Minnesota Divorce Details
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When it comes to divorce rates, Minnesota comes in at number 41 for the number of divorces in America. That’s good news for fans of marriage.
What’s interesting is that it is actually quite easy to obtain a divorce in Minnesota because it is a no-fault divorce state. You basically have to file the papers and declare the marriage is over without getting into the messy confrontation of laying out the grounds for divorce. Of course, that doesn’t mean a no-fault divorce can’t be contested.
The bottom line is that if both parties agree and have lived in Minnesota for at least 180 days you can file for divorce for as little as $250.00.
Filing with the Court in Minnesota
You must file your Minnesota divorce papers in the court located in the County where you presently reside. We will provide the court information in the documents that we send to you, but some of the courts in Minnesota are listed below:
- Hennepin County Conciliation Court:
Minneapolis City Hall, 350 South 5th Street, Rm. #306, Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: 612-348-2713 - Hennepin County:
Family Justice Center Suite 600 110 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Phone: 612-348-6734 - Ramsey County District Court:
St. Paul City Hall Courthouse, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55102 Phone: (651) 266-8266 - St. Louis County District Court – Duluth:
100 North 5th Ave. W., Duluth, MN 55802 Phone: (218) 726-2460 (800) 450-9777 Ext 2460 - Cook County District Court:
Cook County Courthouse, 411 West 2nd Street, Grand Marais, MN 55604 Phone: (218) 387-3610 Fax: (218) 387-3007 - Stearns County District Court:
725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303 Phone: (320) 656-3620 Fax: (320) 656-3626 - Clay County District Court:
807 11th Street North, Moorhead, MN 56560 Phone: (218) 299-5065 Fax: (218) 299-7307 - Olmsted County District Court:
151 Fourth Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904 Phone: (507) 206-2452 Fax: (507) 285-8996 - Freeborn County District Court:
411 South Broadway, Albert Lea, MN 56007 Phone: (507) 377-5153
If your County court is not listed, the information for your court will be included in the divorce papers we send you.
What is a Minnesota Uncontested Divorce?
In Minnesota, the process for obtaining an uncontested divorce can be very quick and painless. If both spouses agree to the conditions then a summary action will be file on their behalf to dissolve the marriage. For this to all come together certain conditions have to be in place.
For instance, there can be no children involved in the marriage, the wife can’t be pregnant and the marriage should have lasted eight years or less. In terms of assets, there should be no jointly owned property, no debts over $8,000, and no estates worth over $25,000. And there shouldn’t be any instance or record of domestic abuse. If those conditions are met, the marriage can be quickly ended.
What is a Minnesota annulment?
Most often annulments are associated with the dissolution of a marriage that was performed in a Catholic wedding ceremony. However, in Minnesota, the courts will grant an annulment for a marriage which basically ends the union.
The grounds for an annulment are duress, incest, impotency, bigamy, or fraud. These grounds can be difficult and costly to prove especially when one of the spouses is contesting the annulment. If an annulment is granted, then the marriage is wiped from any legal records as if it never happened.
What are the Minnesota Child Custody Laws?
If children are part of the scenario in the divorce proceedings then a Minnesota divorce court judge will need to determine who will maintain custody. The court will only make this determination if these issues aren’t resolved by the parents.
To determine custody the court will take into account what the child wants, what the parents want, the relationship among any brothers, sisters, and other family members, and the stability of either home environment.
The factors used for considering child alimony or child support include both the parent’s earning potential and assets and what would be the child’s standard of living if the marriage was maintained. Also, the child’s specific needs with regard to any special education or physical liabilities. Finally, the financial burden placed on the parent who will be paying the child support is also considered.
What are the Minnesota Alimony Laws?
In Minnesota, a judge can award either temporary or permanent spousal support depending on certain circumstances. Among these factors are whether or not the spouse will ultimately become self-sufficient, the standard of living prior to the marriage, how long the marriage lasted, and what each party brought to the marriage in terms of assets.
