Minnesota custody cases involve both legal custody, which concerns major decisions for a child, and physical custody, which addresses routine care and residence. Burns & Hansen helps parents establish custody and parenting time arrangements that reflect their children's needs, each parent's role, and the practical realities of family life.

Child support is determined under Minnesota guidelines, but the result can still depend on income, parenting time, medical expenses, childcare costs, and other financial circumstances. Burns & Hansen advises parents on establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support while considering how support fits within the broader custody arrangement.

Establishing paternity can determine important rights and responsibilities involving custody, parenting time, and child support. Burns & Hansen represents mothers and fathers in paternity matters, helping clients establish legal parentage and address the family law issues that follow.

International custody disputes can require immediate action and an understanding of state, federal, and international law. Burns & Hansen represents parents in matters involving wrongful removal or retention of children, enforcement of custody orders, and claims under the Hague Convention and other available legal remedies.

Some custody matters cannot wait for the ordinary court process. When a child's safety, threatened removal, domestic abuse, or another urgent concern requires immediate action, Burns & Hansen helps clients assess available emergency remedies and move quickly when court intervention is necessary.

A custody or parenting time arrangement that once worked may no longer fit a family's circumstances. Burns & Hansen helps parents seek or oppose modifications when changes involving a child's needs, a parent's circumstances, relocation, or other developments justify revisiting an existing order.

Relocation can significantly affect parenting time and a child's relationship with both parents. Burns & Hansen represents parents seeking to move with a child as well as parents challenging a proposed relocation, addressing the custody, scheduling, travel, and logistical questions a proposed move can create.

We represent parents in matters involving legal and physical custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, modifications, relocation, emergency custody disputes, enforcement of existing orders, and international child custody matters.

Legal custody generally involves major decisions about a child's education, health care, and religious upbringing. Physical custody concerns the child's routine care and where the child lives. Either form of custody may be shared or awarded primarily to one parent, depending on the circumstances.

Minnesota courts apply the best-interests-of-the-child factors established by state law. Those factors consider the child's needs, each parent's relationship with the child, the ability of the parents to cooperate, safety concerns, and other circumstances that affect the child's well-being.

Parenting time refers to the schedule that determines when a child spends time with each parent. It is separate from legal and physical custody and may be structured in many different ways depending on the child's needs and the family's circumstances.

Yes, but the legal standard depends on what is being modified and why. Courts generally require a sufficient change in circumstances before altering an existing arrangement, particularly when a parent seeks to change custody itself.

A proposed relocation can require the other parent's agreement or court approval, depending on the circumstances. Courts consider the child's best interests and the effect the move would have on the child's relationship with both parents.

Emergency court relief may be available in situations involving immediate safety concerns, abuse, threatened abduction, or other urgent circumstances. These cases can move quickly, so speaking with a family law attorney promptly is important.

Yes. We handle international child custody matters involving wrongful removal or retention, enforcement of Minnesota custody orders, Hague Convention proceedings, and related state and federal court remedies.

Potentially. A custody appeal generally focuses on whether the trial court made a significant legal or procedural error rather than providing another opportunity to present the case from the beginning. Burns & Hansen handles family law appeals and can evaluate whether a custody decision presents grounds for appellate review.