St. Cloud PCG's Law Blog

Fighting back against parental alienation

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

There is really no such thing as standard parenting. On the contrary, every parent must decide what works best for his or her child. Still, with a bit of effort and some flexibility, you can likely raise well-adjusted kids. You should not, however, have to contend with a co-parent who actively tries to undercut your parent-child relationship.

Parental alienation occurs when one parent psychologically manipulates a child to foster fear, anger, distrust or hostility toward the other parent. While parental alienation can occur in married couples, it is seemingly more common with divorced parents who share parenting responsibilities. You do not have to stand idly by while your ex-spouse alienates your kids.

Clearing your criminal record

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Mistakes people make in their youth should not always have to follow them into their adult life. However, in regard to certain criminal charges, that can often be the case.

Thankfully, it may be possible for parties to clear their criminal records. There are a few important things to understand about this process.

Ways to decrease the impact of divorce on your child

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC on Monday, September 23, 2019.

Parents seek to protect their children whenever possible. Unfortunately, there are times when parents cannot completely prevent uncomfortable, confusing or painful situations.

Having parents that are going through the divorce process is one of those unfortunate situations. However, there are a few strategies parents can employ to help decrease the impact of divorce on a child.

3 effective ways to cope with the aftermath of divorce

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

Fully realizing that you are no longer part of a couple is likely the first post-divorce fact to absorb, but it will not be the last.

Divorce is one of the most intense, unsettling events that can happen in your life. Here are three recommendations to help you cope successfully with the aftermath.

About underage DUI and the disruption to your future

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC posted in Criminal Defense on Monday, August 12, 2019.

If law enforcement arrests you on suspicion of DUI , you will face more than the legal penalties.

As a driver under the age of 21, an arrest for drunk driving will complicate your life in the coming days and weeks, but a conviction will complicate your future.

How much does a divorce cost in Minnesota?

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

A lot is on your mind when contemplating divorce. Who will get the house? How will it affect the children? It is a very emotionally challenging event to endure.

There is also the practical side to worry about, such as how much it will cost. The average, according to The Street, is $15,000 per spouse. Your bill depends on numerous factors.

The stepparent adoption process in Minnesota

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC on Tuesday, June 11, 2019.

The love of a parent is critical in the proper development of a child. Sometimes, that parental love is strongest with non-biological parents. For stepparents looking to adopt their spouses' children, it is important to be familiar with all aspects of the process. Particularly in Minnesota, the stepparent adoption process can fall into three main parts:

Why divorce is rarely ever 50/50

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

The divorce rate usually happens to between 40 and 50% of all marriages. It is lower in some states than others, such as Minnesota. The state has one of the lowest stress rates in the country, which likely contributes to its lower divorce rate.

Any couples going into divorce need to debunk some common myths before getting too far along. For example, many couples assume the court will divide all assets in an even split. However, that is not always the case. While some states call for an equal distribution of property, Minnesota is not one of them. Minnesota calls for an equitable division of assets, which means divorce is not always 50/50. This means each spouse walks away from the marriage with property the court deemed fair considering all circumstances.

What constitutes a fair and equitable property settlement?

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.

If you face obtaining a Minnesota divorce, one of the things that likely concerns you the most is the way in which you and your spouse will split up your marital assets. As you may know, Minnesota requires an equitable distribution of marital property in any divorce. But what makes up a fair and equitable property settlement?

Unfortunately, no definition exists for “fair and equitable.” While a 50/50 split of marital property may be fair and equitable for one divorcing couple, it may not be so for you and your spouse. It all depends on your circumstances.

Do you want to keep better control over your divorce?

On behalf of Pennington, Cherne, Gaarder & Geiger Hagen, PLLC on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.

If you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage, you may be dreading litigation and having to comply with the decisions a judge will make for your life going forward.

There is, however, another option. Mediation has many advantages over litigation, and one of them is allowing you and your spouse to control the outcome of your divorce.