Minnesota divorce: discovery process

            Discovery process in Minnesota Divorce Proceedings

"Discovery" in a Minnesota divorce proceeding or other family law proceeding, is the same as the discovery process in any other civil litigation.  Formal discovery can, and usually does increase (often times substantially) the cost of the divorce process.  It is worthwhile to first attempt informal disovery before proceeding with the more costly formal discovery. 

So, what is meant by "discovery?"  There are several forms of discovery, with the most common being:

(1) Interrogatories - which are formal written questions submitted by one party to the other to formally respond to within thirty days.

(2) Request for Production of Documents - which is somewhat self-explanatory and involves one party formally requesting the other party to provide specific documents within thirty days.

(3) Requests for Admissions - this not used that often in family law, but involves one party requesting the other party to respond to specific "admit-deny" questions.  It is important to note, that if the other party does not respond within thirty days to this request, that the questions are deemed admitted.

(4) Depositions - which involves both parties, both attorneys and a Court Reporter meeting to allow one attorney to formally ask questions to the opposing party, while the Court Reporter takes a formal record of the entire process.  Depositions can become quite costly.

As an alternative to formal discovery, it is usually beneficial to first request certain documentation and other relevant information from the opposing side in an informal manner.  Such a process often leads to the information that is sought, without the high cost of formal discovery.

                                       Minnesota Family Law Firm

Blahnik Law Office, PLLC will pursue the best course of action (whether it is formal or informal) to obtain the necessary documents in the divorce or other family law proceeding.  Adam J. Blahnik, is a Minnesota divorce attorney, in Scott County and Dakota County, and owner of Blahnik Law Office, PLLC, 16180 Hastings Avenue, Suite 201, Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372. (952) 479-0449, adam@blahniklawoffice.com