Every year, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (DPS-OTS) reviews and reports on all aspects related to the prior year’s drunk driving in the state. This includes looking at DUI arrests, multiple offenses, accidents, and drunk-driving related injuries and deaths. In September 2016, the DPS-OTS released 2015’s drunk driving statistics and...Read More
Most people know what trial is like. Thanks to TV shows like Judge Judy, they have seen plenty of people go to court. But, mediation isn’t nearly as dramatic, and it’s rarely featured on television. People often do not encounter it until they need it—or until their lawyers suggest it. So what is mediation, and...Read More
If you pay or receive spousal maintenance payments in this state, then listen up. Spousal maintenance laws in Minnesota recently received a facelift. This facelift could mean the end of your spousal maintenance payments. Spousal maintenance—“alimony” in common terms—is financial support that one ex-spouse pays to another after divorcing (and sometimes while legally separated). These...Read More
You did it! You took that often-dreaded step and worked with a lawyer to create your estate plan, which includes a will, an advanced health care directive, and possibly a trust or two. You have your estate planning documents in hand, and you feel a great sense of relief and accomplishment. But now what? Is...Read More
As the summer comes to an end, many Minnesotans feel the pressure. Soon, the days will get cooler and, before we know it, there will be snow. It’s best to get everything done while we still can. That means outdoor home repairs, yard work, picnics and pool parties. And for some of us, that means...Read More
Drugged driving has been on the rise in Minnesota. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2013 (the most recent year statistics are available), more than 1,000 people in Minnesota were convicted of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Most people know that driving while impaired by drugs is a...Read More
Even under the best circumstances, divorce may be one of the hardest things you encounter in your life. The divorce process can have a tremendous financial impact, as well as an emotional one. In Minnesota, mediation is often required as part of that process. For many people, mediation is the last thing they want to...Read More
In the midst of serious relationship conflicts and family turmoil, looking ahead toward a calmer, brighter future can seem impossible. Yet doing so is essential to resolving your divorce in a sustainable way. You need a vision based on realistic expectations. A caring, qualified family law attorney can help you develop such a vision. Too...Read More
No estate plan is perfect for everyone. For it to work effectively, an estate plan must reflect the assets and potential heirs, as well as the values and goals of the person it was created for. This is never truer than when an estate plan is created for the parent of a young child. We...Read More
Sometimes accidents are so severe that they leave car accident victims with no choice: They are simply taken to the hospital without having to make the decision for themselves. Most of the time, however, accident victims are left with a serious decision to make. Should they put the accident behind them and proceed as normal?...Read More
