When you and your spouse divorce and you have kids, one of the main points of stress is how to develop a parenting plan and/or a custody agreement. Your children did not make the decision to divorce yet their lives are significantly impacted by this change. You may be wondering how to approach the custody process in a way that keeps your children’s best interest at the center of these decisions. Johnson Mediation is an experienced mediation company that specializes in helping families navigate the divorce process with a child-focused approach, conserving financial resources and reducing overall conflict. Here are some things you should know related to custody in Minnesota if you family is entering into the divorce process:
1. The state of Minnesota generally assumes that joint custody is in the child’s best interest as long as there are no allegations of domestic abuse.
2. The courts will weigh issues like the emotional needs of the child, medical issues, educational needs and even the preference of the child if they are mature enough to articulate those preferences.
3. Minnesota requires that couples attempt an alternative dispute resolution technique like mediation to resolve the terms of a divorce, including child custody.
4. Divorce mediation services gives couples the opportunity to come up with a custody agreement that meets the unique needs of your family, rather than leaving this major decision in the hands of a judge.
5. In addition to mediation services, you can also access other parenting support services like parenting consulting services, parenting time expeditor services and more. When you partner with a firm like Johnson Mediation, you can get the support you need to navigate the process from start to finish.
Navigating Divorce with a Child Focused Approach
There is nothing that can make determining your custody agreement easy. But, one thing that can help and can reduce the stress level, reduce the financial burden and reduce the conflict is divorce mediation and parenting support services. Johnson Mediation brings compassion, knowledge of the Minnesota law, personal and professional experience and attention to detail to every case, always keeping the wellbeing of the kids at the top of mind. Johnson Mediation now offers virtual and in person sessions depending on your preference as well as a free consultation so that you can ask questions and determine if working with our staff is a good fit. For more information, give us a call at 952-401-7599.
