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Divorce Terms YOU Need to Know

Any time you are dealing with a legal matter, you are going to hear many different terms. It is important to understand what the words and expressions mean. In a Minnesota divorce proceeding, there are several terms that you should familiarize yourself with, including;

  • Dissolution of marriage — This is the phrase used for divorce in Minnesota. When a spouse wants to terminate the marriage relationship, he or she files for dissolution of the marriage.
  • Spousal maintenance — Spousal maintenance, sometimes referred to as alimony, is the court-ordered financial support of one spouse to the other. Spousal maintenance is awarded based on a number of factors, including the need of the party seeking the support and the ability of the other party to pay.
  • Prenuptial — Prenuptial means antenuptial, or “prior to marriage.” Antenuptial or prenuptial agreements are written contracts entered into by two individuals before they get married. This type of agreement sets forth each person’s rights to income, property and responsibility for debts, in the event of death or divorce.
  • Parenting time — Parenting time is the phrase used to refer to the non-custodial parent’s right to visitation with the children after the divorce. Parenting time is the time each parent spends with a child, regardless of who has custody of the child. There are a variety of different parenting time arrangements that can be created to meet your family’s specific needs.
  • Divorce decree — A divorce decree is the final judgment of the court. Your divorce decree can make determinations regarding asset division, child custody, child support, parenting time, spousal maintenance and any other matter related to the dissolution of your marriage.

At Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., we help you understand the legal jargon related to your divorce and guide you through each step of the process, making sure you fully understand all of your options. If you are facing a Minnesota divorce, let us protect your rights and best interests.

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  • "Tori had a thorough understanding of my situation and made excellent recommendations to resolve my concerns. She was persistent on communication and handled everything in a very timely manner. I would definitely hire her again in the future if needed." - M.K.

  • "With Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., it is like having a family physician. They are all knowledgeable, thorough, comforting, and the only call I need to make for all my legal needs for many years to come. No matter what the matter, I totally trust their advice and commitment to me and my family." - J.N.

  • "Mary from APH Law helped me thru a difficult divorce. She and the entire staff was there for me every step of the way helping me on what to do next. They listened to what I wanted and helped me achieve what matter the most to me in the divorce settlement." - Dana C.

  • "I chose APH after my initial consultation with Mary. I felt my best interest would be represented. The entire process went excellent, the attorneys and staff communicated effectively and efficiently with me throughout the process as they needed to. Being new to the legal process and verbiage, they walked me and talked me through the next steps and the jargon, I felt completely comfortable and represented. I hope I never have to use legal services again but if I do I will call Mary at APH Law and know that I will be taken care of." - Jeff M.

  • "Divorce is a time of emotion and stress. Mary Pfeifer , My lawyer was professional and compassionate. She was very informative through the process. Her insight helped me in my decisions. She worked hard to obtain a settlement which was fair to both parties. Though, I hope I won't need her help again. It is reassuring to know a good person that is willing to help." - Rod S.

  • "I first came to Ms. Jacquelyn Lutz of Appelhof, Pfeifer and Hart in October of 2016. It was definitely the worst time in my life and she compassionately spoke with me about my options. Ms. Lutz thoroughly explained the laws, statutes, process and what to expect going forward. What was supposed to be one case, turned into three intricate cases that took a huge toll on me and my family. Ms. Lutz represented me in court on all three cases with a vast knowledge of the laws and how to proceed accordingly. During all three cases she kept me informed, calm, gave me resources to utilize, and (most important) gave me a realistic view of what may come next. Ms. Lutz knew each case required a great deal of knowledge and creative thinking on how to legally proceed forward with each case. My family and friends are forever grateful for the amazing representation by Ms. Lutz. I highly recommend Ms. Lutz for anyone needing or considering superb representation for any kind of family law. " - M.H.

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