How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Minnesota?
July 15, 2013 | Elizabeth A. SchadingIt’s almost impossible to determine how much a divorce in Minnesota will cost before it begins. There are just too many factors to calculate. You should, however, plan for the divorce to be expensive. You will be dealing with a variety of different costs and fees. The first fee you’ll encounter is the filing fee. It will cost you $400 as of this writing to file your divorce petition in court in Minnesota. [maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://bgs.com/contact-us/?july” text=”Get Help with Your Case” ] If you need to file any motions each motion filing fee will cost you $100. If you try to file anything by fax you could be hit with additional fees of $25 to $50, each and every time. The filing spouse may need to pay to have the divorce papers served. This is usually $50 or more. If you are low income you can sometimes apply to have many of these fees waived. That doesn’t make your divorce free, but it will alleviate some of the costs. You may have to pay for a custody evaluation. Expect to pay $5,000.00 or more. You also will need to understand that no attorney can predict how many hours it will take to complete your divorce. There will be an hourly fee and an…
Read MoreWhat is an Uncontested Divorce in Minnesota?
July 11, 2013 | Elizabeth A. SchadingMany people confuse an uncontested divorce with a “do-it-yourself” divorce. A divorce that is “uncontested” has merely settled out of court. Like 95{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of divorces in Minnesota, it never goes to trial. It has the benefit of being fast, less expensive, and less rancorous than the litigated alternative. This outcome doesn’t happen by magic, however, and it doesn’t usually happen because two incredibly reasonable people sit down to hash out the end of their marriage without a single bump in the road. Most “uncontested” divorces still involve attorneys. Indeed, if one or more parties in the divorce is not represented by an attorney, there will still need to be a hearing if minor children are involved. The judge needs to make sure that the settlement is not one-sided. Getting an uncontested divorce that is fair for all parties might require the help of attorneys, mediators, neutral custody evaluators and financial planners. Each of these professionals can provide different perspectives on the dissolution of your marriage and can help both you and your spouse reach an equitable settlement. You should also be aware that you and your spouse cannot save money on your divorce by agreeing to be represented by the same attorney. You and your spouse each need a different attorney. You can…
Read MoreBGS Attorneys Named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
July 9, 2013 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.Barna, Guzy and Steffen would like to congratulate their attorneys named to the 2013 Minnesota Super Lawyers lists. This year, the law firm had five Super Lawyers and two Rising Stars named to the lists. The attorneys named Super Lawyers were: John T. Buchman/Personal Injury Michael F. Hurley/Banking Jeffrey S. Johnson/Real Estate Thomas P. Malone/Business Litigation Steven G. Thorson/Real Estate And the Rising Stars: Angela M. Woessner/Real Estate Timothy D. Erb/Real Estate These attorneys will appear in the Minnesota Super Lawyers Magazine to be published in August 2013 and distributed to attorneys in Minnesota and the ABA-accredited law school libraries. In addition, selected attorneys will also appear in the August 2013 issue of Mpls./St.Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business. Super Lawyers are chosen using peer nominations and evaluations which are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The firm recognizes that it is an honor to have attorneys named Super Lawyers/Rising Stars. This acknowledgement reinforces their continuing mission to be recognized as the best and most innovative law firm in their market.
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