believe these characteristics are the essence of integrity, and we strive to nurture these values within our firm. Since our inception, the attorneys at Barna, Guzy & Steffen have been committed to providing comprehensive legal services within the framework of professional excellence.
Listen to your Miranda Rights.
Request to speak with an attorney in private. Your Miranda warning will be read to you by the arresting officer. It is very important that you pay attention to every word of these rights.
If you are placed under arrest, the officer has most likely completed an investigation leading to the belief that there was probable cause that you committed a crime. At this point, the officer has made their decision. Do not think that you could say or do anything to change the officer’s mind.
Do not resist arrest. Resisting arrest could subject you to further criminal charges if you go too far. Additionally, your attitude toward the arresting officer, if negative or volatile, will be presented as supporting a guilty verdict. In general, juries do not react favorably to a person who fights with police and will most likely see this is as evidence of guilt.
If convicted, the prosecution could use any negative conduct to support a harsher sentence. In short, displaying aggressive behavior toward police will only cause trouble. Even if you are scared, angry, or are experiencing high anxiety, you must maintain composure and politely request to speak to an attorney in private.
The law firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen offers dedicated attorneys who effectively and efficiently handle your legal needs with the highest level of professionalism.