Washington County, MN Family Law Attorneys Deliver Reliable Results for Couples Seeking Legal Separations

Assisting clients throughout Dakota County, Burnsville, Stillwater and Woodbury, MN

Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. understands divorce is not always the answer. We take the time to listen to your situation and discuss all the legal options available to you. Having all the information you need helps you make the right decisions for your family. Whether you decide to pursue a legal separation, divorce or even an annulment, we collaborate with you to develop a strategy designed to meet your needs. We deliver intelligent family law representation in every case.

What is the difference between divorce and legal separation?

A legal separation involves nearly the same process as a divorce and takes a similar amount of time. The key difference is that after a legal separation, you are still married. You cannot get remarried because you are not divorced. If you are legally separated and ultimately decide to get a divorce, you must start the divorce process from the beginning.

Common reasons couples choose a legal separation

Maintaining a legal marriage relationship is important for people who, for various reasons, do not want to divorce. Couples may choose a legal separation instead of a divorce, for any of the following reasons:

Religious beliefs
Moral values

Maintaining health insurance
Financial reasons

A legal separation mirrors a divorce in several ways. Both proceedings address custody, support and parenting time, if there are children of the marriage. A court can award alimony in a legal separation and can divide the marital debts and assets. One of our experienced legal separation attorneys can guide you to the option that’s right for you.

Legal separation agreement

At Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., our attorneys are experienced at preparing legal separation agreements. We listen carefully to your situation and collaborate with you in drafting an agreement that meets your needs. Whether you have children and need to address custody and support issues, or have a complex estate and need professional asset division assistance, we have the skills to craft a separation agreement you can rely on.

Discuss legal separation at our Oakdale MN office

Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. represents clients throughout Minnesota, including in Washington County, Dakota County, Burnsville, Eagan, and Woodbury, MN. Contact us online, or call us at 651-379-3024 to arrange a free consultation. Flexible appointments 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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