Divorce

Having an experienced divorce attorney guide you through a divorce will give you the peace of mind you need during this difficult time. If you and your spouse have reached an agreement concerning all aspects of your divorce early in the process, Pladson Law Office can help you finalize your divorce. A simple divorce is not always easy, and it involves significant court filings. We will educate you on the process of the divorce from start to finish and make sure that you have considered all important issues. We will take the time to explain how the process works and how long it will take. When you are ready for resolution, we are too. 

The first step in moving forward with your uncontested divorce is to make an appointment at Pladson Law Office. Our first meeting is an opportunity to get to know each other and for our attorneys to answer all of your questions. We take detailed information from you so that we have the information we need to finalize your divorce process. If you feel that Pladson Law Office is right for you, we will have you execute a retainer agreement, which carefully describes our fees so that you know what to expect. 

Although your divorce is uncontested, there are still many documents that will need to be prepared to finalize your divorce. We will draft those documents for you and provide advice to you regarding your different choices throughout the entire process. Some of those documents include:

• Summons. This is a notice to your spouse that a divorce action has been started and it provides your spouse with a time-frame in which he or she needs to respond to your Complaint.

• Complaint. This document sets forth the facts of the marriage, such as your name and identifying information, information regarding children, and whether or not you have assets and debts. It also tells the court what you are asking for in your final divorce judgment. 

• Admission of Service.  This is a document that can be signed by your spouse so that he or she does not have to be personally served by a sheriff or process server. The document simply states that your spouse has received the paperwork, not that your spouse necessarily agrees or disagrees with anything that is in the paperwork. 

• Confidential Information Form. This document contains your private information such as the full names of your children, dates of birth and social security numbers. This is not a public document, so your information will be protected. 

• Settlement Agreement.  This is the contract to end your marriage. It is this document that carefully defines the terms of how you and your spouse will live separately. It will address all issues relating to children and the division of all of your assets and debts. 

We will work with you to create a first draft of the proposed settlement agreement and send it to you for your review and approval. It is important that our clients have a chance to review our work and ask any questions. Once you approve the proposed settlement agreement, we will decide together how the document will be provided to your spouse. In an uncontested divorce, there are many different ways to move toward resolution and the choice is always yours. 

We will work with you to make all of the requested and agreed upon edits to the proposed settlement agreement, so that the document will eventually reach a point where it can be signed by both parties. Once the settlement agreement is signed, the process can move forward very quickly, but more paperwork is still required. 

We will file all of the relevant documents with the court and ensure the appropriate filing fee is paid. The court administrator will then open your file, issue a court file number and a judge will be assigned to your case. We will then prepare the proposed concluding paperwork, including the proposed divorce judgment, for the judge to sign, so that your matter can be finalized. Sometimes a hearing is required, but in most cases a hearing is not necessary. Once the judge signs the concluding paperwork, we will ensure that both parties are notified according to the rules. We will also take the time to advise you regarding any other issues that may need attention, such as the transfer of property deeds, car titles, retirement account allocation and the transfer of personal property, and will draft any paperwork that may be needed to conclude such issues.

There is no need to be overwhelmed by the divorce process. We are here to reduce your stress and to assure you that your case will be handled correctly from start to finish.  If you are facing an uncontested divorce, we are here to help. Pladson Law Office will give you the practical and cost-effective advice you need to finalize your divorce. 

Are the issues in your case more complex or complicated? You will need an experienced attorney to handle all of the issues what arise. “Cheap advice” is not always in your best interests. The decisions you make today will impact you for years to come. You need to be educated during this process and we are here to help. At Pladson Law Office, our attorneys, DeAnn Pladson and Kristen Hushka, help clients in North Dakota and Minnesota manage all aspects of divorce proceedings. Our years of experience will benefit you, while we ensure all issues and aspects of your divorce are considered thoroughly. Call Pladson Law Office today so that you can be informed and fully prepared to address your divorce and custody issues. 

Your Support System When Facing Divorce Challenges

Whether you and your spouse have only been married a few years or your relationship has spanned decades, dividing marital property and assets can be a difficult undertaking, not to mention the emotional factors that can play into the proceedings. As your lawyers, we focus on the legal and financial matters so you can focus on yourself and your children. Some issues we will address include:

• Identifying and dividing marital property and assets
• Dividing closely held businesses as well as farmland or other property
• Division of debts
• Determining the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities
• Child support
• Spousal support (alimony)

When going through a divorce, it's important to know your options. This means understanding the pros and cons at each turn and being a part of the decision making process. Although many people view divorce as a contentious or strictly adversarial process, it doesn't have to be. We use our skills as mediators and trained parenting investigators to help you identify the best strategy for you as well as your children.   

Let Our Divorce Attorneys Focus on the Legal Issues So You Can Look Toward Tomorrow

Whether you are considering filing for divorce, have questions about mediation and other ADR methods or have been served papers and need to protect your interests, give us a call at our Fargo law office to schedule a consultation with Attorney Pladson or Attorney Hushka.