Family Law FAQ
Family law issues such as divorce and custody can touch every area of your life, from your relationship with your children and extended family to your personal and business finances. With so much at stake in family law matters, you need accurate information to make crucial decisions for yourself and your children.
At Kelm & Reuter, P.A., our goal is to help our clients in the St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids and Central Minnesota understand that a better future is available for them. We are proud to help our friends and neighbors through difficult times, and providing the answers to common family law questions is a good place to start.
How long will my divorce take? This is one of the most commonly asked divorce questions. Like snowflakes, no two divorces are exactly the same. There are many factors that affect the timeline of a divorce. In general, a contested divorce will take longer to finalize than an uncontested divorce.
How much will my divorce cost? Much like the timeline of a divorce, the cost of a divorce is influenced by many factors. In general, a divorce that is litigated in the courts will cost more to finalize than a divorce between two amicable parties who agree on the major issues.
Can I get full custody of my kids? The parenting experience and skills of each parent are assessed when determining custody. Until an analysis of those skills, and a parent’s ability to cooperate with others is done, it is premature to predict legal or physical custody.
How much child support will I pay? Or, how much child support will I receive? Child support is based on the incomes of both parents as well as the needs of the child and is also influenced by the custody/parenting time arrangement. In some cases, neither parent will pay child support.
My spouse cheated. Will they bear the financial burden of our divorce? No. Minnesota is a no-fault divorce state. That means there does not have to be specific grounds for divorce; a no-fault divorce is the result of “irreconcilable differences,” a phrase you have likely heard before in coverage of celebrity divorces.
Will I have to go to court? There is no requirement that divorce or disagreements over custody and support will need to be litigated in court by attorneys. In situations where both parties agree, they can pursue an uncontested divorce. Once their agreement is on paper, there will be the final step of getting a judge to review and approve it.
Still have questions? Turn to the lawyers of Kelm & Reuter, P.A., for the answers you need. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.