Willmar Family Law and Divorce Lawyers Provide Experienced Legal Representation
Helping clients in central Minnesota navigate divorce for more than 120 years
No area of the law is as contentious as divorce. At Anderson Larson, we explain the divorce process to you each and every step of the way. By listening carefully to your situation, we learn the details of your case, allowing us to craft the best strategy for a successful outcome. We offer personal attention and remain ever mindful that legal costs can be difficult to manage. If you are contemplating divorce, we can get you started on the path to a stable future.
Counsel you can rely on when the going gets tough
Under Minnesota law, a divorce is called dissolution of marriage. Simply stated, getting divorced is the dissolution of the marital contract, but the details of actually getting a divorce vary greatly from one case to the next. Anderson Larson handles all types of divorce cases and other family law matters, including:
- Legal separations — When you and your spouse need to separate, but are not ready to get divorced for moral, religious or other reasons, we guide you through getting a legal separation.
- Adoption — An adoption can make your family whole, but the process can be intimidating. We take care of the details so you can focus on being a family.
- Paternity — Whether you need to seek child support or defend against a child support claim, establishing paternity is often the first order of business. We assist clients in establishing legal paternity in a variety of scenarios.
- Name changes — Changing your name does not have to be a legal headache. Anderson Larson handles the paperwork and legwork for you.
Regardless of the type of legal assistance your family needs, our law firm can guide you through family law conflicts, from the initial filing through child custody and visitation proceedings, paternity challenges, domestic abuse issues and more.
What is required to get divorced in Minnesota?
Minnesota’s residency requirement means that at least one of the spouses must have resided in Minnesota for a minimum of 180 days. The court cost to file for divorce varies from district to district, but it is approximately $400. Getting divorced is certainly more difficult than getting married, and depending on the circumstances of your case, the process can take several months before your divorce is final.
What kind of divorce do I need?
Below are the types of dissolution proceedings in Minnesota:
- Summary dissolution — When no minor children or current pregnancy exists, the couple has few assets, and the marriage lasted less than eight years, the parties may be eligible for a summary dissolution, which is quicker than a standard dissolution.
- Dissolution with children — If you have children, you must proceed through the standard dissolution process to ensure all matters related to custody, parenting time and support are properly addressed.
- Dissolution without children — For marriages longer than eight years and with assets, but with no minor children, a dissolution without children is the appropriate method for getting divorced.
The type of divorce that fits your situation depends on whether you have children and whether you and your spouse can come to an agreement on all the terms of your divorce without judicial assistance.
Explaining the divorce process
Minnesota is a no-fault divorce state. This means that the reason for the dissolution doesn’t matter. As long as one of the parties to the marriage believes there is a need for dissolution, the dissolution is granted. Following is an overview of the proceedings in a simple contested divorce:
- A contested divorce begins when one party serves the other with a summons and petition.
- The party who was served has 30 days to respond to the initial petition.
- Within a month of the original filing, an informal meeting, called an initial case management conference, between the two parties and the judge is held. The judge encourages settlement and lays out the plan for the remainder of the case.
- If the parties are unable to work out a settlement through alternative dispute resolution, the case moves to a pretrial conference.
- At the pretrial conference, the judge works to identify any remaining issues and again encourages settlement.
- When an agreement is reached or the trial is held, the judge reviews the case and signs the order for dissolution, officially granting the divorce.
At Anderson Larson, our attorneys take pride in our long history of providing quality legal services tailored to fit each client’s specific needs and goals. We can confidently guide you through this difficult time in your life.
Are there special requirements for getting divorced if there are children involved?
Judges may require divorcing parents and their children to participate in education programs before granting the divorce. The purpose of these programs is to help families fully understand the effects of divorce on children and how to make the transition smoother for them. Other issues particular to dissolutions involving children include custody, parenting time and child support payments.
Call an aggressive Kandiyohi County divorce attorney today
Anderson Larson provides unmatched dedication to giving you quality legal services and value for your money. Our office is across the street from Rice Memorial Hospital, with on-street parking and a nearby public transit stop. Call 320-235-4313 today for a flexible appointment time or contact us online. Anderson Larson is prepared to help you overcome your legal obstacles.
