Beat the April 30 Deadline: How Minnesota Childcare Centers Can Appeal for Seminary‑of‑Learning Tax Exemptions (Even If They Never Applied to the Assessor)
Minnesota childcare centers often discover the seminary‑of‑learning exemption only after they receive a full commercial tax bill. The good news is that you can still appeal, even if you have never filed an exemption application with the assessor, as long as you meet the April 30 Tax Court petition deadline for the taxes payable year. […]
Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) in Minnesota: What to Do If You Lose Your Job?
Being laid off is an incredibly stressful experience on its own. However, this difficult situation becomes even more challenging if spousal maintenance (alimony) is involved. In Minnesota, a spousal maintenance order can be modified only if it has become “unreasonable and unfair.” The loss of a job is a common situation where the modification of […]
The Briefing Room: January 2026
The New Legal Writing Coaches: How Tech-Centric Writers Are Rewiring the Way Lawyers Draft For most of the profession’s history, legal writing has been treated as a solitary craft. A junior lawyer learns by reverse‑engineering partner redlines and hoarding old briefs. If you were lucky, you picked up good habits; if not, you learned to […]
What Happens to My Pet if I Die?
Every year, people pass away without a will, or intestate, leaving their loved ones to navigate uncertainty during an already difficult time. Without an estate plan in place, there are often no clear instructions for the care of family members or beloved pets. As a result, pets may be surrendered to shelters or rehomed without […]
Questions to Ask Your Lawyer When Your Business Receives a Civil Investigative Demand
Getting a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) from the Minnesota Attorney General can be alarming. A CID is not a lawsuit – but it is a serious warning sign that the State is investigating your business and deciding whether to take legal action. A recent Minnesota Supreme Court decision, State v. Madison Equities, Inc., highlights why […]
Corporate Divorce: Why You Need a Business Divorce Lawyer When Shareholders Turn on Each Other
Creating Leverage for the Victimized Shareholder Two friends start a business. Fifteen years later, the business is successful, but the partners are no longer aligned. One wants growth. The other wants comfort. Control slips. Trust erodes. And suddenly, what looked like a lifelong partnership feels like a broken marriage. That’s when business divorce gets ugly. […]
Privacy Concerns in a Divorce
Could your neighbors be reading your divorce file right now? It’s a real possibility. In Minnesota, divorce documents, including those of celebrities such as Prince, can be accessed online or at the courthouse by anyone. This extends to your own divorce decree as well. You may be asking yourself, “How can this be?” The Minnesota […]
The Briefing Room: December 2025
Three Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Legal Writing This Year Happy New Year, and welcome back to the newsletter! We know the feeling: you start January with grand ambitions to transform your practice, but by February, the crush of deadlines pushes “self-improvement” to the bottom of the pile. So, we thought we would point to […]
Understanding Trademark Proof of Use: A Guide for Businesses
Whether you are filing a federal trademark application or maintaining an existing registration with the USPTO, you must provide proof of use in commerce. This evidence, called specimens, must show how your mark is actually used in real-world commerce for the specific goods or services listed in your application or registration. The USPTO has strict rules […]
Am I stuck with this Divorce Decree?
You and your now ex-spouse are finally divorced (hooray!), after a complex and difficult trial. After months of waiting, you are finally holding your Judgment and Decree. But what if a judge got it wrong? If you believe the judge has made decisions that are unfair or not in your favor, it’s crucial to discuss […]