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The Family Mediation Program is a great way for parties to salvage their co-parenting relationship and to come to an agreement that is beneficial for all.

If you are a parent, you are given certain rights and responsibilities when your child is born.  What are Parental Rights? These rights include the ability to make decisions regarding your child’s education, health, religion, and moral upbringing. Parental rights...

When an opposing party violates a court order, the other party is free to bring a motion for contempt. What is a motion for contempt? It is a legal remedy that can be used when a party intentionally and willfully disobeys a court order. To prove contempt, a party...

Have you recently learned that you are a father? If so, first of all, congratulations are in order! Once the shock begins to wear off, you may begin to wonder “what are my parental rights?” The answer will depend on whether you are married and the state you reside...

It’s no shocker that in divorces involving minor children and custody cases, more often than not, the parties are not a fan of each other and will do whatever it takes to get what they want (i.e. primary custody). “Whatever it takes” however, often leads to one...

Valentine’s Day is a day of love and romance. However, Cupid’s arrow doesn’t strike everyone. An article published in The New York Post found that divorce rates skyrocket up to 40% after Valentine’s Day, as compared to the previous six months. Because of that,...

Throughout the United States, roughly 3 million gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) Americans have had a child. In North Dakota, members of the LGBTQ+ community make up 2.7% of the population. According to a 2019 study by The Williams Institute, 10% of...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpaIAGYwmuU&t=2s Let's talk about custody, otherwise known as primary residential responsibility. Let's also talk about parenting time, whether you're in North Dakota or Minnesota, the court's primary concern is not the...

In custody cases, when parties do not share joint custody (AKA equal residential responsibility), one parent is considered the custodial parent and is awarded primary residential responsibility. The non-custodial parent is typically awarded parenting time. Whether...

There are two types of custody arrangements in North Dakota: equal residential responsibility (when parents share 50/50 custody) and primary residential responsibility (when one parent has the child 51% of the time or greater). Parent with Primary Residential...

In North Dakota, when a couple has a minor child and they separate or divorce, there will be a child support order. How is this calculated? See below. (1) What Does Child Support Cover? Child support is in place to ensure that the child is financially supported...

If a party fails to respond to a complaint or a motion in their case, they take the risk of the Court entering a default judgment against them. You might be asking yourself, what is a default judgment? In simple terms, it is an order entered by the court after a...

While social media is primarily used to share information and to keep in touch with family and friends, it is progressively being used within family law cases to assist attorneys with collecting evidence against the opposing party or anyone who may hinder their...

Getting a divorce can be a stressful process, especially when there are children involved and custody is contested. But what happens to the family pets? This question is becoming increasingly more relevant. As of 2021, two out of every three American households...

Parental kidnapping occurs when one parent takes their child without the other parent’s consent. This happens in two ways: 1) a parent violates their custody agreement and takes off with the child; or 2) when there is no...

Understanding Spousal Support in North Dakota North Dakota allows for spousal support payments—also called “alimony”— when justice so requires in a divorce case. Spousal support is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to another during and/or after a divorce to...

By Alexis Doree | Material Changes and Best Interests of the Child In child custody cases, decisions regarding residential responsibility (physical custody), decision-making responsibility (legal custody), and parenting time schedules can be especially challenging....

By Alexis Doree | Getting Married? Consider a Prenuptial Agreements If you recently got engaged, first off, congratulations! Wedding planning can be an exciting (and chaotic) time in a couple’s life. While your main focus may be saying yes to the...

By Alexis Doree | What Not to Do in Your Child Custody Case When two parents separate and are unable to come to a mutual agreement, there is no alternative but to turn to the Court system. While parents say they are doing what is best for their child, there can be...

By Alexis Doree | How to Survive the Christmas After a Divorce While the holidays may be the best time of the year, they can also be the most stressful. This is especially true for families going through a separation or divorce. These families are faced with...

By: Alexis Doree | Steps for Adoption in North Dakota Adoption is the legal process by which an individual takes on the relationship of a parent to a child of another person, particularly (but not necessarily) a minor. Adoptions are easily one of the happiest parts...

By: Alexis Doree | HOW TO MODIFY YOUR CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION In North Dakota custody cases, generally, one party will have a child support obligation set in accordance with the North Dakota Child Support Guidelines. Modifying such an obligation is not always...

By: Alexis Doree | How the Court Determines Child Custody When parents divorce or separate, decisions regarding custody of the children must be made. This can be the most difficult and tumultuous part of a case. If the parties cannot come to an agreement on...