FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE ATTORNEY
Areas of Practice:
Divorce – Dissolution – Child Custody – Parental Alienation – Domestic Abuse – Child Support – Asset Distribution – Post-Decree Issues – Third-Party Custody – Adoption – Spousal Maintenance – Alimony – Visitation Rights – Parenting Time – Paternity – Domestic Violence – Divorce Decree – Guardian Ad Litem – Custody Evaluations – Parenting Time Exchange – Safe Exchange – Interrogatories – Petition – Complaint – Taxes –Medical Coverage – Insurance – OFP – HRO – TRO – Ex Parte Orders – Marital Law – Safety Evaluation – Home Study
Experienced, Compassionate Family Law Representation
Whether you are thinking about a divorce, are ready to file for divorce, or you simply have issues relating to custody or adoption, we are here to help and to offer the legal assistance you need to achieve your goals. Our attorneys are well-known and highly respected litigators who have fought for hundreds of families across Minnesota.
Minnesota is a no-fault divorce state. What that means is that the law does not care whether one person cheated on the other, or whether one person is a “bad apple.” However, Judges are people, and people oftentimes lean toward the one they believe is the “good person” when making difficult legal decisions. That is why you need a highly skilled attorney like those at Cadem Law Group who can present your case in the best possible light to obtain every strategic advantage.
Divorce / Dissolution
Divorce and dissolution mean the same thing: an irretrievable breakdown of the marital relationship has occurred and one or more person in the marriage wishes to leave the marriage. In Minnesota, both parties do not need to agree to the divorce. At Cadem Law Group, we understand that going through a divorce is a stressful and sensitive time. We are here to ease your concerns and anxiety about your life as you move forward. Divorces affect everything from child custody and parenting time to child support and spousal maintenance. An equitable division of marital property and debts will impact your finances moving forward. It is important to hire an attorney that will skillfully and carefully address every detail necessary to ensure a happy and financially healthy life moving forward.
People across the state have relied upon Cadem Law Group to meet all of their legal needs. We recognize that each divorce is unique and we strive to work in a collaborative way to reach an amicable resolution. However, sometimes settlement out of court is not possible and we are fully prepared to litigate matters if necessary. Cadem Law Group prides itself on having experienced and aggressive litigation attorneys who thrive in the courtroom.
Child Custody
In Minnesota, there are two types of custody: legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody, which is presumed to be jointly shared between parents, determines who gets to make important decisions for a child. This includes decisions about education, medical care, education, and religion. Physical custody generally means where children primarily reside. Determining custody will affect your child for the foreseeable future. Parents across the state have relied upon Cadem Law Group to guide them in custody matters. At Cadem Law Group, we truly care about your child and advocating for a custody determination in your child’s best interest.
Parental Alienation
Parental alienation is an unhealthy reality in many custody and parenting time disputes. Parental alienation is when a child becomes estranged from one parent as a result of manipulation by another parent. Alienation can include false allegations of abuse, child protection reports, psychological manipulation, speaking poorly about the other parent in front of a child, and emotionally abusing children by making them feel guilty about their relationship with the other parent. Often, a child will side with the alienating parent. It is important to stop the behaviors before they severely and permanently damage the parent-child relationship. At Cadem Law Group, we have successfully tried cases involving parental alienation and have helped repair parent-child relationships by modifying custody or parenting time based on parental alienation.
Domestic Abuse
Cadem Law Group has represented countless clients across the state in Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) and Order for Protection (OFP) matters. Often, domestic abuse is involved in family law cases, because one party committed abuse against the other party or the children, or because one party has fabricated allegations of abuse in order to get a leg up in the divorce or custody matter. All allegations of domestic abuse should be taken seriously. The effect of a Harassment Restraining Order or Order for Protection can affect a party’s rights significantly. A party may be removed from their home, lose custody, restrict locations they may travel to, or even lose their rights to own firearms.
Child Protection
Child protection cases arise when an allegation of abuse or neglect is made. They oftentimes originate when someone at a child’s school notices bruises or that the child appears unkempt. Because these cases are oftentimes investigated for a period of time before anything is filed in court, it is crucial that someone facing these issues contact an attorney immediately. These allegations oftentimes turn into criminal charges, and anything someone says or does during this process can be used against them in the child protection proceedings and in any criminal proceedings. In this way, the government can use a child protection investigation to sidestep giving a Miranda warning. Cadem Law Group attorneys both have been certified by the Minnesota Supreme Court as a “Certified Parents’ Attorney” for child protection matters. They have undertaken at least 50 hours of legal education devoted specifically to child protection, and they have handled 100s of child protection and criminal defense cases across Minnesota.
Child Support
Minnesota has state guidelines to determine child support. Child support is ordered to provide one party with the finances to meet a child’s necessary needs, such as clothing, food, housing, and other goods. Childcare support and medical support may also be ordered to pay for child care and medical expenses for the child. Child support can be negotiated and modified based on a family’s unique needs and circumstances. Cadem Law Group has helped parents across the state navigate child support issues and will skillfully represent you in your child support case.
Asset Distribution
In most divorces, asset distribution is easy and routine. However, in farm divorce and business divorce cases in particular, asset distribution is difficult and complex. When it comes to dividing marital assets, Minnesota requires an “equitable distribution.” Although “equitable” would seem to mean “equal” or 50/50, under the law, it only means “fair.” We work hard to find every strategic advantage to make sure that our clients’ cases are presented in the best way possible to assure that our clients obtain the best distribution. Cadem Law Group has handled regular, farm, and business divorces involving tens of millions of dollars, and will aggressively get you every penny you deserve.
Post-Decree Issues
Sometimes after a divorce is completed, it is necessary to enforce the terms of the Court’s Order. When one spouse breaches the Court’s Order, Court intervention is needed. The non-breaching party may be entitled to Attorney Fees, may ask the Court to hold the breaching party in contempt, or seek other relief. Contact Cadem Law Group if you have lingering issues from you divorce to discuss what remedies are available.
Third-Party Custody
Minnesota recognizes that sometimes it is in a child’s best interest to reside with someone other than a parent. Cadem Law Group has represented relatives and others who have been awarded third party custody due to the parents inability to provide safe care for their child. These cases often involve parents who are using drugs or have mental illness challenges.
Adoption
Adopting a child is a beautiful gift to your family and the child. We love helping people remove the stress and confusion from the process so you can just focus on the magic of being a new parent.
General Family Matters
Whether you are looking for a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, an uncontested divorce, an uncontested custody agreement, a legal separation, or simply wish to modify prior court orders, our experience and professionalism will help you to efficiently navigate whatever family matter you face.
Free Consultation
If you or a loved one needs a family law attorney and you would like to learn more about the process and your rights, we invite you to call our law offices to schedule a free consultation. All consultations are 100% confidential.
A Law Firm You Can Trust
More than any other area of law, having a strategic, compassionate, and experienced attorney is crucial when you are faced with family law matter. Emotions will run high, and the stakes are even higher. You need a solid legal team on your side, and you can count on Cadem Law Group to be there to help and guide you every step of the way.
Free Consultation
Proudly Serving:
Proudly fighting for the rights of people across the entire state of Minnesota, including Ramsey County, Hennepin County, Otter Tail County, Wahpeton, Wilkin County, Washington County, Becker County, Clay County, Wadena County, Douglas County, Grant County, Wright County, Dakota County, Scott County, Carver County, Anoka County, Pope County, Stillwater, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Elbow Lake, Alexandria, Pelican Rapids, Perham, Alexandria, Wadena, Morris, Breckenridge . . . and everyone in between.