In case you haven’t heard, the court system (like everything else) is broke.   Starting July 1, 2009, Minnesota court filing fees will be increases.  The new family court filing fees for most of the state (Hennepin County tends to run higher by $2) will be:

$400 Divorce Filing Fee (previously $330) – In most cases each [...]

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 [...]

A growing trend in the legal community is the concept of unbundled (or limited) legal services.  With unbundled legal services, clients hire an attorney for a specific, or limited, purpose, as opposed to hiring an attorney for full-representation on all matters of the case.  The client otherwise is representing him/herself and proceeding pro se.  As [...]

Many people wonder why they should hire an attorney, especially when there are various forms, books, websites, and software available designed to help you create your own estate plan, file your own divorce, or start your own business.  Attorneys provide more than the necessary forms.  The right attorney can provide you with peace of mind, [...]

Just like all of you non-lawyers hear the horror stories of over-priced attorneys and expensive litigation (i.e. “I know someone who spent $50,000 on his divorce.  All that for nothing!”), lawyers get to hear all of the horror stories of clients who think they can do it without a lawyer, and then suffer the consequences.  [...]

One of the most important things to understand when working with a lawyer (and one of the major deterrents in hiring a lawyer) is legal fees. Before hiring a lawyer it is important to understand the fee structure that is used, how much money is required upfront (also known as the retainer), what is covered [...]

No, no, no, no. Lawyers have ethical rules they must follow, including several rules on avoiding conflicts of interest. Even in the most uncontested divorce, there may be inherent conflicts. For example, how much spousal maintenance is paid or how to treat the children for tax exemptions will benefit one party over the other. Spouses [...]

If you don’t have a lawyer, you are pro se (“for oneself”). Being pro se means you are your own lawyer. You are expected to follow all court rules and procedures. You must be informed and prepared. Being uninformed and unprepared may cause you irreparable harm. Check out your court rules and look for help [...]