Family Law | O'Keeffe O'Brien Lyson Attorneys

Family Law

December 3, 2019

Adoption by Stepparents in North Dakota and Minnesota

There are many children in North Dakota and Minnesota who, due to unexpected accidents, lose a parent to death. In some cases, a child’s surviving parent enters into a new marriage with another individual and this new stepparent desires to legally adopt the child. These types of adoptions follow established […]
December 18, 2017

Firearms and North Dakota Restraining Orders

The North Dakota Supreme Court recently invalidated a restraining order that was filed against a gun owner by his former partner. This decision was based on the North Dakota Supreme Court’s finding that a North Dakota district court incorrectly upheld a disorderly conduct restraining order against a person who carried […]
November 30, 2017

Signs that a Spouse is Hiding Assets

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 14, 2017

Reasons Why Younger Individuals Should Create Estate Plans

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

Do Not Resuscitate Orders in North Dakota and Minnesota

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 […]
October 19, 2017

Minnesota Passes New Standardizing Telemedicine Care

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 […]
September 11, 2017

Dental Hygienists in Minnesota Get Break Under New Laws

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 1, 2017

How to Plan Your Estate in North Dakota

It is important that individuals follow some cautionary advice when making their estate plans. The importance of this planning was recently highlighted in a case involving the musician Prince. After Prince died in 2016 without a will and much litigation occurred regarding how his estate should be divided, a judge […]
August 30, 2017

Will Substitutes

Wills are important estate planning devices because they dictate how property will be distributed after a person’s death. While wills are recommended and essential in a person’s estate planning process, there are many will substitutes that can serve similar purposes. Will substitutes offer several unique advantages which include that wills […]
August 16, 2017

Who Owns the Engagement Ring After a Failed Engagement

Each year, a number of young couples become engaged to be married. Unfortunately, not all of these engagements result in marriage, and some relationships dissolve prior to the wedding. In addition to the various painful and challenging obstacles that come as the result of ending a romantic relationship, couples are […]
August 10, 2017

North Dakota Postnuptial Agreements

Most individuals are familiar with prenuptial agreements, but most would be surprised to learn that the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers reports that the number of postnuptial agreements is on the rise. Postnuptial agreements can greatly help decide the terms of marital separation or divorce. Introduced in 2013, laws concerning […]