Brown Law Offices was opened in 1998 and has served many cities in Wright county including Otsego. Our divorce lawyers have successfully represented thousands of clients in the metro area. Our offices are conveniently located just eighteen minutes from Otsego.
We help clients from all walks of life with the following:
- Contested and Uncontested Divorce;
- Child Custody;
- Child Support;
- Property Valuation and Division;
- Spousal Maintenance;
- Post-Decree Motions;
- Paternity;
- Domestic Abuse;
- Grandparent Rights;
- Termination of Parental Rights;
- Harassment;
- Child Protective Services; and
- Prenuptial Agreements.
Helpful Resources
The legal process can be very intimidating. However, there are a number of resources for those in Otsego that can help the process:
Resources for People who live in Otsego
https://www.ci.otsego.mn.us/additionalresources
Mental Health Resources in Otsego
Community Resources in Otsego
A “no-fault” divorce state, like Minnesota, means the reason behind the divorce is not analyzed by the court. The judge in your case will usually ignore the question of what lead to the breakdown in your marriage. Consult with an attorney about the few exceptions such as breakdown due to purposeful financial strain and the endangerment of the joint children.
Each divorce is unique and has many different moving parts. However, there are four core problems in each divorce: (1) custody and parenting time; (2) child support; (3) property division; and (4) spousal maintenance. Our family law attorneys work with top local experts and have substantial experience to resolve each issue. Our legal team works hard to achieve our clients the best possible outcome to their cases.
Custody and Parenting Time
Custody and parenting time are two of the largest issues in any divorce or paternity case. They can be difficult to navigate. In Minnesota, courts analyze twelve different factors to determine the best interest of the child for custody and parenting time. The “best interest of the child” statute includes:
- The ability of each parent to meet the children’s needs;
- Any special needs a child faces;
- A child’s preference, if they are of suitable age and maturity;
- Whether there is a history of domestic abuse in your relationship;
- Any physical, mental or chemical health issues of the parents or children;
- The role each parent played in raising a child;
- The stability of the home environment offered by each parent;
- The ability of each parent to get along with one another;
- The willingness of each parent to facilitate a relationship between a child and the other parent;
- The ability of the parties to communicate with each other;
- The benefit or detriment of maximizing or minimizing parenting time; and
- The ability of each parent to meet the needs of a child.
Child Support
When determining the support needed for a child, courts look at three different types of support: (1) basic child support; (2) medical support; and (3) childcare support. Basic support involves a monthly cash payment to the custodial parent. Medical support involves a division of insurance premiums and uninsured expenses for the child. Lastly, childcare support is an amount that relates directly to daycare, after-school care, and other childcare. Otsego divorce lawyers can run calculations regarding all three types of support to determine your situation.
Property Division
Minnesota is an equitable property division state, which means the Court, is likely to divide your marital estate equally. Consequently, if you own a home, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts or other valuable personal property, questions will arise concerning the value of each item and the appropriate way to physically divide things. However, there is an exception in the law for “non-marital” property. Non-marital property is generally not subject to division and involves equity or valuables brought into the marriage, inherited during the marriage or gifted during the marriage.
Spousal Maintenance
Alimony or spousal maintenance is a payment one party gives to the other following a divorce. Unlike child support, there are not specific calculations for spousal maintenance. A court will use a number of factors to determine the award amount and duration, including: (1) the income of each spouse; (2) the future expenses of each party; (3) the length of the marriage; (4) the role a spouse may have played as a stay-at-home parent; (5) career sacrifices made by either spouse for the sake of the other; (6) each party’s age, health, education background; and (7) the standard of living the parties enjoyed during the marriage. Spousal maintenance awards can be permanent, or temporary depending upon the length of the parties’ marriage. Otsego divorce lawyers can access your situation and provide you with advice as to whether or not you are a candidate for spousal maintenance.
Need More Answers?
Our legal team is here to help you through this stressful time. You do not have to do it by yourself. Contact our Otsego divorce lawyers today by phone at 763-783-5146 or submit a online contact inquiry through our website to schedule your consultation.