Family Law Representation from Skilled, Caring Twin Cities Lawyers

When you are involved in a divorce or other family law matter, you need an experienced lawyer who will understand the emotion, stress and anxiety that often comes along with family-related disputes. You also want an attorney with the knowledge to properly advise you of your options and help you make informed decisions that protect your interests.

At Cloutier & Brandl, P.A., our primary family law attorney, Liz Cloutier, has over 20 years of experience representing clients in family law matters. She was voted "Favorite Female Family Law Attorney" in March of 2008 by readers of Minnesota Women's Press, Inc. She successfully litigated a wide variety of cases throughout the Twin Cities Metro area and around the State of Minnesota.

Cloutier & Brandl, P.A. represents both women and men in divorce, child support, domestic abuse, paternity, adoption, and prenuptial agreements. We also handle post-decree matters involving modification of custody, child support, parenting time or spousal support decrees. In the majority of cases, it is possible to negotiate a resolution of disputes with opposing parties and their attorneys or to attend mediation to reach a settlement. If alternative dispute resolution is not an option or is unsuccessful, we have the skills, legal knowledge and expertise to litigate cases and successfully advocate for our clients in court.

We handle matters related to the following:

• Child custody and parenting time: We help you negotiate and implement custody and parenting time (commonly referred to as "visitation") arrangements that protect both the
  best interests of your child and your rights as a parent.
• Child support: In January of 2007, Minnesota dramatically changed its child support system. Under the new laws, the amount of child support paid is determined in a slightly different way; it is now calculated by analyzing both parents' gross incomes and the amount of parenting time each parent has, regardless of who has custody. We will work with you to ensure that the Minnesota child support guidelines are properly fairly applied and that calculations performed by the court are correct. We can also help you seek deviations from guideline recommendations if those are appropriate for your unique situation.
• Spousal maintenance/Alimony: We will help you determine if spousal support is appropriate and if so, the amount, frequency and duration of payments.
• Property distribution: We will work with you to establish and implement a workable plan for the equitable division of marital assets. We will make certain that you are awarded all "non-marital" property (i.e. that you received through inheritance, gifts or that you owned prior to the marriage) and can help you perform a thorough accounting of assets if you suspect your spouse is hiding property.
• Motions for Temporary Relief: Early in your case, we can file motions to have the court establish emergency payment of child or spousal support, implement temporary child custody and parenting time schedules and perform a perfunctory distribution of assets or debts.
• Motions for Modification: We are often retained to file motions to modify prior divorce decrees or court orders. If there have been substantial changes in your circumstances (or those of your former spouse) that would warrant a change in the amount of child support you pay or receive, new custody or parenting time arrangements or a change to spousal support amounts, we will ask the court to reconsider their previous orders. Since Minnesota significantly overhauled its child support laws in 2007, we have helped many clients modify prior child support orders that are no longer in compliance with the law.
• Motions for Contempt: In the event that a party fails to pay child support, will not allow parenting time, has not turned over property or has otherwise violated a prior court order, we can file a motion to have that party held in contempt of court and seek sanctions.
• Establishment of Paternity
• Adoption, Second-Parent Adoptions and Step Parent Adoption
• Grandparents' rights, including adoptions
• Third-party custody when it is in the best interests of the child
• Domestic Partnerships
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
• Domestic Abuse proceedings, including seeking temporary restraining orders (TROs) or protective orders aimed at preventing further violence

We understand that when our clients are going though family law proceedings, they experience tremendous stress and frustration. We make every effort to be available to counsel our clients and we keep the lines of communication open with our clients, promptly returning phone calls and responding to emails.

Please call us at (612) 332-5100 for a free initial consultation to discuss your options today or contact us online.

Please also visit our resources page for links to several helpful family law websites. Or view one of our other pages on:

Bankruptcy
Criminal Defense
Employment Law
Estate Planning
Family Law
GLBT
Personal Injury
Workers' Compensation

Cloutier & Brandl, P.A.
12 S. 6th Street, Suite 510
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: (612) 332-5100
Fax: (612) 344-1220
Toll Free: (800) 878-2334

At the law offices of Cloutier & Brandl, P.A., in Minneapolis, we represent clients throughout the Twin Cities Metro area, including St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Fridley, Bloomington and Roseville; and in Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Washington County, Anoka County, Dakota County, Carver County, Scott County, Wright County and Sherburne County, in addition to locations outside the Metro area.