The property settlement you receive upon your divorce will form the financial cornerstone of your life. There is no blanket approach to property division that will be right for everyone. During the divorce process, a skilled family law attorney on your side can help you explore a variety of techniques and strategies that can be used to address property division. A well-qualified divorce lawyer can guide you efficiently toward the ultimate goal of the best solution under the circumstances of your marital estate and unique aspects of your particular divorce.
Helping You Get A Fair Property Settlement
The law firm of Sheridan & Dulas, P.A., works diligently to achieve fair property settlements. We do not ascribe to a rubber-stamp approach to our clients’ critical property division matters, but rather, make use of our experience by analyzing each case in detail. We have the experience, knowledge, and resources needed to guide you in arriving at the best methods to suit your individual situation.
Experienced And Knowledgeable Asset Division Attorneys
Our attorneys have nearly 30 years of experience in the field of family law. During that time, we have handled a wide range of divorce cases, including high-asset divorces and other complex valuation cases. Whenever possible, we prefer to use negotiation and collaborative law techniques to achieve fair and workable solutions. If it is necessary, however, our attorneys will be prepared to conduct assertive litigation to protect your rights and interests.
The Property Division Process
Property division in Minnesota is a three-step process. Marital property (that which is acquired during the course of the marriage, with some exceptions), must be identified, valued, and finally divided on some basis. Some of the many issues that need to be considered during the process include:
Identification of marital property
Minnesota law assumes that all property is marital unless proven otherwise. After identifying all assets that make up the marital estate, there will be an opportunity for either side to bring nonmarital property claims regarding specific assets, if applicable. The process of tracing assets to determine what might not be marital property is complex. We are knowledgeable and experienced in this nuanced area of family law.
Valuation of marital property
Generally, parties to a divorce have the opportunity to agree about the value of the marital property, perhaps working from taxation statements and similar documentation. When there are disagreements over the value of the property, we can recommend and facilitate collaboration with appropriate professionals, such as appraisers and business valuation specialists, as necessary. Our firm has significant experience in cases involving ownership of businesses and ownership of professional practices.
Division of marital property
In Minnesota, marital property and debts are subject to “equitable distribution,” not necessarily on a 50/50 basis. However, a 50/50 division is often the starting point in family law courts. Property may, in fact, be divided into a number of different ways. Having a lawyer who understands the short-term and long-term consequences of a particular method of property division is advantageous as clients must make decisions during the process of divorce. DeAnne Dulas and Andrew Hunstad have the experience and advocacy skills needed to advise you on how to protect your own best interests during the discovery process, settlement negotiations, and if necessary at trial.
Contact Our Firm
Contact our office today at 651-686-8800 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation. Our family law lawyers practice across the Twin Cities, including Dakota, Washington, Hennepin, Scott, Carver, Ramsey, Goodhue, and Anoka counties, and in greater Minnesota.
