Anoka Divorce Law Blog

Minnesota parents who have been through a divorce, are living apart and are struggling to co-parent their teenaged child should consider several ways they could possibly improve their family situation. Successful co-parenting provides a teenager with stability and support -- two important factors that can help prevent risky behavior and experimentation.

Focusing on solid communication is one way exes can successfully co-parent. For example, divorced parents should always be in touch when it comes to a teen's friends. A parent shouldn't assume the other parent knows who is in the teenager's life, especially when it means neglecting to get to know the teen's friends. Peer pressure is a major factor in why a teenager might turn to risky behavior. Communicating about a teen's life can go a long way toward providing consistent guidance.

For individuals in Minnesota eligible for Social Security, untying the knot doesn't necessarily mean no longer being able to collect on a spouse's record. If a marriage has lasted for 10 years or more and the former spouse is 62 or older and unmarried, they may be entitled to as much as half of an ex's full retirement amount or disability benefit. The other spouse's eligible payouts must also be higher than what the spouse seeking benefits is entitled to receive themselves.

A former spouse can also collect Social Security benefits on an ex-spouse's record even if that spouse has remarried. Also, if a former spouse has been divorced for at least two years, they may be able to collect on their ex's record even if they haven't yet applied for benefits. Eligibility for spousal benefits typically ends if the recipient spouse remarries, but they may be able to collect on their new spouse's record if they are eligible for distributions.

Some divorcing couples in Minnesota have to-do lists that include such things as sorting out marital assets and handling any custody issues that may be part of the divorce process. During this stressful time, it's easy to overlook other matters, such as insurance coverage for the family. However, it's still important for separating spouses to be aware of how a change in marital status can affect insurance arrangements.

The insurance issues that often come into play during the end of a marriage usually involve health and life insurance. With health insurance, it's common for one spouse, usually the higher-earning one, to be covered by the other's plan they have through work. In order to make things easier post-divorce, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows an individual to remain covered under their ex's plan for up to three years. The potential drawback for a lower-earning spouse without their own employer option is having to pay additional administrative fees, although Affordable Care Act plans may be more budget-friendly.

When parents of minors get divorced, they may need to make child support arrangements. Like most states, Minnesota has a formula for determining child support that includes accounting for each parent's income, how many kids are involved and how much time the children spend with each parent.

However, even after child support is in place, it can still be modified when necessary. A court may approve a child support modification if one parent's income drops for reasons such as disability or unemployment. If there is spousal support, that will usually be lowered along with child support. A modification could also be approved if the noncustodial parent gets a significant increase in income.