Rise From The Ashes Podcast

Certain laws in the state of Minnesota are due to be changed as January 2023.  These specific laws have to do with an adjustment in the amount some parents will be obligated to pay.  In this podcast episode, attorney Susan Mundahl, explains some of these changes as well as directing listeners to the online resources for calculating the child support specifically to a family’s current situation.

The working title for this episode was formerly, “It doesn’t mean that you can’t (make an estate plan) just because you didn’t say, ‘I do!”  Obviously very long for a title, but the point to be made for parents of minor children is that, there is a definite distinction between married people who are developing a plan for their estate, and single parents who may have never gotten married.  The information offered here by attorney, Amy Rotering, defines some elements of the will that may necessitate a couple of other documents that specifically concern their children.

There arrives a time when a person, or a couple, begins to think about what should be done with their property and assets at the end of their life. The question then often arises; What type of Estate Plan should be chosen, a Will or a Trust? In this podcast episode, experienced estate planning attorney, Amy Rotering, discusses the features and some of the drawbacks of each of these varied types of estate plans.

For those couples who for reasons of their own have decided not to get married, but still want to acquire things during their time together.  Just as in the dissolution of many marriages when people can decide to go their separate ways, and they would later like to divide some of these things in the fairest way possible.  This podcast episode, guided by attorney Susan Mundahl, looks at the statute that clears up any confusion having to do with what was formerly known as “Palimony,” as she gives helpful instructions on how to safeguard the ownership of such property so that fewer conflicts may occur.

In order to avoid the potential turmoil, the time and the costs that a lengthy process of divorce can take, mediation is often a good place for needed compromise.  In this podcast episode, Attorney, Amy Rotering, highlights some of the advantages of having a lawyer with you during mediation. It can assure that the agreements made are done correctly the first time to prevent possibly ending up in another mediation or even potentially having to go to court and having a judge decide for you anyway.

It might seem morbid to plan for your death before the time comes, but planning for the inevitable can save your loved ones a lot of time, energy, and pain while they are grieving. The truth is this: nearly everyone has something to gain from thoughtful end-of-life, long-term care, or incapacity planning. With a durable power of attorney and an advance health care directive in place, for example, you can spare your loved ones a huge amount of trouble and heartache even if you have little to pass on to beneficiaries. In this podcast, Attorney Alma Miklasevics discusses what's involved in setting up an estate plan. For more information, check out these blogs: Why Do I Need an Estate Plan? Strife After Death: Why You Need an Estate Plan Why You Should Update Your Estate Plan After Divorce

As our society moves forward, there appear to be more and more people who are interested in attempting a Do it Yourself Divorce.  With over 33 years of Family Law and Divorce experience, Attorney - Susan Mundahl, introduces a new product/service in this podcast episode.  Available on Teachable.com, the Do it Yourself Divorce program she describes encompasses 4 basic modules that cover; the terms necessary to understand for the court, most of the filing costs, and court time frames.  Also covered in the DiY Divorce program is; where to locate the basic self-help forms and how-to/s on filling out the forms, as well as covering much of the details to reach a final agreement based on all the financial and property issues.  There’s additionally a module that specifically addresses all of the issues regarding a divorcing couple’s minor children, including calculations for child support and parenting time.

It’s not unusual for there to be somewhat of a perceived mystery around the legal process of probate.  Not only does this time represent a period of mourning for the family members of a deceased loved one, but now some of those same family members will have to sort out that loved one’s estate.  That means, they may need to be involved in a court procedure called probate.  In this podcast episode, Associate Attorney – Amy Rotering, will unveil some of the shrouded information around three of the main mysteries of the probate process.  And why the assistance of a qualified probate attorney, can assist a family to prevent lost time and to save frustration as well as the finances of the estate.

It can be somewhat intimidating when a person or a family, being very unfamiliar with the operation of law firm, as they may need to move ahead with a legal case.  This is a group podcast recorded in the interest of introducing the staff at Mundahl Law and to describe the functions and objectives of each staff person involved in the family law process.  Listening to the various roles they play in carefully addressing their clients needs and concerns will hopefully help in understanding their approach for assisting families in making some positive steps forward.

Holidays can often become a stressful time for families, especially if someone’s family is going thru separation or divorce.  With over 30 years of working with families of various structures, Susan Mundahl discusses some very effective ways to go about pre-planning for any of the upcoming holidays.  As she explains, with enough foresight and thoughtful preparation to consider both sides of the newly forming family structures, the holidays can be a lot more enjoyable and fun, especially for the children and everyone involved in your most special celebrations.

A Do-it-Yourself Divorce can sometimes be a viable option for a couple to dissolve their former partnership.  However there are some cautions, particularly when it comes to properly dividing property.  In this podcast episode, Associate Attorney, Alma Miklasevics, looks specifically at a case where a couple did not appropriately list their retirement assets and the trouble that made for them.  Alma also looks at some of the things To-Do in order to get it right!

Spousal support used to be a common part of divorces that was originally intended to protect and provide for spouses who had forgone developing their own career to stay at home and care for the family and household. As we have culturally shifted more towards double income partnerships, spousal support has become less common. However, many Baby Boomers have spousal support arrangements that, as they enter retirement, now need to be reevaluated. In this episode of the podcast, family law attorneys discuss how and when to end spousal support.

This special episode of the podcast features a couple of attorneys who speak very thoughtfully about many of the important things to focus on during and after the process of a divorce.  Both Alma Miklasevics and Susan Mundahl share their insights into a number of means to help a person’s composure as well as their piece of mind and care for their physical needs as they are grieving a particular form of loss.  They also look at how this self-care can additionally aid in taking care of the family at this difficult time.

This podcast episode will specifically address the issues and concerns regarding MN Statute 518.17, which addresses the fact that each parent is recognized by law to already be presumed as fit for parenthood for their children.  Too many times an ex-spouse will attempt to overtly control their former partner by suggesting that they are unfit to parent their child and/or children.   Attorney, Susan Mundahl, dispels many of these notions by discussing just exactly what the courts consider as actual concerns about whether someone is truly unfit as a parent.

Folks who are living in an “Empty Nest,” are in a somewhat unique situation in regard to their estate, now that their adult children have moved away from their family’s home.  In this podcast episode, Amy Rotering, an experienced family and estate law attorney, will go over a number of the considerations to be made when making an estate plan under the circumstances of an empty nest.  She also describes a free online program called “The ABCs of Estate Planning,” for those who would like to take advantage of a more complete overview of this process.

Oftentimes when ex-spouses are sharing custody of their child/children, there can be a certain amount of confusion between modifying the actual custody or in making appropriate changes to their parenting time.  In this podcast episode attorney, Susan Mundahl, clearly explains the differences and the Minnesota statutes that accompany both.  She also makes some very sound suggestions for families in making better adjustments for the best interest of their children.

There are a number of very good reasons that each partner of a same sex couple should make sure that their relationship to their child is assured, legally.  In this episode of the podcast, Attorney, Alma Miklasevics, outlines a number of the main ones as well as providing a brief overview of how the adoption process works.

In the state of Minnesota, there are differing types of personal restraining orders that address three specific areas of the law that can help to protect certain victims from; bodily harm, harassment and general contact from a criminal offender.  In this episode of the podcast, Susan Mundahl explains the distinction between these enforcement tools and specifically how each one can be utilized.

If you happen to be one of the family members who may need to be responsible for an estate when a loved one passes, it’s important to make sure that a number of things are being taken care of.  Hosted by an experienced estate and probate law attorney, this podcast will list and explain the first five of these necessary items in order to help you to assist your family through this process in the best way possible.

Depending upon the circumstances of a child’s living situation, a grandparent may wish to have a continuing relationship with their grandchild.  Courts do often see the benefit for children in having their grandparents play an active role in their life.  This podcast looks at some of the rules provided by the powers that be that may allow grandparents to have some ongoing visitation rights.