Outside of the legal profession, custody is simple. After a divorce, who takes care of your children?

Within this simple question, though, other details come up.  Where will your children live? Who will make decisions about raising them?

There are two different kinds of custody and two different ways each can be awarded to a parent by the court. Read the rest of this article »

Celebrate your family at the 16th Annual Ramsey County Bar Association Families First Picnic.

The picnic brings together members of the Ramsey County Bar Association and local businesses to provide a fun event for area elementary school students and their parents. Schools include Bruce Vento, Dayton’s Bluff, Northend, and John A. Johnson.

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009
Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Where: John A. Johnson Elementary School
740 York Avenue
St. Paul, MN
Click here for directions.

For more information, click here for the Ramsey County Bar Association site.

One of the hardest parts of any family law case is, of course, what happens to your family during and after the proceedings.

We know your children are important to you. We know you want to continue to be the best parent you can be.  There are many organizations right here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area that will help you do just this. Read the rest of this article »

Undergoing a family law proceeding is hard enough. And then there’s the legal lingo.

What’s the difference between a “legal separation” and a “divorce”?
What’s the difference between “joint legal custody” and “joint physical custody”?

At a time when you already have a lot to think about, trying to understand complicated legal terms is the last thing you want to do.

At Butler & Allen, P.A., we know your family law case is a stressful event. So when everything else is at its worst, we’re here for you, giving you our best. Read the rest of this article »

Tifanne E. E. Wolter has joined the experienced staff of family law attorneys at St. Paul based firm Butler & Allen, P.A.

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Coping with a divorce is difficult for everyone involved, but it can be particularly difficult for your children. When you’re not even sure how to deal with the situation yourself, it’s confusing to try to help to help your children cope, too.

A good, simple rule is to be as open and honest as you can about the details of the divorce that will impact your children’s lives, while accepting their emotions, even if you’re surprised by these reactions. Read the rest of this article »

Coping with a divorce is a difficult, emotional process, and the complicated forms and paperwork involved as you begin your divorce proceedings don’t make things any easier. During this challenging time, it’s important to find a lawyer that will not only guide you through the facts of your case but one that will also put you at ease. Working with a lawyer that isn’t right for you, whether it is because of their experience or their philosophy, can have a lasting detrimental impact.

But with everything going on in your life and all the information out there, it’s hard to know where to begin. While choosing a divorce lawyer is a personal decision that’s unique to you and your situation, here are some tips to help you start sorting everything out.

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“Appeals Court Limits Permanent Alimony” is an Associated Press article quoting Butler & Allen, P.A. partner Linda Allen.

A spouse who doesn’t try to become self-sufficient after a divorce shouldn’t be awarded long-term alimony, the Minneasota Court of Appeals has decided.

A three-judge panel ruled Tuesday in the case of Patricia Youker, who earned a two-year fashion degree during her 18-year marriage. She was dressing mannequins for a department store and earning much less than her husband, Nick, when they divorced in 1999.

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“Court Gives Parental Rights a Boost” is a Pioneer Press article by Hannah Allam quoting Butler & Allen, P.A. partner Linda Allen.

Emphasizing the importance of parental rights, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Thursday that only in the most extraordinary circumstances should a child be removed from a surviving parent’s care if the other parent dies.
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The following article written by Daniel R. Butler, Butler & Allen, P.A., was published in the December 1995 volume of Law & Politics. This article discusses the reality of gender issues in family law court proceedings.

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