ARE POSTNUPTIAL AGREEMENTS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE FOR MOTHERS?

On behalf of Askvig & Johnson, PLLP

Residents of Minnesota are likely familiar with prenuptial agreements and the purpose they serve. These agreements are negotiated before marriage, and they often come into play if and when a couple divorces.

Prenuptial agreements are becoming relatively common amongst certain parts of the American population. However, there is a different agreement that may be new to many residents of Minnesota, but may apply to their living situation, specifically stay at home moms. This agreement is known as the postnuptial agreement.

A postnuptial agreement is created after a couple has married. Interestingly, research shows this type of agreement is on the rise with Americans. A 2012 survey showed 51 percent of divorce attorneys have noticed an increase in postnuptial agreements in the past three years and 36 percent noticed these agreements are being initiated by the wives.

Some are saying postnuptial agreements are important for women who have left a lucrative career to become a stay at home mom. This is significant because it is often difficult for mothers to regain their footing in the professional world after staying home with their children for several years. Family law statutes vary by state, and some argue these laws protect stay at home moms enough that they do not need a postnuptial agreement.

Given this state-by-state approach, it may be a good idea for couples considering a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement to speak with an experienced family law attorney. An attorney can help couples understand how such agreements can ease the divorce process should it occur, and he or she may be able to draft documents that specify how the couple would want certain family law issues resolved.

Source: The Daily Beast, "Why Stay-at-Home Moms Should Demand Postnuptial Agreements," Keli Goff, Dec. 3, 2013

Downtown Saint Paul

Do you love Downtown Saint Paul as much as we do? Home to the Xcel Energy Center, the Ordway, and Mickey's Diner, this area has so much to offer… Including our office, located in the US Bank Center on East 5th Street! More and more great restaurants and events are popping up in the area everyday, such as the recent Lowertown Blues Festival and the weekly music in Mears Park. With all of that, we are extremely excited that the Green Line Light Rail system is now up and running. Our building is located approximately 1 block from the Robert Street Station, allowing for a convenient commute!  

We are excited that the Green Line can help continue to connect the communities of St. Paul and Minneapolis! Check out http://onthegreenline.com for ideas on activities and places to visit along the Line! 

ARE DADS BECOMING MORE SUCCESSFUL IN CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES?

On behalf of Askvig & Johnson, PLLP 

Divorcing Minnesota parents may be worried about what their decision to end their marriage means for the kids. It is also likely that, although both parents are probably concerned, the types of concerns vary between the mother and the father.

Courts have historically made decisions about parenting time using the best interests of the child standard. Numerous fathers think this means that the courts will automatically favor the child's mother when it comes to child custody. However, recent trends seem to be showing that this is not actually the case.

This past summer a research study released statistics stating that 8% of households with minor children are run by a single father. This is up from 1% of households in 1960. Although the number of households headed by a single father have increased nine-fold in this time, the number of households headed by a single mother have only increased four-fold in the same time period.

What do these statistics mean? They appear to point to two things. The first is that the rate of divorce has certainly increased since the 1960s. Second, there is a growing acceptance of fathers being the primary caregiver for their children.

According to another study, this trend has begun as more and more states, including Minnesota, have started making a move toward joint child custody rather than establishing sole custody with one parent. Although courts believed this would increase the occurrence of parents sharing the responsibility of taking care of their children, it has instead impacted the father's relationship with children and made fathers feel more empowered to ask for, and even fight for, custody of their children.

When a couple divorces fathers should certainly feel that they have the right to fight for time spent with their children if that is what they want. The best way to do this is to find an experienced family law attorney who can advocate for the father's rights and help them obtain the time that they so desire and deserve to spend with their children after divorce.

Source: The Atlantic, "The rise of the single dad," Caroline Kitchener, Feb. 24, 2014

2014 Minnesota Super Lawyers

Congratulations to our very own Jill Johnson for being named to the 2014 List of Minnesota Super Lawyers! Check out the following link for more details on this exciting accomplishment! 

http://www.superlawyers.com/minnesota/lawyer/Jill-M-Johnson/d63a3b26-d3c6-49e0-a302-e4789313218b.html

Find us on Facebook or at www.askvigjohnsonlaw.com for more information.

ABOUT ASKVIG & JOHNSON, PLLP

At the law firm of Askvig & Johnson, PLLP, we represent clients throughout Ramsey County and the Twin Cities in all aspects of family law, including:

• Divorce
• High-asset divorce
• Child custody and parenting time
• Child support
• Spousal maintenance and alimony
• Property division
• Paternity
• Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements
• Order for protection and harassment restraining orders
• Post-divorce modifications
• Business valuations

The decision to divorce is a difficult one to make, particularly if children are involved. It creates profound stress and often precipitates many other life changes. With decades of experience in divorce and matrimonial law in Minnesota, we thoroughly understand the continuously evolving Minnesota case law and legislation that impacts the divorce process. In addition to acting as an advocate and adviser for our clients, we understand the pressure felt by those involved in the divorce process and work to address their personal concerns.

Our family law attorneys have 30 years of combined experience helping clients starting the next chapter of their life with the right safeguards in place. We are committed to applying our years of experience and legal skills to help you deal with all the underlining issues related to your divorce. Our attorneys are highly respected throughout the Minnesota legal community. We have earned a reputation as strong client advocates and skilled litigators. While we always attempt to negotiate a fair settlement for each client, our opponents know we are fully prepared to go to Court in order to protect our clients' interests. In every case, we take the time to fully understand our clients' goals and expectations with regard to the outcome. We will provide a straightforward assessment of the potential outcomes and give you a realistic view of what you should expect as your case moves forward. You can always rely on us to treat you with respect and to handle your case with complete discretion.

MEET THE STAFF!

Jonathan K. Askvig practices exclusively in the area of family law. He is a partner in the law firm and focuses his practice on child custody, support, spousal maintenance, property division and business valuation as well as domestic abuse issues. Jon graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 1996. He is an experienced litigator and a member of the Minnesota State and Ramsey County Bar Associations. Jon has lectured on family law issues at Continuing Legal Education seminars and was selected numerous times as a "Rising Star".

Jill M. Johnson practices exclusively in the area of family law. She is a partner in the law firm and focuses her practice on child custody, support, spousal maintenance, property division and business valuation as well as domestic abuse issues. Jill graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 2003. She is an experienced litigator and a member of the Minnesota State and Ramsey County Bar Association. Jill was also highlighted in Mpls.St.Paul Magazine in July, 2014.

Brooke M. Reynolds is a paralegal at Askvig & Johnson, working exclusively in the area of family law. She has been a paralegal with a family law focus since 2002. Brooke assists the attorneys and the client in a wide range of family law matters; including the preparation of pleadings, correspondence, and discovery. She also works closely with the attorneys in case management, organization and analysis, and prepares documents for mediation or litigation. Brooke acts as a liaison between attorneys, the court, experts and opposing counsel.

To obtain more specific information on how we can help you with your family law matters, please contact us at 651-224-7473. More information can also be found at our website at http://www.askvigjohnsonlaw.com.