Navigating Divorce in Minnesota: Your Rights and Responsibilities

Divorce is a difficult process, filled with emotional and logistical hurdles. Here in Minnesota, we understand the challenges you face and the importance of navigating this transition with clarity and respect. This blog post aims to shed light on your rights and responsibilities during a Minnesota divorce.
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Knowing the Ground Rules: No-Fault vs. Fault-Based Divorce
Minnesota is a no-fault divorce state. This means you don't need to prove your spouse's wrongdoing (adultery, cruelty, etc.) to obtain a divorce. You simply need to show the court that the marriage is irretrievably broken and that you've lived in Minnesota for at least 180 days before filing. While the reasons for the divorce aren't considered, they can be relevant in issues like spousal maintenance (temporary financial support) or property division.

Division of Assets and Debts: Finding Fair Solutions
In Minnesota, most property and debts acquired during the marriage are considered marital property. This includes things like houses, cars, retirement accounts, and even furniture. The general rule is a fair and equitable division, which usually means a 50/50 split of all the assets and debts. Assets acquired before the marriage, inheritances, and gifts might be considered separate ("non-marital") property, but there can be exceptions.

Child Custody and Support: Prioritizing Your Children's Well-Being
If you have children, determining child custody and support are crucial aspects of your divorce. Minnesota law prioritizes the "best interests of the child" in all custody decisions. This can involve joint legal custody (both parents share decision-making) or, in rare circumstances, sole legal custody (one parent makes major decisions). Physical custody means the day-to-day care of the children.  If there is a set schedule, which is true for most people, it's often called Joint Physical Custody, even if it isn't a truly equal amount of time.  It just means that the parenting time is structured/scheduled between the parents.

Child support is calculated using a statutory formula that considers both parents' incomes and the number of children. While deviations are possible based on specific circumstances, the guidelines provide a framework for fair support.

Spousal Maintenance: Temporary Support During Transition
Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony, is financial support from one spouse to the other. It's typically awarded for a limited time to help the lower-earning spouse adjust financially after the divorce. For longer term marriages, it can be "indefinite" which means that is could last for a longer period of time (often until retirement).  The court considers factors like the length of the marriage, the disparity in income, and each spouse's earning capacity when determining the amount and duration of spousal maintenance.
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Reaching Agreements Through Mediation
While litigation (going to court to have a judge decide) is an option, it can be expensive, delayed and emotionally draining. Many couples choose mediation, a cooperative process where a neutral third party facilitates communication and helps you reach agreements on property division, child custody, and other issues. This can be a more cost-effective and amicable way to resolve your divorce.

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