Minneapolis Business & Real Estate Law Blog

Long-distance parenting is difficult but not impossible

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. on Monday, May 14, 2018.

Not being able to see your children on a regular basis is a hard situation for a parent to be placed in. For those who don't live near their children, this is a harsh reality. As difficult as this type of situation is, there are some things that you can do to ease the strain.

It is important for you to have your child custody plan address the issues that come with being a father who lives away from your child. These can include everything from how in-person visits will be planned and how communication between visits should occur. This gives you a place to turn if there are ever questions about what should happen.

Plan for addressing negative comments about you by your ex

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. posted in blog on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.

Having to deal with your ex on child custody matters usually isn't an easy feat. The issue is made even more complex when your ex decides that he is going to speak ill of you to your children and others. When this happens, you will have to decide how you will handle the matter.

One thing is for certain — it is better to keep your emotions out of the situation when you respond to the other parent badmouthing you. By keeping your emotions out of the mix, you can focus on how your replies will impact you and your children. Consider putting these points into your plan:

Hoping to keep the house in your Minnesota divorce?

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. posted in blog on Monday, April 9, 2018.

When couples divorce, there are many issues that they have to address. If there are minor children, they need to reach agreeable terms for child support, custody and visitation. In some families, those arrangements may be the primary source of divorce conflict.

Another common source of disagreements is the process of asset division. Both of you likely have your own strong feelings about what would be a fair way to divide your assets. If you can't agree, the Minnesota family courts will make these decisions on your behalf.

Shared parenting will require you to put forth an effort

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. posted in blog on Tuesday, March 13, 2018.

Shared parenting puts your children first, but it might prove to be challenging for both parents. This can make it difficult for the adults. There are ways to make the situation a little easier for everyone involved.

You and your children can benefit from a less stressful situation. You won't have to dread dealing with custody matters and your children might not cringe when they know you will have to deal with your ex. Consider these ways of making the whole situation more cordial.

Fighting for joint custody during a high-asset divorce

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. posted in blog on Monday, March 12, 2018.

Going through a divorce can be especially difficult when the stakes are high. But everyone's most important asset is their children, and after working to divide the material things, many high-asset couples worry about how much they will have to fight in order to maintain custody of their kids.

In the state of Minnesota, the Uniform Child Custody Act (UCCA) has been adopted. This means that many changes in the laws between states are mitigated, so issues such as interstate custody cases and relocation disputes tend to cause less conflict.

What's the best way to talk with children about divorce?

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. posted in blog on Friday, February 9, 2018.

At some point in every divorcing parent's process of separation, the divorce talk becomes inevitable. You have to tell your children what is going to happen -- that mom and dad won't be living in the same house anymore. Fortunately, many children are versatile enough to handle this kind of unsettling and disappointing news. In fact, family psychologists say that within two years, children typically have completely healed and overcome any initial setbacks that the reality of divorce creates for them.

That said, you may be struggling with regard to how you will bring this news to your children. Here are two strategies that you can use when talking about divorce with your kids:

Medical decisions can be a challenge in child custody cases

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. posted in blog on Wednesday, January 31, 2018.

Child custody cases come with a variety of challenges for the parents. Since you and the child's other parent aren't in a relationship any longer, and it may be a hostile new interpersonal dynamic between you and your ex, you may come to realize that making decisions about the child's life are incredibly difficult.

There are a few areas of the child's life that will likely prove to be more challenging than others. One of these is health care. You know that your child needs good medical care, but there might be aspects that you and your ex just don't agree on. Consider these tips to help you manage your child's health care decisions in these cases.

Divorced parent dilemma: Celebrating a child's special days

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. posted in blog on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

Divorced parents often have to face challenges that other parents don't contend with. One of these is how they are going to celebrate a child's special days. These are events like birthdays, graduations and school plays that are important to your child and that can be amazing memories if they are handled in a positive way.

There are several things that you have to think about when you are making plans for these days. Here are a few to get you started:

3 things to consider about gray divorce

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. posted in blog on Wednesday, January 10, 2018.

Divorce is hard at any age, but it seems to get more difficult after the age of 50. One of the main reasons for this is that starting over when you are close to retirement is often very daunting. With a little bit of planning you can conquer your fears, secure your finances and start over with confidence.

As you get ready to move forward with your gray divorce, there are a few things you should take into consideration. The following are things you should think about as you begin the process.

Mediation is a successful technique for divorcees

On behalf of Patrick Burns of Burns & Hansen, P.A. posted in blog on Monday, December 18, 2017.

You and your spouse decided together that your time as a married couple was over. You knew you didn't want to be together, and you both agreed that it was for the best to seek a divorce. You're both balanced people and want to see each other off in a positive way.

That's wonderful, and despite how the media portrays divorces, many people do have relatively easy divorces with little animosity. If you are looking to resolve your divorce with as little trouble as possible but find yourselves with a few things you can't agree on, mediation may be the right answer for you.