Ed Shaw Law

10/21/2025

Bankruptcy options exist for various financial situations.

Learning about Chapter 7 and its options.

08/20/2025

Choose the path that can provide a financial fresh start.

Separating fact from fiction.

08/18/2025

Child support is a messy issue at the best of times. It combines dealing with ex spouses or partners, and money, both are tough issues, at the same time. Support can be determined by the judge, or by an agreement. If the judge decides a formula sent by the state it is usually followed based on the incomes of both parents, and, the schedule of time the kids spend with each parent. Parents can always agree on support, if they agree the judge will generally follow the agreement, but, there are two things you need to know about support agreements.

1. if one of the parents receives public assistance of any kind, including medical assistance the county is a party, and, they can require that support be paid, even if the parents agree that it not be paid.

2. Any agreement on support is not permanent, meaning you and the other parent can agree on an amount of support, or, to not have any support payments, but, that can be changed by either parent at any time. I have often had people come to me when they agreed to not have child support, but, after their agreement the other parent decided to go after them for support. When this happens support will be set up, even if they agreed not to have it. I have seen this happen when one parent agreed to not ask for support, as long as the other parent let them get more out of the divorce, such as all of the house, or, other property, in exchange for agreeing to not go after them for support. Unfortunately, when the other parent goes back on the agreement there is usually nothing that can be done about it and they are able to set up support. What this means for you, be very careful when making agreements about support, do not bargain something else away in exchange for the other side reducing or eliminating your support, they are able to go back on that agreement.

-Ed Shaw

07/14/2025

Our bankruptcy attorneys understand that many causes of debt are outside of your control.

MN bankruptcy attorneys.

06/27/2025

Why do different states have different laws?

I get asked the question all of the time, "why are the laws different in each state, and, why do people need to get different lawyers when they have legal issues in other states?"
The answer goes back to the founding of our country, we have always had a federal system, meaning that individual states make most of their own laws, and, to a large extent govern themselves. Our country was formed not as a single entity, but, as a union of states which existed as colonies decades, in some cases more than a century before the United States became independent. Virginia and Massachusetts were founded over a hundred and fifty years before the U.S. Constitution was signed, at the time of signing they and the other 11 states were largely self governing, and wanted to keep it that way.
While state laws have much in common, with murder and theft being illegal everywhere and you can get divorced in any state, each state sets it's own penalties for crimes, and, it's own procedures for divorce, eviction, civil disputes, and other cases. I have practiced law for 30 years here in Minnesota, I have a pretty good idea of how criminal law, divorce, eviction, civil disputes are handled, but, I do not dare to try to give people in different states advice, first, because it is against the rules of my profession, and, second, I will not know what I am talking about because I do not know the rules of that state.

Bottom line, if you have a legal issue in a state, get advice from a lawyer in that state, and, avoid online sources that may be from a different state than the one you need help in.

Ed

06/23/2025

How can essential assets be protected during bankruptcy?

Understand how exemptions work.

05/13/2025

At our Brainerd, Grand Rapids and St. Cloud offices, our lawyers offer skilled guidance to ensure a child's best interests are protected.

Serving Minnesota communities.

04/26/2025

A spouse's reluctance to seek help after a work injury can have serious consequences.

Take control of recovery today.

04/23/2025

Two custody types matter in Minnesota.

Legal vs. physical custody explained.

04/03/2025

How do we separate property when we go our separate ways?

03/27/2025

With offices in Brainerd, Grand Rapids and St. Cloud, our family law attorneys have more than 40 years of combined experience.

No-Nonsense Legal Advice

03/20/2025

EXPERT WITNESSES

Most people outside of the legal system have never heard of expert witnesses, a critical part of the legal system. Unlike regular witnesses, who can testify about what they observed or heard, experts can offer opinions. Experts are used to explain a variety of complex and scientific issues, from DNA to complex business practices, or to whether someone has been sexually abused. Experts can be hired by either side in a case, and in many cases, both sides use experts. They are not cheap. If you think lawyers are expensive, and wait until you see the prices charged by well-known experts.

Experts generally play a positive role, they make complex issues easier to understand for judges and juries, but there are also risks and downsides. Some experts become essentially hired guns, always recommending in favor of one side, i.e. always for the defense, the prosecution, the insurance company, etc. Cost is also an issue, parties with limited means have a hard time affording them.

Stay tuned for future posts on some of the problems with the expert witness system.

Ed