Family Law

Adoption in Minnesota

A plain-language guide to adoption in Minnesota, including stepparent, relative, agency, and direct placement adoption types, consent rules, and the legal process.

Addressed the standard for granting orders for protection under the Minnesota Domestic Abuse Act, holding that a petitioner must show a present threat of harm, not merely historical incidents of abuse.

Child Custody in Minnesota

A plain-language guide to child custody in Minnesota. Learn about legal and physical custody, how courts decide, and how to file for custody.

Child Support in Minnesota

A plain-language guide to child support in Minnesota. Learn how support is calculated, how to file, and how to modify or enforce a child support order.

Getting Divorced in Minnesota

A plain-language guide to the divorce process in Minnesota. Learn the steps, costs, timelines, and where to get help with your divorce.

Know Your Rights: Adoption in Minnesota

Quick, printable summary of adoption rights and rules in Minnesota.

Know Your Rights: Child Custody in Minnesota

A quick, printable summary of your rights in a Minnesota child custody case, including the best interests standard, parenting time, and where to get help.

Know Your Rights: Child Support in Minnesota

A quick, printable summary of your rights regarding child support in Minnesota, including how support is calculated, enforcement, and where to get help.

Know Your Rights: Divorce in Minnesota

A quick, printable summary of your legal rights in a Minnesota divorce, including property division, custody, maintenance, and where to get help.

LaChapelle v. Mitten

Held that third-party parental rights in nontraditional families must be evaluated under the existing custody framework, and that a biological parent is entitled to custody unless unfit or extraordinary circumstances exist.

McKee-Johnson v. Johnson

Held that antenuptial (prenuptial) agreements allocating marital property are valid under Minnesota common law but must satisfy both procedural and substantive fairness, with the proponent bearing the burden of proof.

Moylan v. Moylan

Established the framework for child support modification in Minnesota, requiring a two-step analysis: first, whether a substantial change in circumstances exists, and second, what modification is warranted.

Nardini v. Nardini

Established that the increase in value of nonmarital property attributable to spousal efforts during the marriage is marital property subject to equitable division, while increases from market forces remain nonmarital.

Orders for Protection (OFP) in Minnesota

How to get an Order for Protection in Minnesota. A plain-language guide to the OFP process, requirements, and what to expect.

Pikula v. Pikula

Established the 'primary caretaker' preference in child custody disputes, holding that the parent who served as the child's primary caretaker should generally be awarded custody.

Szarzynski v. Szarzynski

Affirmed conduct-based attorney fees under Minn. Stat. 518.14 but reversed a 'nuisance litigant' designation that did not follow the General Rules of Practice.

Zander v. Zander

Held that a court awarding joint custody over one parent's objection must make detailed findings on each statutory factor, and that tribal per capita payments received during the marriage are marital property subject to division.