A Firm Dedicated To Family Law. Attorneys Dedicated To Client Service.
Last updated on September 26, 2024
A family law dispute impacts your personal life and your family more deeply than perhaps any other legal issue. Because of this, you need to trust that your attorney will always work in the best interests of you and your children.
That’s exactly what you can expect when you contact Frago & Lasswell, P.A. Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined legal experience, and our practice is entirely focused on family law. You and your legal issues will be their top priority.
Assistance With All Of Your Divorce And Child Custody Concerns
We understand how overwhelming it can be to face the end of your marriage. This can be one of the most difficult experiences a person will face in their life. Suddenly, you are faced with several questions about what steps to take in order to build a new future for yourself and your family. Our lawyers can assist you with a wide range of matters pertaining to your divorce or legal separation, such as:
- Negotiating the equitable division of your assets and debts
- Resolving spousal maintenance issues (also called alimony)
- Establishing child custody and parenting time
- Navigating child support issues
During your free initial appointment, our attorneys will discuss the various methods that can be used to resolve your family law case in order to select the process that works best for you. Some of those options are discussed below.
You May Have More Legal Options Than You Realize
Nearly everyone is familiar with litigation, but this is no longer the only way to resolve disputes. In fact, it is often the least desirable option for couples, especially those with children.
Whenever possible, we encourage our clients to consider collaborative law and forms of alternative dispute resolution, including Mediation, Early Neutral Evaluation, and Moderated Settlement Conferences:
Collaborative divorce: Similar to mediation, collaborative law takes place outside the courtroom and involves direct negotiation. Instead of a mediator, however, each spouse is represented by their own attorney, as they negotiate the terms of the divorce or custody matter.
Early Neutral Evaluation: This is a voluntary process where both parties can receive a candid and knowledgeable assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of their case. Having this information provided by a neutral third party helps to set appropriate expectations in later dispute resolution processes.
Mediation: Instead of leaving decisions up to a judge, divorcing couples and/or co-parents work with a neutral mediator to come to agreements on their own. The mediator’s job is to facilitate discussion, which means that the decisions reached are entirely up to the two parties involved.
Moderated Settlement Conference: A moderated settlement conference is a last-ditch attempt to settle a case before trial. The approach is similar to early neutral evaluation, but is even more evaluative and usually takes place at the courthouse or virtually with the judge available to answer questions and to put agreements on the record that day.
Whether they help you resolve your matter through collaborative law, mediation, or Early Neutral Evaluation, or in a moderated settlement conference, our attorneys will make sure you feel supported every step of the way.
Supporting Unmarried Parents With Legal Issues Related To Their Children
Family law isn’t just about divorce. It is now very common to have children outside of marriage, whether or not the parents are romantically involved. These families also need the legal protections a family law attorney can provide.
If you are an unmarried parent (or suspect you might be), our firm can assist you with issues like determining parentage, obtaining genetic testing, handling matters of recognition of parentage, establishing child custody and parenting time (visitation) schedules, and child support.
Contact Our Northfield Office To Speak To Our Experienced Family Lawyers
Frago & Lasswell, P.A., has been serving the family law needs of Minnesotans since 2002. From our office in Northfield, the firm represents clients from Burnsville to Rochester and Mankato to Winona. To schedule your initial consultation, submit an online contact form or call 507-663-7998.