Edina Child Custody Lawyer

Edina Child Custody Attorney

The outcome of a child custody case has life-altering impacts on your life and those of your entire family. The stress of these potential outcomes can be overwhelming to parents already dealing with the high emotions involved in separation. Having a skilled and experienced Edina child custody lawyer throughout your legal proceedings can get you the most favorable outcome.

Experienced Child Custody Attorney in Edina, MN

Santana Law PLLC is a solo law firm focused on helping struggling Minnesota clients navigate the complexities of family law. Ronnie Santana, our founding family law attorney, brings a unique perspective to his practice. With experience as both a prosecutor and Edina criminal defense lawyer, he understands the strategies employed by opposing attorneys, allowing him to effectively counter them. His approach is detailed and personal to your unique situation.

Edina Child Custody Laws

Edina is known for being a family town, with 25% of its population being 19 and under. In Minnesota, when a court makes decisions about child custody, it has to focus on what is right for the child.

For Edina residents, child custody cases are usually overseen by the Family Justice Center, located at 110 South 4th Street in Minneapolis. Judges look at many factors when making their rulings, like: 

• The child’s emotional, physical, and cultural needs
• Whether the parents can provide stable and loving care
• If there has been domestic abuse
• Any health issues of either parent
• How involved each parent has been in raising the child
• Whether each parent supports the other’s role in their child’s life
• How changes might affect the child’s relationships and routines

In Minnesota, there’s no automatic rule for or against joint custody, and parents don’t have to split time equally for joint custody. It’s important to hire a child custody lawyer to assert your rights and work toward the most desirable outcome for your situation.

Child Support

Minnesota law provides guidelines that courts use as a starting point to decide child support payments. Unless the parents agree otherwise and the court approves, child support is divided between the parents based on each parent’s share of the total combined income.

With healthcare and social assistance, along with professional, scientific, and technical services, being the top employment industries in Edina, courts often have to consider the typical earning potential and stability within these fields when evaluating income for support calculations.

When a child does not live with the parent who has legal custody, the support amount is calculated using that parent’s income alone, without adding parenting expense adjustments, such as school supplies or transportation costs.

Parenting Time Laws in Minnesota

Parenting time is the scheduled time a child spends with each parent to maintain a relationship after a separation or divorce. The court will set a parenting schedule that is right for the child. However, if parenting time might harm the child’s health, the court can restrict it.

Not paying child support because of an inability to do so doesn’t mean a parent loses parenting time. From 2022 to 2023, there was an employment decline in Edina, from 26,100 employees to 25,900 employees. It’s important to provide direct communication about your financial standing to the courts.

If parenting time is unfairly denied, the court can:

• Order extra time to make up for it.
• Require reimbursement for costs caused by the denial.
• Possibly, change custody.

Courts take denying parenting time seriously, and they may hold a parent in contempt for repeated interference.

Hire a Child Custody Lawyer

Ronnie Santana understands the devastating emotional impacts a bad outcome can have on the entire family, which is why he’s passionate about supporting his clients and working tirelessly to secure the most favorable results.

A longtime Minnesota resident, Mr. Santana has dedicated his life to protecting the rights of his community. As a proud Latino attorney who is fluent in Spanish, he’s also devoted to serving the Twin Cities Latino community during their most difficult moments in life. He understands the impact that a cultural and language barrier can have on a client’s case. Mr. Santana can cross that barrier to provide the advocacy his clients need and deserve.

FAQs

In Minnesota, Can a Child Choose Which Parent They Want to Live With?

In Minnesota, the court has the final decision on which parent has custody of their child. However, amongst the various factors the courts use to make that decision, they may also factor in the child’s preferences. This can only happen if the child is deemed to have the ability and maturity to do so. This often means that the child must be older to have their opinion factored in, and their opinion cannot be influenced by any outside sources.

Do Mothers Have More Custody Rights Than Fathers in Minnesota?

No. However, if the parents are unmarried, the mother automatically has sole custody under Minnesota law. This is true, even if both parents are listed on the birth certificate. The father does not have legal rights to custody unless paternity is officially established through the court. Once paternity is confirmed, the father can ask the court for custody.

What Happens If the Other Parent Wants to Move Out of Minnesota With My Child?

If the other parent wants to move out of Minnesota, the law requires either an agreement from the other parent or permission from the court. The parent who wants to move must notify the other parent and, if there is no agreement, the court will schedule a hearing. At the hearing, the judge will decide whether the move is in the child’s interests by looking at various factors.

Are Custody Arrangements Permanent in Minnesota?

No. However, parents usually must wait at least one year after a custody order before asking to change it. If a request has already been made, they must wait two more years before trying again. However, the court can allow changes sooner if one parent is not following the parenting time schedule or the child is in danger. A judge can only change custody if something important has changed since the last order, and it would benefit the child.

Choose a Committed Edina Child Visitation Attorney

When you work with Ronnie Santana, you’ll never be alone. He can be there to guide and represent you throughout your case. Santana Law PLLC offers the strategic legal support necessary to navigate complex family law matters. Contact the office today to schedule your first consultation.