Minneapolis Fathers' Rights Lawyer

Wayzata Co-Parenting Plan Attorney: Board-Certified in Family Law

Historically, our law practice at Kathleen Newman + Associates has represented men and women — husbands and wives, fathers and mothers — equally. We have learned over the years that mothers often have different concerns than fathers during a divorce, just as husbands may have different concerns than wives.

At our Minneapolis family law firm, we take professional pride in the uniquely tailored legal representation we provide to each and every client. Part of providing tailored representation means understanding the special concerns that women and men have. We have decades of experience offering legal counsel to both men and women during divorces and other family law conflicts, and we have learned a great deal about what men and women want and need out of divorce. We have also watched these needs change over the years.

This page provides some information we believe may be of special interest to men who are facing divorce. Similar information for women is available by contacting our office.

"Kathleen does not always tell you what you want to hear, but she'll give you an honest opinion. She does not sugarcoat the process or the likelihood of success. She definitely knows divorce law and she proactively navigates to avoid the pitfalls." -Keith K.

Co-Parenting Plans, Child Custody and Visitation

Gone are the days when a family court judge would automatically award sole physical custody of children to the mother. Even the word "custody" is slowly falling into disfavor. Instead, family law attorneys and family court judges talk about "parenting time" and "co-parenting plans." Joint custody agreements are a very real possibility for any father who wants it, unless the mother can make a valid argument against parental fitness.

Our child custody work is informed by Kathleen Newman's work as in social early neutral evaluation, during which she provides neutral family evaluations and recommendations for parenting plans. We have extensive experience developing co-parenting plans that fit a unique family's unique needs.

Spousal Maintenance

Courts now use the phrase "spousal maintenance" instead of the words "alimony" or "palimony," to recognize that either the husband or wife may have financial responsibilities toward the other. In Minnesota, spousal maintenance is more flexible than child support, which is calculated according to formal guidelines set by law. Spousal maintenance, on the other hand, is negotiated based on many factors, including the length of the marriage, the other spouse's ability to find self-supporting employment, and the presence of young children in the home who have so-far enjoyed full-time parenting.

Division of Property ∙ Antenuptial Agreements

During a divorce, each spouse usually wants to come out on the other side with control over as much property during divorce. Enforcement of antenuptial agreements can have a tremendous impact on property division decisions. Our office has a long history of writing strong prenuptial agreements and enforcing them for our clients' benefit.

One of the most interesting questions in property division negotiation is the treatment of stock options and restricted stocks. These can be treated either as income or property, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. If you have concerns about keeping control of stock options or restricted stocks achieved as part of your employment, work with a Minneapolis property division lawyer who has high-level understanding of the complex financial issues presented in divorce.

Contact Our Hennepin County Family Law Office

To discuss your concerns about divorce with a knowledgeable Minneapolis fathers' rights lawyer, send us an e-mail, call 612-424-9477 or call toll free 888-862-4174.