Washington County Divorce Lawyers Explain Contested Divorce in Minnesota

Experienced counsel serving Dakota County, Burnsville, Stillwater and Woodbury, MN

When you are heading for a contentious divorce, the attorneys at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. are prepared to fight hard to protect your interests. We understand the stress and anxiety you are going through, and we are responsive to your questions and concerns. With more than 50 years ’ combined experience, our team has the knowledge and experience to take your case to trial.

Identifying issues in your contested divorce

A divorce is contested when the spouses can’t agree on one or more important issues. Depending on your situation, the disputed issues may include:

Division of property
Spousal support (alimony)
Child custody

Child support
Parenting time (visitation)

We are effective negotiators, but sometimes full agreements cannot be reached. We are prepared to take your contested divorce case to trial if that’s what’s necessary to secure a fair outcome for you.

Advocating for fair child support and spousal support

Child support is owed to the custodial parent for the benefit of a child. Spousal support, or alimony, is owed to a former spouse and can take many forms depending on the requesting spouse’s needs and the paying spouse’s ability to pay. We engage experts, if needed, to establish income from investments or business interests before it is time to calculate child support or determine whether an alimony award is warranted.

Protecting your interests in a property division

Uncovering the other spouse’s financial information and the extent of marital assets is crucial to achieving a fair property division. We use every legal discovery tool to obtain the financial information that will support your position. This is particularly important for spouses who have not been directly involved in the family’s financial affairs. You can’t make an informed decision about a settlement — or know what to ask the court for — until all of your spouse’s financial cards are on the table.

Securing temporary orders in contested divorces

Contested divorce proceedings can take many months and sometimes more than a year, depending on the complexity of the case and the court’s schedule. In such circumstances, we can secure temporary orders to maintain the financial status quo during the pendency of the case. Issues addressed in temporary orders may include:

An order not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of marital assets
An order designating who pays the debts and household expenses while the divorce is pending
Temporary child custody and support
Temporary alimony

Temporary orders are especially important when children are involved.

Call today for a free consultation in Oakdale or Braham

With an office in Oakdale, Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. serves clients throughout Minnesota, including Washington County, Dakota County, Burnsville, Eagan and Woodbury, MN. Contact us online to discuss your family’s legal problems, or call us at 651-379-3024. We give you an honest assessment of your case. Free parking and flexible scheduling are available.

Our Attorneys

Tori M. Appelhof

Partner

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Mary A. Pfeifer

Partner

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Kathy K. Hart

Partner

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Client testimonials

"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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