Rochester Tag

by Amanda Van Wyhe

Rochester MN Divorce Support

by Amanda Van Wyhe

MN Parenting Class Requirements

Any parent involved in a contested custody or divorce case in Minnesota is required to complete a minimum of 8 hours of parenting education. Generally, parents are required to begin the course within 30 days of the first filing in the case and before any ICMC (initial case management conference). Courses are offered in person, via video conferencing and online. Below is a link to the current court approved courses in the Third Judicial District which includes the following counties: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona.

Approved MN Parenting Education Courses

by Amanda Van Wyhe

What Will My Divorce Cost?

One of the first questions people ask when hiring a divorce or family law attorney is how much it will cost. While we cannot guarantee what your total cost will be (it depends on your own individual facts and circumstances), the guidelines below will give you an estimate. Van Wyhe Law Firm hourly fees are $325 for attorneys and $145 for paralegals. We require a retainer payment to be made at the first client meeting. The retainer amount that has to be paid up front is generally between $3,000 and $6,000.

(more…)

by Amanda Van Wyhe

Social Media is Divorce Lawyers’ New Best Friend: Whatever You Share Online Can (And Will) Be Used Against You in Court

A must read for anyone going through a divorce. Facebook and other social media posts are commonly used in divorce proceedings, so don’t post anything that you do not want the Judge to see. Leanne Italie of the Associated Press writes:

Forgot to de-friend your wife on Facebook while posting vacation shots of your mistress? Her divorce lawyer will be thrilled.

Oversharing on social networks has led to an overabundance of evidence in divorce cases. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers says 81% of its members have used or faced evidence plucked from Facebook [] and other social networking sites, including YouTube and LinkedIn, over the last five years.

“Oh, I’ve had some fun ones,” said Linda Lea Viken, president-elect of the 1,600-member group. “It’s very, very common in my new cases.”

Facebook is the unrivaled leader for turning virtual reality into real-life divorce drama, Viken said. 66% of the lawyers surveyed cited Facebook foibles as the source of online evidence, she said.

[] About one in five adults uses Facebook for flirting, according to a 2008 report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. But it’s not just kissy pix with the manstress or mistress that show up as evidence. Think of Dad forcing son to de-friend mom, bolstering her alienation of affection claim against him.

Social Media in Divorce (Read More)