Breaking up with an individual you have been dating, are engaged to, or married to is never easy. The way entertainment paints the picture of love, you would think that all relationships are happy and full of joy from beginning to end. The truth is, relationships at any level require hard work, commitment, and an open mind to adapting to your partner. Anytime there are children involved, calling it ‘off’ is even more difficult. Now, you are not only affecting your partner, but the children as well. You may wonder, how does child custody work for an unmarried couple? Well, if you live in Minnesota, the law firm of Kallemeyn & Kallemeyn, PLLC can help you with this exact scenario. Serving as a Minnesota family law practice, we can create constructive plans to make sure that the children’s needs are the number one priority.
Initial Focus for Child Custody
Avoiding the court system to resolve your child custody dispute will make things a lot easier both emotionally and financially. Lisa Kallemeyn, and her team at Kallemeyn & Kallemeyn, PLLC, always encourage clients to focus on the following items to help come to an agreement:
- Get Along – Doing your best to get along with each other can help provide more fair results. This is the best thing that you can do for your children during this difficult time.
- Children First – It is very important to not be selfish during this mediation because the children involved should be the focal point of all conversations. Keeping your kids in mind will help you get through the tough discussions ahead.
- Compromise – Being able to meet in the middle on issues around child custody can make this transition much more smooth for the children.
Overview on Rights of Unmarried Parents
Typically, child custody cases will be handled in the same manner that they are with divorcing couples that are married. The judge will listen to any proposals, but they have the final say on how the child custody will be handled. The majority of cases request the parent designated as the primary caretaker to have the children during the school week. The other parent in this situation is granted visitation rights typically on the weekends or other timeframes throughout the week. With child support, both parents will be required to contribute. If one parent financially supports the child more than the other, the court will require the less involved parent to pay a monthly fee to assist with these costs.
So, if you are unmarried in Minnesota and going through a break-up where children are involved, team up with Kallemeyn & Kallemeyn, PLLC today to help you come to agreements on all issues around child custody and parenting rights. Give us a call today at (763) 427-5131 to set up a mediation appointment and keep your situation out of the courts!
