By: Letty M-S Van Ert Q: At the time of my divorce, I did not think I wanted to change my name. I have changed my mind and now I want to change my name. What can I do? A: If you do not change your name within the divorce process and later wish to […]
Q&A Blog #61: How do I change my name as part of my divorce?
By: Letty M-S Van Ert Q: I am getting divorced and I would like to change my name. How do I go about doing that? A: If there is an ongoing divorce proceeding, the request for a name change needs to be referenced in the Judgment and Decree (the document that dissolves the marriage). The […]
Q&A Blog #60: What is the difference between legal separation and divorce?
By: Letty M-S Van Ert Q: What is the difference between legal separation and divorce? A: A divorce (“dissolution of marriage”) is the termination of the marital relationship between spouses. A decree of dissolution completely terminates the marital status of both parties. A legal separation is a court determination of the rights and responsibilities of spouses […]
Q&A Blog #56: What is an annulment?
By: Letty M-S Van Ert What is an annulment? An annulment is a court process that terminates a marriage. However, unlike a divorce, an annulment treats the marriage as though it never happened. An annulment may be sought for the following reasons: a party lacked capacity to consent to the marriage because of mental incapacity […]
Q&A Blog #49 – Will my baby be negatively impacted by my divorce?
Q: I am the parent of an 18-month old baby. Will he be negatively impacted by my divorce since he is still so young?
A: It depends. For a long time many people believed that very young children are not affected by traumatic events in their lives. However,
Q&A Blog #47 – Do grandparents have a legal right to visitation with their grandchildren?
Q: Do grandparents have a legal right to visitation with their grandchildren?
A: Yes. Grandparents have a right to visitation, so long as they meet their burden of proof. That is, the grandparents must show that visitation
Family Law Q&A Blog #17 – How does social media impact my divorce case?
Q: How can social media, like Facebook, affect my family law case?
A: The short answer is this: social media is everywhere, including the courtroom. Consider the prevalence
Family Law Q&A Blog #15 – Is common-law marriage recognized in Minnesota?
Q: What is a common-law marriage? Does Minnesota consider common-law marriages to be legal?
Family Law Q&A Blog #12 – Can my spouse disinherit me?
Q: I am concerned that my spouse will disinherit me from his will. Is this possible? At what point in the divorce process will I no longer be able to inherit from my spouse?
