This is a common question for people going through a divorce, however, there is no easy answer.  Spousal maintenance (also known as alimony) is the award of payments from one spouse for the support of the other.  Unlike child support, there are no statutory guidelines.
When initially determining spousal maintenance, the courts will look at [...]

The term “estate planning” has a tendency to send many people in a panic -too complex, full of legal lingo and complicated tax concepts.  In his article Estate Planning Without Anxiety Peter Keating with SmartMoney Magazine does a good job of explaining the basic concepts.  There are four simple steps you should be aware of [...]

One of the most difficult things in any paternity or divorce case is figuring out the schedule for your children – this comes into play when talking about both physical custody and parenting time.
 
In Minnesota, physical custody is the routine, daily care of the children.  Parties can have joint physical custody, or one party can [...]

There are two big misconceptions when it comes to estate planning: (1) Only the rich need to worry about estate planning; and (2) Only people with kids need to worry about estate planning.  When it comes to estate planning, young adults with minimal assets and no children are all too often overlooked.  Unfortunately, failure to [...]

Divorce is not only a time for change, but it is often a time for a reality check.  For many people, life just cannot continue the way it has been.  Many couples are living well-beyond their financial means – subsidizing their lifestyles with credit cards and having a difficult time maintaining one household.  It becomes [...]

Ask the Advisor’s article 15 Crucial Money Moves for Seniors is not only good advice for those entering the “golden years,” but in today’s economy it is good advice for all.  Okay, so maybe we can’t all apply for Social Security, join the AARP, or take advantage of senior discounts, but we all can:

Get Healthy [...]

As social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace gain in popularity, attorneys are dealing with issues regarding the use, or misuse, of these sites.  Employers are using these sites to check up on employees, litigants are using these sites to uncover dirt on opposing sides and witnesses, and in family law cases, parties [...]

Following closely on Iowa’s tail, Vermont has become the fourth state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage, with a legislative override of the Governor’s veto.  Same-sex marriages are now legally recognized in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, and Vermont.

In a ground breaking decision last Friday, Iowa became the third state to allow same-sex marriages.  In Varnum v. Brien the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a statute limiting civil marriage to one woman and one man violated the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution.  Because the decision was based on the state [...]

Many times I will hear a party say “we’ll just let the judge decide that.”  Very few people realize just how long they will be waiting for the judge to decide.
The courts want parties to be able to work out their disagreements and resolve everything.  Before the judge will hear your case, you are expected [...]