Family Law Lawyer and Attorney
Rochester, MN

Because issues related to family law are often very emotional, it is important that you seek the objective advice and counsel of an experienced family lawyer or attorney in Rochester MN – one who specializes in the practice of family law.  Patterson & Associates understand the emotional and financial stresses related to family issues.  Our objective is to help you work through this difficult process and be a strong advocate for your rights, assuring your interests are fairly and skillfully represented. 

The practice of family law covers a broad range of family related issues including, but not limited to, adoption, divorce, paternity, custody and parental access, child support, child protection, spousal maintenance, property distribution, mediation, and parenting time expediting. Working through issues like these can feel overwhelming.  Tammy Shefelbine, of Patterson & Associates, specializes in family law and will help you better understand some of the complexities and legal processes you will be dealing with.

Of all the areas of family law, divorce is probably the most difficult.  It is often charged with emotion and filled with questions.

IS DIVORCE THE RIGHT CHOICE?
Divorce is not something to be taken lightly. It is one of the most important and difficult decisions you will ever make, and one that should be approached from a rational perspective, rather than one being driven only by emotion. If, after considering all your options you decide it is best to end your marriage, it helps to learn some of the basics about divorce laws, procedures and decisions that must be made.

CHILD CUSTODY AND PARENTAL ACCESS
Issues of child custody and parental access create the greatest emotional stresses in a divorce.  Even though both parents want to do what is best for their children, the children can end up being innocent victims.  When there are children involved, it is all the more important to consult a family law attorney to make certain the rights of parents are protected and that the matters of custody and parental access will be handled in a manner that is in the children’s best interest.

CHILD SUPPORT
There is also the issue of child support, which includes child care expenses and medical/dental expenses.  Minnesota has long had guidelines regarding child support. There have recently been major changes made to these guidelines. Consulting an experienced family law firm like Patterson & Associates can help assure that you understand how these guidelines will apply to you.

DIVISION OF PROPERTY
When there is little or no shared property and no children, spouses can usually finalize their divorce with relative ease. However, most divorces are more complicated than that. There is often considerable property, personal and real estate, to divide.  There may also be investments, pensions, bank accounts, insurance and joint debt.  Couples are often unable to come to a fair and equitable arrangement to divide these and other assets and liabilities on their own.  In these cases, the best interests of both parties are best served by legal representation.

SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE
Spousal maintenance law, or alimony, is complex with many factors to be considered.  There are decisions to be made regarding the amount and duration of support payments or if there will be support payments. Issues related to support payments may include the earning capacity of each party, cases of financial hardship, distribution of property and assets, funds to complete education, cost of living adjustments, disability or retirement.  Contacting an experienced attorney will help you understand spousal support laws and how they may impact your divorce.

MEDIATION AND PARENTING TIME EXPEDITING
Coming Soon

COLLABORATIVE FAMILY LAW
Coming Soon

To learn more about the benefits of legal representation in matters of family law, contact Patterson & Associates. It is important to have an advocate working to protect your rights and the rights of your family. There is no charge for your initial consultation to explain how we can help you work through some of life’s most challenging circumstances.

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