How Can I protect My Retirement Assets in a Minnesota Divorce?
February 21, 2014 | Elizabeth A. SchadingThis is a complicated question. There’s no action that you can take that will guarantee that you get to keep every cent of your retirement account. However, there may be things that you can do to keep more of your retirement account. Retirement accounts are often mixed property. Retirement accounts are often a mix of marital and non-marital property. This can help you keep more of your retirement account when assets are divided. Though there are situations where the court will award a portion of non-marital property to the spouse (up to ½) it seldom happens. So if you can prove that a portion of your retirement account is non-marital property you may keep more of that money. To do this you will have to gather all of your financial records, and you may need to consult with an accountant. It is up to you to prove that the property is non-marital. Make it a priority. If your retirement assets are your biggest priority, ask yourself what you’re willing to give up in order to keep all, or most, of that money. You may be able to put together and offer an equitable distribution package that your spouse will accept. Consult your attorney for help with this. Make sure the accounts are valued…
Read MoreI Think I Want to Get Divorced. What Should I Do Now?
February 17, 2014 | Elizabeth A. SchadingDeciding that you want a divorce can be confusing, upsetting, and stressful. It helps to understand exactly what your next steps should be. First and foremost, you should contact an experienced divorce attorney like the family law experts at Barna, Guzy & Steffen. You need a legal guide through this process. Do I Really Need a Lawyer? The advent of “do-it-yourself” divorces has misled many people into thinking that divorce is a simple process. But it’s very easy to make mistakes when you try to handle a divorce on your own. Issues of child support, spousal support, child custody, assets, and debts are far more complex than they appear to be on the surface. Even a simple turn of phrase can affect your future. And it’s easy to make serious mistakes during the divorce process that have a serious impact on the court’s judgments. You need someone on your side, someone who knows what to do. Next, you should decide what you want the major outcomes of the divorce to be. Are you hoping the kids remain with you? Do you want to keep the marital home? You may not get everything that you want, but knowing what you want and being able to articulate it can help you and your lawyer guide…
Read MoreScott Lepak to Present at Upcoming Minnesota CLE Conference
February 13, 2014 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.BGS Government & Employment Law Attorney Scott Lepak will be presenting at an upcoming Minnesota CLE Conference. The conference, titled Public Sector Labor & Employment Law will take place on Friday, February 28th at Minnesota CLE Conference Center, 600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370, Third Floor City Center, Minneapolis. The event is scheduled to run from 8:30 a.m. (with a continental breakfast) to 4:30 p.m. There will be lunch break from Noon-1p.m. (lunch is not included with the seminar). Scott will speak to attendees at 9:45 a.m. regarding The Minnesota Whistleblower Act Amendments. He is co-presenting with attorney Cristina Parra of Nichols Kaster, PLLP; Minneapolis. For more information or to register for this event, please visit 2014 Public Sector Labor & Employment Law Seminar Details
Read More