Twin Cities family law attorney Chris Banas answers: "Will I have to pay my spouse's attorney fees?" A very serious question -- as the divorce process can take a significant financial toll on you and your spouse.

Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) is a short-term, confidential evaluative process designed to facilitate prompt dispute resolution in Hennepin County Family Court custody and parenting time (visitation) matters. The program, as offered through the Hennepin County Family Court, offers the evaluative impressions of experienced Hennepin County Family Court Services (FCS) staff to parties engaged in custody and parenting time disputes. Feedback is provided to parties and their Hennepin County divorce attorneys based on case presentations and a limited amount of information gathering. The ENE process is completed within one month.

If there is a dispute in Minnesota over custody and parenting time, the court will likely order the parties to undergo some sort of "evaluation." "Evaluation" is a fluid term, and can mean a variety of things. To understand the "evaluation" itself and the process you will have to undertake, you must understand the different types of players who may be assigned to your case. The most commons types of "evaluations" and the professionals who conduct them are set forth below. Your particular case may include only one of these individuals or many.

If you and your spouse agree to the terms of your divorce, the divorce process can be simple and quick. St. Paul divorce attorney Chris Banas shares some points to consider if your divorce proceeding is uncontested.

In custody and parenting time disputes, the court may appoint a Minnesota Guardian Ad Litem to your case. The guardian, also known as a "GAL," acts on behalf of the children. Generally, Guardians Ad Litem are appointed when there are allegations of maltreatment or abuse, either emotional or physical.

The grim reality is this: Fathers who have children that were born out of wedlock are at a legal disadvantage, unless and until they assert their rights in a court of law. When a child is born out of wedlock, the mother automatically has sole legal and sole physical custody of that child. Further, the father has no right to parenting time (visitation) unless the mother agrees. In addition, child support is independent of custody and parenting time. This means that a child support order may issue, without any reference to custody or parenting time.

The state of Minnesota does acknowledge the grandparent's rights in certain circumstances. For example, during or after a divorce proceeding, a grandparent may petition the Court for visitation rights to their grandchildren.

Formerly known as "alimony", Minnesota spousal maintenance is defined as: "an award made in a dissolution or legal separation proceeding of payments from the future income or earnings of one spouse for the support and maintenance of the other."

Child custody and parenting time evaluations, whether conducted by a private evaluator or court services, usually take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to complete. Once the evaluation is complete, your attorney will be given notice by receiving a copy of the evaluation. In some circumstances (which are rare), the evaluator will prefer to have a meeting with the parties and their attorneys to "review" his or her recommendations prior to the release of the written report. Most commonly, the report will be mailed to the parties' attorneys.

Considering Adoption? Considering a Minnesota Stepparent Adoption? Considering a Minnesota International Adoption? Adoption is a judicial proceeding that has the effect of transferring all rights and responsibilities of a natural parent, if known, to an adoptive parent. Below are some of the highlights in the adoption process.