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Minneapolis Divorce Lawyers

Hands-On Support Throughout The Divorce Process

When two people get married, they never expect a divorce to happen in their future. When a marriage does end, it is normal to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, angry or just plain sad.

At Burns & Hansen, P.A., we have helped a wide range of clients in Minneapolis and across the Twin Cities area overcome their most difficult divorce challenges. Family law is a major area of practice at our firm, and our Minneapolis divorce attorneys dedicate their full time and attention to every case they take. With so much on the line, we will work to understand your goals and build an effective strategy to secure an outcome you can be happy with.

Uncontested Divorce · Contested Divorce · Legal Separation

In Minnesota, divorced spouses cite financial troubles as one of the major causes for the failure of their marriages. At Burns & Hansen, P.A., we have found, too, that disputes over finances can destroy a relationship:

  • One group of spouses alleges that they make all the money, and the other group cannot get a handle on their spending.
  • The partners cannot decide together on major purchases for the family.
  • One spouse refuses to keep records, cannot balance the checkbook and runs up “over-limit” charges on the credit card. It drives their partners, and their divorce attorneys, crazy.

If one of these scenarios, or something like it, matches up with your experience, and you have decided to file for divorce, contact a Minneapolis divorce attorney at our office. We will discuss your situation in relation to Minnesota property division and alimony law. We will guide you through the process and negotiate a reasonable divorce settlement. While most cases settle out of court, if your spouse will not be reasonable, our attorney is a skilled trial lawyer and will take your case to court.

We have extensive experience handling complex divorce situations such as those involving hidden assets and divorce for individuals with high net worth.

How Long Does A Divorce Take In Minnesota?

Nobody getting married expects to ultimately divorce. If you are facing the end of your relationship, you likely want the process to end as quickly as possible so you can move on to the next chapter of your life. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s not that easy.

At the Minneapolis law offices of Burns & Hansen, P.A., we have helped people in the Twin Cities region and across Minnesota through a wide range of divorce challenges. A simple, uncontested divorce could take as little as four to six weeks. Some high net worth and complex divorces can take years to resolve. Every divorce is different, and many factors determine how long the process takes. Our attorneys can help your case progress as efficiently as possible while protecting your rights and fighting for your best interests.

How You Can Make the Process Faster

The shortest divorces in Minnesota last about four weeks. To keep the process that short, you and the other party must agree on the terms and cooperate to reach a mutual agreement. These uncontested divorces simply need a judge to sign off on the agreement and enter the judgment.

Contested divorces usually take much longer. When you and the other party disagree on any of the terms of your divorce, negotiations can take months. Heavily litigated divorces can even take years to resolve.

To speed up your divorce, communicate with the other party and be prepared to make compromises. The sooner you come to an agreement, the sooner you can resolve your divorce and move on. If the other party refuses to cooperate or make any concessions, your choice of attorney can make all the difference in how quickly your case resolves.

Common Questions About Divorce In Minnesota

What are grounds for divorce in Minnesota?

Like most states, Minnesota is a “no-fault divorce” state. That means you don’t have to prove fault on the part of your spouse in order to get a divorce. If your marriage is irrevocably broken, that is the only grounds you need to get a divorce.

How is marital property divided in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, marital property is divided on the basis of “equitable distribution.” Note: “equitable” does not always mean “equal,” although in many cases an equitable division of assets and debts does lead to an equal division between the spouses. Please see our overview of marital property division to learn more.

How do I plan for my divorce?

A very common question among new divorce clients is how do I plan for my divorce? Many clients want to know what they can do right now in preparation for a Minnesota divorce filing. The general answer is to know what you have right now. This is a very loaded answer but it is important to understand this means evaluating your current assets and liabilities as well as record keeping of your children’s needs. And the best way to show your understanding of this is through documents and records. It is almost as if you have to assume no one is going to take your word and you have to prove everything with a statement so that it can’t be disputed.

This may seem overwhelming, so it is important to discuss your potential divorce with one of our divorce and family law lawyers. Our attorneys in Minneapolis are compassionate to the needs of divorce clients across the Twin Cities area and are here for you every step of the way.

Divorce Planning Tips

Here are some general divorce planning tips. Remember, this is not legal advice but general information. If you are seeking legal advice for your divorce, you should reach out to Burns & Hansen, P.A., to discuss your specific situation.

  • Starting organizing your financial documents: This can include anything from tax returns, mortgage statements, credit card statements, investment accounts, retirement assets, savings accounts, banking and checking records and any debts you may owe.
  • Gather and collect information about your child: You must also show information about your children for calculating child support, custody and parenting time arrangements. Items like medical records, school records, medications your child takes and other information pertaining to your child.
  • Recalling and retaining records pertaining to your spouse: You also want to show records related to your spouse for purposes of spousal maintenance, business valuations and property division. This can include any police records (if there was any history of domestic abuse), business records, emails and any other relevant correspondence.

Contact Burns & Hansen, P.A.

Call 952-219-7897 or contact our office online to discuss family law issues, including divorce, legal separation, support, alimony, property division and other financial matters.

We also assist with prenuptial agreements and other aspects of family estate planning.