Some divorces involve layers of financial, business, parenting, or legal issues that require closer analysis. Burns & Hansen handles complex divorce matters involving substantial assets, closely held businesses, disputed property, difficult custody issues, and other circumstances where careful preparation and experienced advocacy are especially important.

Divorce later in life can raise distinct financial questions involving retirement accounts, pensions, real estate, investments, long-held assets, spousal maintenance, and estate planning. Burns & Hansen helps clients understand how ending a long-term marriage may affect their financial position and address the decisions that come with dividing a life built over many years.

Spousal maintenance can be one of the most contested financial issues in a Minnesota divorce. Burns & Hansen represents clients seeking or opposing maintenance, evaluating income, earning capacity, the length and standard of living of the marriage, financial resources, and other factors that may affect whether maintenance is awarded and, if so, its amount and duration.

A well-drafted marital agreement can establish financial expectations and clarify how certain issues will be handled if a marriage ends. Burns & Hansen prepares and reviews prenuptial and postnuptial agreements involving property rights, business interests, inheritance, financial obligations, and other considerations important to spouses and families.

Dividing a marital estate becomes more complicated when it includes businesses, investment portfolios, multiple properties, retirement assets, professional interests, or questions about whether property is marital or nonmarital. Burns & Hansen works with clients and, when appropriate, financial professionals to identify, value, trace, and divide complex assets.

The issues depend on the marriage and family but may include division of marital and nonmarital property, spousal maintenance, custody, parenting time, child support, business interests, real estate, retirement assets, and other financial obligations.

Often, yes. Early advice can help you understand your rights, organize financial information, identify issues that may become important, and avoid decisions that could complicate the case later.

There is no single timeline. An uncontested divorce in which spouses have resolved the major issues may move relatively quickly, while cases involving significant financial disputes, custody issues, extensive discovery, or trial can take considerably longer. The complexity of the case and the parties' ability to reach agreements are often major factors.

No. Many divorces are resolved through negotiation or mediation, allowing the spouses to reach agreements rather than having a judge decide every disputed issue. When important disagreements remain and a reasonable settlement cannot be reached, the case may proceed to trial.

Minnesota follows an equitable distribution approach, meaning marital property is divided fairly rather than automatically according to a particular percentage. Determining what is marital property, what may be nonmarital, and how particular assets should be valued can become important issues in the divorce.

Marital property generally includes property acquired during the marriage, while certain property may qualify as nonmarital under Minnesota law. When assets have been owned for many years, transferred between accounts, or combined with marital funds, determining and tracing a nonmarital interest can become more complicated.

A business ownership interest may need to be characterized as marital or nonmarital property, valued, and considered as part of the overall property division. Depending on the circumstances, one spouse may retain the business while the other receives different assets or compensation for their share of the marital interest.

Spousal maintenance is not automatic. Courts consider a number of factors related to the financial circumstances of both spouses, including income and resources, reasonable needs, earning capacity, the standard of living during the marriage, and the length of the marriage. The facts of each case determine whether maintenance is appropriate and what form it may take.

Potentially. A family law appeal generally requires a legal or procedural basis rather than disagreement with the result alone. Burns & Hansen handles family law appeals and can evaluate whether a decision involving property division, maintenance, custody, or another significant issue presents grounds for appellate review.