Divorce in Minnesota

• The name and address of the petitioner, and where child support or spousal maintenance is involved, the petitioner’s social security number, and any prior names;
• The name and, if known, address of the respondent (the other side), and where child support or spousal maintenance is involved, the respondent’s social security number, and any prior names
• The place and date of the parties’ marriage;
• An assertion that either the petitioner or the respondent or both have resided in Minnesota for at least 180 days immediately prior to the filing of the petition;
• The name, social security number, age, and date of birth of each living minor or dependent child of the parties, and, if necessary, a reference to whether the wife is currently pregnant or expecting a child;
• Whether or not a separate proceeding for divorce has been filed and is pending in another court;
• That there has been an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage;
• Any temporary or permanent maintenance desired, child support, child custody , disposition of marital property, attorney fees, costs;
• Whether an order for protection is in effect and, if so, the jurisdiction in which it was entered.

Finally, the petition must be signed and “verified” by the petitioner.

This means that the petitioning party – be it the husband or wife – needs to review the petition and all the allegations in it.

Talking to a Minnesota divorce lawyer is a good place to start.  Once the divorce petition has been reviewed by a lawyer, the petitioning party must verify that the allegations are true and correct to the best of that person’s knowledge.