While most Minnesota custody proceedings involve birth parents, third parties occasionally play a role in this process. Generally, Minnesota courts emphasize the best interests of the child, which include maintaining strong relationships with both parents. In select circumstances, traditional parental custody might not be ideal for vulnerable children — particularly if birth parents hold a history of abuse or neglect. In such situations, the custody of a third party such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or another adult may be the best option for maintaining the health and emotional wellbeing of the child in question.

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Continue Reading How Third-Party Custody Works in Minnesota

Grandparents may be valued members of Minnesota families, but many are surprised to discover their rights restricted when the parents of their grandchildren divorce, separate, or pass away. Visitation is by no means guaranteed, but Minnesota grandparents can petition local courts for the right to spend time with their grandchildren. When determining custody and visitation rights, Minnesota courts emphasize children’s best interests. Courts will not award visitation if time spent with grandparents is deemed potentially harmful for children already suffering the fallout of divorce. When visitation is clearly in the child’s best interests, however, such arrangements are well within reach.

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Continue Reading Grandparents Rights in Minnesota: What You Need to Know

A criminal record can make it difficult to find employment and housing in Minnesota. Thankfully, the state provides a process for limiting access to criminal history. Known as expungement, this option involves the sealing of specific court records. As local courts emphasize, expunged records are not destroyed. Police officers and other public officials retain access after records have been expunged. However, expungement remains a valuable option for Minnesota residents in search of a fresh start.

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Continue Reading Criminal Expungement in Minnesota: Need to Know Basics

Parenting time and custody may seem like natural areas of contention, but sometimes, the nastiest divorces spiral out of control due to disagreements regarding property division. This ordeal can be frustrating even when spouses part on amicable terms. In the interest of clarity, we’ve highlighted a few of the specific aspects of property division worth considering as a Minnesota resident in the midst of divorce:

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Continue Reading Property Division in Minnesota: How Personal Property Is Split Up

Divorced and separated couples find parenting time difficult enough to navigate in the best of circumstances, but the holidays add yet another hurdle to overcome. Even those who are typically in agreement regarding scheduling matters may struggle to see eye-to-eye when the holidays arrive. After all, no holiday celebration feels quite complete without the entire family. With a little effort, a reasonably satisfying outcome can be reached to allow both sides to enjoy quality time with their children. Keep reading to learn how:

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Continue Reading Guide to Managing Parenting Time And the Holidays

It’s only natural to feel panicked or anxious after being charged with a crime. In the midst of such stress, it’s important to keep a clear head and move forward in a proactive, but cautious manner. This all begins with getting out of jail. Once you’ve emerged from this stressful environment, you can shift your focus to your criminal case. Read on to learn more about the process of making bail and getting out of jail in Minnesota.

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Continue Reading Charged With a Crime? Options For Getting Out of Jail

If you have a case pending in a Minnesota state court, you may wonder how you can access case information? Do you need to go to the courthouse and make a request in person? The answer is yes and no. While some sensitive case information may only be available through public access terminals located at each Minnesota state courthouse, you can also access a great deal of case information online. In this article, we’ll discuss the types of cases and information available and the cost for accessing case information.

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Continue Reading How Can I Access Minnesota Court Case Information?

Gossip is part and parcel of belong to a social network. Whether online or in person, we love to chat about one another. When difficult personal circumstances are involved, however, seemingly meaningless gossip can quickly escalate, to the point of causing real harm. This is especially true when divorce is involved — particularly when those who spread gossip choose sides. Gossip may not be entirely avoidable, but how you respond can determine the extent of the ensuing damage. Below, we offer helpful tips for dealing with unwanted gossip:

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Continue Reading How to Respond When Friends And Family Members Gossip About Your Divorce

Conflict is inevitable during divorce, but some disputes tend to be more emotionally charged than others. Custody issues, in particular, tend to raise tempers, with otherwise agreeable parents bickering about where their children will spend the majority of their time. These disputes can vary considerably from one family to the next, but a few patterns tend to hold strong:

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Continue Reading Most Common Causes of Custody Disputes — And How to Avoid Them