Family Law

The process for adopting a child can be long and complex, but when a step-parent wishes to legally adopt his or her step-child, the process can be simpler and quicker. According to the Children’s Bureau, step-parent adoption is the most common type of adoption. To Adopt or Not to Adopt? […]

If you and your spouse are preparing for a divorce and are able to come up with a fair division of your assets, the courts in North Dakota will honor that agreement. Often, negotiating a divorce settlement with your spouse outside the courtroom is the best way to achieve a […]

The upcoming Holiday season should be all about giving thanks, but it is often difficult for divorced families to get in the holiday spirit, particularly when it means sharing their children. For those who celebrate Christmas, divorced and separated couples need to remember to help their kids focus on being […]

Stepparents often play a crucial role in raising children and form strong bonds with them, but unless they have legally adopted a child, they likely have no legal right to make decisions on the child’s behalf. However, if a child’s parent and stepparent get divorced, 23 states now have laws […]

A divorce is an extremely difficult time, and a divorce attorney is much better equipped to handle the many issues that can crop up, including child custody. Here are some things an experienced child custody attorney can do that you likely cannot: Negotiate with the Other Side – Calmly No […]

Just as no two marriages are alike, no two divorces will be the same. Some divorces are more complicated than others, some are contested while others are not, and some will settle through an agreement between the parties, while others will require an alternative approach for the parties to come […]

Wills are necessary, but intimidating. Trying to put all your wishes into one legal document is often a daunting task, just as interpreting a will without the help of the individual who drafted it can be tricky business. That is why getting it right is essential. Here are some common […]

When a person (known as the petitioner) decides to obtain a divorce and serves divorce paperwork upon his spouse, one of three things will typically happen: If your spouse answers and agrees with your petition, you have what is known as an uncontested divorce. If your spouse answers and disagrees […]

When you’re contemplating divorce and looking for an attorney, remember one thing: you don’t have to hire the first one you meet. Choosing the right divorce attorney is one of the most important personal and financial decisions you are likely to ever make. Some questions to consider asking during your […]

Divorce is a painful process, but there are certain things couples can do to make a difficult experience run as smoothly as possible. Prepare for the divorce. The best way to make sure your divorce goes as smoothly as possible is to be prepared for the process. This includes knowing […]

The demand for daycare is both widespread and problematic. According to the New York Times, approximately 12 million American children age four and under are cared for on a daily basis by someone other than a parent, not counting the millions of school age children who require care when school […]

Paternity is legally determining the father of a child. Because every child deserves the financial and emotional support of both a mother and a father, establishing paternity is extremely important. Why Establish Paternity? Establishing paternity creates a legal relationship between a father and a child, and is particularly important for […]

Lawyers representing North Dakota’s only abortion clinic have announced that they will seek litigation costs from the state after the U.S. Supreme Court refused last month to review lower court rulings overturning the state’s ban on abortion at six weeks of pregnancy. Federal law allows attorneys in civil rights cases […]

Every day dozens of couples decide to end their marriages. Divorce, or dissolution of marriage, may be pursued for a number of reasons, including spousal abuse, an unfaithful spouse, or irreconcilable differences, and North Dakota recognizes both fault and no-fault grounds. Regardless of the reasons for a divorce, spouses should […]

These days, more and more couples are deciding to remain separated rather than divorce, even though they no longer wish to be married. Sometimes choosing to legally separate instead of get a divorce is a good financial decision, although other reasons may also come into play. Financial Benefits One of […]

North Dakota’s “fetal heartbeat” law, the toughest ban on abortions in the nation when it was enacted in 2013, has been blocked permanently when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a lower court’s ruling that overturned the law. The law banned abortions as soon as a heartbeat was detected […]

To meet the diverse needs of children and promote their healthy development, a number of important statutory changes have been made to Minnesota law. These changes were made to support the principle that children need safe, stable, and nurturing relationships with both of their parents. The 12 New Best Interest […]

By assigning Power of Attorney, family members are protected when difficult times of life require important decision making.  This can help make financial and business decisions easy and clear when a family member is no longer in a condition to make decisions. What is a Power of Attorney? A Power […]

Deciding a child’s best interest in a child custody case can be difficult. The first step to making the best decision is knowing the various different types of child custody options to consider. First, it’s important to understand that there are two components to custody. Physical Custody – refers to […]

Going through a divorce is never an easy process. Many losses are experienced when ending a relationship, such as the loss of a home, security, finances, comfort, etc. During this process, emotions are running rampant and initializing the legal proceedings can feel very stressful.  In an effort to ease the […]

The end of a marriage is a difficult time. It’s often filled with fighting, chaos, and uncertainty. Many decisions must be made including property divisions and custody arrangements. Before any of these decisions can be discussed, you and your spouse must decide what divorce process to pursue, the traditional divorce […]

Being in an abusive relationship can be a very scary and emotional time. While domestic violence and abuse is a problem, it is often overlooked, excused, or denied. If you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around your partner or constantly have to watch what you say, chances […]