Your family deserves
steady guidance.
Family law matters are deeply personal. Emily Crabtree represents clients in divorce, custody, and protection order cases.
Direct line: (612) 466-0356
Divorce
Divorce in Minnesota is a legal process with real deadlines, financial implications, and decisions that will shape your life for years. Whether your divorce is amicable or contested, having counsel can help protect your interests and move the process forward.
What's at stake
Division of marital property and debts, spousal maintenance (alimony) obligations, tax implications, retirement account division, and the restructuring of your financial life.
How we help
We guide you through each stage - from filing through final decree - with clear explanations of your options at every decision point. We handle discovery and negotiate settlements.
What to do right now
Gather basic financial information: recent tax returns, pay stubs, bank and retirement account statements, and mortgage documents. Do not make major financial changes. Schedule a consultation to understand your rights and timeline.
Child Custody & Parenting Time
Minnesota courts make custody decisions based on the best interests of the child, considering factors including each parent's relationship with the child, stability, and the child's own preferences when appropriate. These decisions affect your daily life and your relationship with your children.
What's at stake
Legal custody (decision-making authority), physical custody (where the child lives), parenting time schedules, and the framework that will govern your family life going forward.
How we help
We present your case through the lens of your children's best interests while protecting your parental rights. We handle guardian ad litem proceedings and contested hearings with preparation and care.
What to do right now
Document your involvement in your children's daily lives. Maintain stability and routine. Do not make unilateral decisions about the children or relocate without legal guidance. Contact us to understand your rights.
Orders for Protection (OFPs)
An Order for Protection in Minnesota can be obtained quickly - sometimes within hours - when there is domestic abuse. Whether you need protection or are responding to a petition filed against you, these proceedings move fast and have serious consequences.
What's at stake
Immediate removal from the home, restrictions on contact with family members, loss of firearms rights, impact on custody proceedings, and a record that appears in background checks.
How we help
We prepare thoroughly for hearings because the outcome shapes everything that follows.
What to do right now
If you are in danger, call 911 or contact a domestic violence resource. If you have been served with an OFP petition, do not violate the temporary order. If the petitioner did not request a hearing, no hearing is held unless you request one within 5 days of service.
Harassment Restraining Orders (HROs)
A Harassment Restraining Order in Minnesota provides protection from repeated, intrusive conduct that serves no legitimate purpose. Unlike OFPs, HROs are not limited to domestic relationships and can address harassment from neighbors, coworkers, or others.
What's at stake
Court-ordered no-contact provisions, potential criminal charges for violations, restrictions on where you can go, and a civil court record.
How we help
We present clear evidence and advocate effectively at hearings.
What to do right now
Document every incident of harassment with dates, times, and any witnesses. Save all communications. Do not respond to or engage with the person harassing you. Contact us to evaluate whether an HRO is appropriate.
High-Net-Worth Divorce
When significant assets are involved (business interests, investment portfolios, real estate holdings, stock options, or complex compensation structures), the stakes are higher and the process is more complex.
What's at stake
Valuation of business interests, division of complex investment portfolios, treatment of stock options and deferred compensation, real estate holdings, and preservation of wealth built over a lifetime.
How we help
We work with forensic accountants and financial experts when needed to support an accurate valuation and a fair division. We understand the tax implications of different settlement structures and advocate for outcomes that protect your long-term financial security.
What to do right now
Secure copies of all financial documents before filing. Do not transfer, hide, or dissipate marital assets - courts impose sanctions for this. Schedule a consultation to develop a strategy that protects your financial interests.
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Ready to talk about your situation?
Family law matters benefit from early legal guidance. The sooner you understand your rights and options, the better positioned you are to protect what matters most.