Orono Divorce Lawyer

Minnesota is not a "community property" state. In community property states, all marital property will typically be divided directly in half. Minnesota uses a comparatively complex method involving the court to decide what is fair for both parties if married couples cannot decide how to split their marital property. Marital property tends to include property acquired during the marriage, which often involves real estate and investment accounts. Consequently, the division of this property can get messy, stressful, and overwhelming. Fortunately, with M. Sue Wilson on your side, the legal battle won’t have to be handled alone. Instead, our lawyers can help facilitate the fairest outcome for the division of marital property.

A prenuptial agreement or a “prenup” refers to a written contract between two individuals before they are married. A prenup usually lists all the property each person owns, including their debts, and then specifies what each person's property rights will be if the marriage is dissolved. Today, prenups are being used by couples of all social standings to protect their assets. However, prenuptial agreements are not always enforceable. For these reasons, if divorce is being considered and a prenup exists, reach out to M. Sue Wilson to determine its validity. Or, if a party is thinking about creating a prenup, we can also create one before marriage.

Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony or spousal support, is a concept that was created many years ago when a traditional marriage consisted of one spouse working full-time while the other spouse stayed at home. The idea of this spousal maintenance was to ensure that the underemployed or unemployed spouse did not need to seek financial help from state resources after a divorce. Although today both spouses tend to work outside the home, the law still allows the lower earning spouse to request financial support. Courts will generally consider the following facts to determine the amount of spousal maintenance:

• The length of the marriage;
• Standard of living during the marriage;
• The physical and emotional condition of each spouse;
• Career advancement sacrifices;
• Each spouse's contribution to the marital estate; and
• The financial resources of each spouse.

If a divorce will drastically impact your finances, reach out to M. Sue Wilson Law Offices, and let us pursue the spousal maintenance needed.

One of the most challenging aspects of divorce are the issues dealing with child custody. Usually, the court will look into numerous factors before coming to a decision on this complex situation, which centers around the best interests of the child. Considerations include, the mental and physical health of all those involved, the child’s physical and emotional needs, educational needs, and other critical elements that will allow the judge to make an informed custody and parenting time decision. Thankfully, our legal team will do everything we can to protect our clients’ wishes, as well as fight for the best interests of every child.

Child visitation, also called parenting time, usually refers to parenting time given to the non-custodial parent when the other parent has sole custody of the child. Parenting time involves a schedule, which sets specific dates, times, and locations where the non-custodial parent can see the child. This schedule can be agreed upon by the parties or set by the Court.

Child support refers to court-ordered payments for the financial support of the child. Under the laws of the state, a child has the right to be financially supported by both parents, and this support is divided into three unique categories — basic support, medical support, and child care support, including:

• Housing
• Food
• Clothing
• Transportation
• Education
• Medical insurance

The process of moving out or having your spouse move out can be complicated and emotional. However, when couples are separating, we believe that it is beneficial for the spouses to live separately, especially when minor children are involved. M. Sue Wilson is committed to making separate living situations fair for both parties early on in the divorce process.

At M. Sue Wilson Law Offices, we know that finances may take a hit when going through a divorce. That is why we always make sure to be transparent about our prices. We will typically charge an hourly fee for our divorce services. However, when we can, we will also offer the support of our experienced and skilled paralegals, who can help with some of the divorce services at a lower paralegal hourly rate.