How to Work With Your Twin Cities Divorce Lawyer

A divorce is an emotional process. It is not easy to terminate a marriage, no matter how ready you are. You want a Twin Cities divorce attorney with integrity and professionalism who will work to make sure that your, and your children's, best interests are represented during your divorce proceedings.

It is important that you hire the Minnesota divorce attorney you are most comfortable with and who you feel will best represent your interests. Once you hire your family law attorney, she will work with you so that you are comfortable during the process. She will be able to file and serve the legal documents necessary in order to obtain a favorable outcome. Your attorney will also be able to receive documents on your behalf and will explain to you what each step of the process requires.

In Minnesota, it does not matter which party initiated that divorce. Each party is subject to the same obligations and entitled to the same results. If there are no issues in dispute and neither party wishes to contest the divorce, the divorce may be completed in as little as a few weeks. If, however, there are any issues that are disputed, such as child custody or property division or settlement issues, the process will take longer.

A Minnesota collaborative divorce means that you and your attorney would work with the opposing party and attorney outside of the courtroom in order to resolve the issues in your divorce. If you know that your case will work without being contested by either party, this would be an excellent way to work through the issues. When the parties find themselves in a dispute, they would negotiate in order to come to the best terms. By agreeing to refrain for filing motions for the court to decide an issue, the divorce process can become less antagonistic. You and your Minneapolis divorce attorney will work with the opposing party in mediation or other alternative dispute methods in order to work through contested issues so that the solution is a positive outcome for both parties.

It is important to have a positive relationship with your Minnesota divorce attorney, because you will be making decisions that affect your legal and financial rights for the rest of your life. You will need to be honest and forthcoming so that your attorney can guide you according to the law. If you have a child custody issue, you will need to set out your expectations and concerns so that your attorney can present them succinctly and carefully to the court or in mediation or collaboration in order to negotiate an outcome that takes into account the best interests of the children.

If you are initiating the divorce proceedings, your attorney will draft a divorce petition to be served on the other party. If the other party has initiated the divorce, your attorney will receive service on your behalf and respond to the petition. By discussing your needs and your goals, your attorney will know how to best respond to the requests in the petition and be in a position to identify those issues that are in dispute.

You will need to present your attorney with a factual record of your finances. Your Twin Cities divorce attorney will need tax returns, account statements and credit card statements in order to determine property distribution. If there was a prenuptial agreement signed by both parties this would need to be given to your attorney, as well, so that the terms would be adhered to once it was determined to be valid.

Your attorney will bill you hourly for her fee. The longer and more involved the case, the higher the fees. If your divorce is resolved relatively quickly, your fee will be lower.

By working with your attorney, you will be able to feel empowered about the decision you are making during this tumultuous time in your life. Understanding that your attorney is knowledgeable and an expert in her field will enable you to follow her guidance. She will offer you quality service and you can expect exceptional representation from someone who has your best interests at heart.

Twin Cities family law attorney Kimberly Miller offers a free initial 30 minute consultation. She she represent clients throughout the Twin Cities, including Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Dakota, Wright, Sherburne, Scott and Carver counties If you have questions about filing for divorce in Minnesota, call her today at 952-428-7830 to discuss your options.