Blog
November 30, 2017
When it comes to divorce, both Minnesota and North Dakota are equitable distribution states in which marital property is divided between spouses in a manner that a court of law decides is fair. In these types of divorces, it is not uncommon for former spouses to hide assets from one […]
November 22, 2017
Sometimes, property owners lack the ability to reasonably access either a portion of their own land or public land without crossing onto another person’s property. Easements, however, grant property owners these rights by establishing that the individual has an interest in the use but does not own the land over […]
November 17, 2017
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least a third of adults in the United States fail to get an adequate amount of sleep each night. Statistics have also been compiled by the CDC about each state. In North Dakota, the CDC reports that 32% of […]
November 14, 2017
Even though many people believe that estate planning should only be considered by older adults, there are some particular reasons why younger individuals should begin estate planning. Each year, a large number of young adults in North Dakota and Minnesota experience unforeseen events that would greatly benefit from the existence […]
November 10, 2017
In 1991, Congress passed into law the Patient Self-Determination Act, which requires hospitals to respect an individual’s health care decisions. North Dakota and Minnesota are just two of the 49 states that permit an individual’s loved ones to make decisions in the case of incapacity. As a result, it is […]
November 6, 2017
In accordance with a new law in the state of Minnesota, cities with electronic notification systems are required to provide a 10-day notice of most proposed ordinances. After being signed into law by Governor Dayton on May 23, 2017, this measure became effective on August 1, 2017. This law is […]
November 2, 2017
On August 1, 2017, several new laws became effective in the state of Minnesota. Some of these new laws relate to cases involving damage to public safety vehicles. It is important for individuals in Minnesota who have been charged with such an offense to understand some of the essential details […]
October 31, 2017
The Minnesota Supreme Court recently ruled against a disorderly conduct law that applies to the behavior of individuals who disrupt public meetings. The case in question concerned a Little Falls resident who was charged with disorderly conduct after the woman moved her chair closer to the city council at a […]
October 26, 2017
The penalties for individuals who impersonate law enforcement officers are now much tougher in the state of Minnesota due to a new law. Groups responsible for gathering statistics have decided the current number of individuals who impersonate military members to be an epidemic. There are several reasons why individuals choose […]
October 23, 2017
A variety of new laws have become effective in Minnesota in 2017. One of these laws updated Minnesota’s list of Schedule 1 controlled substances by adding nine synthetic drugs to the list. The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy has determined that each of these drugs has the potential to be abused […]
October 19, 2017
A law became effective on August 1, 2017, in Minnesota which requires telemedicine providers to meet the same level of care as physicians who see patients in person. This regulation, called S.F. 1353, was unanimously passed by legislators in the state and was then approved by Governor Mark Dayton on […]
October 17, 2017
Beginning on August 1, 2017, anyone in North Dakota who is caught littering will be facing a much larger fine than was previously enforced by the state. Individuals who are caught littering on publicly maintained roads will now be fined $500. This increase is significant and is 400% larger than […]
October 13, 2017
Fines Increase in Minnesota for Failure to Stop for a School Bus The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has announced that the state will increase fines from $300 to $500 for motor vehicle operators who violate state law by failing to stop for school buses. While the reason why this […]
October 11, 2017
Not only is it critical for individuals to decide their plans for after death and to accurately reflect these decisions in an end of life document, it is also important to place these documents in a location where the documents will remain secure and easy to find. Unfortunately, when estate […]
October 7, 2017
North Dakotans appreciate their Second Amendment rights, so many cheered when the governor signed several new bills passed by the legislature into law that impacted the rights of residents to carry firearms in public. Amongst these bills is a law making it easier for North Dakotans to carry a concealed […]
October 5, 2017
The paralegals at O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Foss are doing their part in gathering much needed household supplies and personal supplies for the Fargo Ronald McDonald houses as part of the Red River Valley Paralegal Association annual sponsorship of a local charity. Every year the RRVPA puts their efforts behind a […]
September 27, 2017
Recently, numerous state laws were passed by in the 2017 session of the North Dakota legislature. One of the laws involves changes to North Dakota’s existing child passenger safety law. The new law extends the time during which a child is required to ride in a restraint seat by one […]
September 25, 2017
Those who have followed the activities of North Dakota’s Legislature likely already know that the 2017 legislative session was very busy. The Legislature presented Governor Doug Burgum with over 400 bills to enact into law, and many of these bills went into effect on August 1, 2017. Gun owners in […]
September 21, 2017
Numerous state laws were recently passed by the North Dakota legislature during the 2017 session. One of the laws that has taken effect adds a $100 penalty if a motor vehicle driver violates a traffic law while doing something distracting. Distracted driving involves any activity that is not required to […]
September 19, 2017
The 2017 North Dakota legislative session was certainly busy, with the Republican-controlled Legislature sending hundreds of bills to the desk of Governor Doug Burgum. While some of these laws expanded on freedoms already included in constitutional provisions (such as laws making it easier for adults to carry a concealed firearm […]
September 15, 2017
The North Dakota Legislature recently presented hundreds of bills to Governor Doug Burgum. 439 bills were signed into the law by the governor, with a significant number of these bills going into effect on August 1st of this year. With such a great number of bills going into effect and […]
September 11, 2017
Many groups and individuals benefited from the Minnesota Legislature’s activities during the 2017 legislative session. A number of laws were presented to the governor and signed into law, with several important laws going into effect on August 1 of this year. Dental hygienists and those without easy access to basic […]
September 7, 2017
North Dakota legislators were busy during the 2017 legislative year, with the Legislature sending hundreds of bills to the desk of the governor for approval. Some laws are likely to have little impact on the day-to-day lives of many North Dakotans: a new law offering greater protections for individuals working […]
September 5, 2017
If you do not accept a plea deal offered by prosecutors in your case, your criminal case will eventually proceed to trial. Most people picture a “trial” as being a large and formal proceeding before a judge in which impassioned and persuasive speeches are made by attorneys to 12 jurors […]