Family Law

Dissolution / Divorce

Dissolution / Divorce Marriage dissolution is an often complicated and always painful process. Our attorneys work hard to understand each aspect of the relationships in question, including the financial intricacies. We work to find the best solution, whether through alternative dispute resolution or litigation.

Our family law attorneys have many years of experience providing effective representation in every area of family law. Our goal is to counsel our clients on the best ways of resolving what often appear to be no-win situations, providing alternatives that take into account the individual factors of the person’s case. In the very painful and confusing cases involving children, we strive to provide advice as to the most optimal means of protecting financial interests, and the best interests of the children.

Custody and Visitation

Custody and Visitation
Child custody is the grant of rights and responsibilities to one or both parents, implicating the important decisions regarding the child’s welfare. We advise clients of their options based on their individual circumstances, offering them scenarios for maintaining healthy relationships with their children while taking into account the relationship with the children’s other parent.

Parenting time, formerly known as visitation, is granted often based on the assistance of government officials and other professionals in the field of child development. In such situations, our attorneys ensure that assessments are made fairly and in the most favorable manner for our clients.

Grandparent Rights

Grandparent Rights Children have the right to be raised in a safe home. Children are not always safely cared for by their parents, and often it is the grandparents who first notice safety concerns. Grandparents are also often the best and first choice of courts for custody of children when their parents cannot, or do not, take care of their children.

If your grandchildren are living with you, the attorneys at Parker & Wenner can help you seek the right to make decisions for the children. This can include where they go to school, where they will live in the future, the ability to take them to the doctor, or even to cover them on your health insurance.

Even if safety is not a concern, grandparents have the right to see their grandchildren, over the parents’ objections, if they have a relationship with the grandchild and it is in the grandchild’s best interest to continue their grandparent/grandchild relationship. Sometimes, relationships fall apart, and grandchildren should not be caught in the middle.

If you need help securing your grandchild’s safety or just maintaining your relationship with your grandchild, call the attorneys at Parker & Wenner for a free telephone consultation.

Paternity

Paternity Paternity actions are legal proceedings to establish that the father of a child, often using DNA testing, usually in order to impose a child support obligation, establish a right to inheritance, secure consent for the child’s adoption, or gain custody or parental access rights. Such actions are often part of child custody or support proceeding.

Child Support

Child Support Children have the right to be financially supported by their parents, but who pays child support, and how much is the right amount? In Minnesota, there is an entire chapter of the law dedicated to calculating and collecting child support, and knowing how to present your child support issues to the judge can significantly affect the amount you pay or receive in child support.

Our attorneys are experienced and effective and will help you make sure that the right information is presented to the judge so that the assessments and calculations of child support are made fairly and in the most favorable manner for our clients.

Domestic Violence / Orders for Protection

Domestic Violence / Orders for Protection Children have the right to be financially supported by their parents, but who pays child support, and how much is the right amount? In Minnesota, there is an entire chapter of the law dedicated to calculating and collecting child support, and knowing how to present your child support issues to the judge can significantly affect the amount you pay or receive child support.

Our attorneys are experienced and effective and will help you make sure that the right information is presented to the judge so that the assessments and calculations of child support are made fairly and in the most favorable manner for our clients.

Prenuptial / Premarital / Antenuptial Agreements

Prenuptial / Premarital / Antenuptial Agreements Antenuptial (prenuptial) agreements are contracts entered into by a couple prior to their marriage. These agreements normally address property issues such as income, assets, and liabilities that may arise in the event of divorce or death.

Occasionally, such agreements protect the assets of the spouse who brings to the marriage considerably greater assets. Our attorneys assist in drafting such agreements, representing one side or the other during the negotiation of the agreement, and, most importantly, fully explaining to clients the legal significance of an agreement and the ramifications of either having or not having an agreement and providing representation for individuals when disputes arise as to the enforcement of such agreements.

Adoption

Adoption Adoption is a legal proceeding that transfers all rights and responsibilities of a biological parent, if known, to the adoptive parent. The procedures as set out by law are intended to protect the best interest of the children and the rights of parents or guardians. Persons desiring adoption have many choices. We advise our clients through adoptions, whether they are utilizing licensed agencies, private placements, or otherwise. We are experienced in dealing with foreign agencies and governments for the purposes of international adoptions.