A divorce will likely have a profound impact on your finances, career and personal relationships. If you have children with your spouse, it will have a significant impact on their lives as well. Having a clear understanding of Minnesota divorce law may allow you to set realistic expectations of what a final settlement in your case might look like.
It generally doesn’t matter why the marriage is ending
All 50 states have some version of a no-fault divorce. This means that the fact that your spouse cheated on you will likely have no direct impact on the division of assets in a final settlement. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that your partner’s previous indiscretions will have any influence over the terms of a child custody agreement.
You can seek a divorce unilaterally
There is no need to seek your spouse’s approval prior to filing for divorce. If he or she doesn’t participate in the marriage dissolution process, a judge will have final say over how assets should be divided. A judge may also order your spouse to make child support payments or provide other types of assistance after the marriage officially ends.
It may be best to have an attorney represent your interests
It’s typically a good idea to hire a divorce attorney even if you believe that your split is an amicable one. Legal counsel can help you obtain custody of your children and take care of other potential issues that you may not have thought about. While it may be expensive to hire an attorney, having counsel by your side may allow you to obtain a better outcome in your case in less time.
