Written by: Ben Olson A Recognition of Parentage is a free form, usually provided by hospital staff when a child is born to unmarried parents. The decision whether to sign a Recognition of Parentage is an important one. Here are five things you should know about the effect of signing a Recognition of Parentage: […]
Q&A Blog #74: Rights of Unmarried Parents
Written by: Ben Olson Question: What rights do unmarried parents have in Minnesota? Answer: The rights of unmarried mothers and fathers are different depending on the specific circumstances of each case. Read the discussion below to learn more. Discussion: In Minnesota, unmarried mothers are automatically given sole legal and sole physical custody of their children. […]
Q&A Blog #73: When Child Support Ends
Written by: Ben Olson Question: Does child support automatically stop when my child turns eighteen? Answer: Unfortunately, there is no “one size fits all” answer to this question. In most cases, child support automatically ends when the youngest child in the family has (1) turned eighteen, and (2) graduated from high school. Read the discussion […]
Q&A Blog #72: College Students and Child Support
Written by: Ben Olson Question: I am a college student with little or no income. Can I be ordered to pay child support? Answer: The short answer is, “Yes.” But the outcome of your case will depend heavily on your specific situation. Read the discussion below to learn more. Discussion: In Minnesota, Courts assume that […]
Q&A Blog #71: Child Support and Overtime Income
Written by: Ben Olson Question: Can child support be based on overtime income? Answer: Minnesota law allows the Court to consider overtime income when calculating child support, but only in limited circumstances. Read the discussion below to learn more. Discussion: In Minnesota, child support is based on both parents’ gross income. Gross income is what […]
Blog #68: Affairs and Dissipation Claims
Q: I just found out my spouse is having an affair. I also found out that my spouse has used our money to support the affair in the form of gifts, dates, and so on. My spouse says he wants a divorce. What can be done about the money that has been spent on the […]
Q&A Blog #66: I have a special needs child who requires extra care. Is there a way I can get more child support because of his special needs?
Q: I have a special needs child who requires extra care. Is there a way I can get more child support because of his special needs? A: Minnesota law allows for upward deviations of child support in a few circumstances. One factor the Court considers is the extraordinary financial needs and resources, physical and emotional […]
Q&A Blog #54 – What questions will the court ask in determining whether my mental health impacts my parenting?
By: Letty M-S Van Ert Q: What questions will the court ask in determining whether my mental health impacts my parenting? A: The court will want to know whether the parent’s mental health issue is situational or permanent, and therefore a prognosis is helpful. It will also want to know whether the parent has […]
Q&A Blog #53 – Is a Mental Illness Diagnosis Critical for the Court in Determining Custody of Children?
Q: Is a mental illness diagnoses critical for the Court in determining custody of children?
A: It depends. A diagnosis of a mental illness or personality disorder can alert the Court of potential issues, but a
