Advocate for Your Role in Your Child's Life

Abedi Hanson Sletten PLLC represents parents in child custody and parenting time disputes in St Cloud and Apple Valley and throughout Minnesota.

Custody disputes determine where your child lives, who makes decisions about their education and health care, and how much time you spend together each week. Abedi Hanson Sletten PLLC represents parents in St Cloud and Apple Valley and across Minnesota in custody and parenting time matters, focusing on the best-interest standards that guide Minnesota family courts. The firm's attorneys handle sole custody, joint custody, and modifications to existing arrangements, advocating strongly in contested hearings, evaluations, and trials.

The firm represents parents in cases involving relocation disputes, concerns about a child's safety, disagreements over decision-making authority, and situations where cooperation between parents has broken down. With offices in St Cloud and Apple Valley, the attorneys provide statewide representation designed to protect both your parental rights and your child's stability. Guidance is grounded in Minnesota law and tailored to the specific facts of your case, whether you are seeking primary custody, defending against a modification, or working to enforce an existing order.

If you are involved in a custody dispute in St Cloud, Apple Valley, or anywhere in Minnesota, contact Abedi Hanson Sletten PLLC to discuss your case and your parental rights.

What the Court Considers in Custody Cases

Minnesota courts evaluate custody disputes using a list of statutory factors designed to identify what arrangement serves the child's best interests. In St Cloud, Apple Valley, or anywhere in Minnesota, your attorney will present evidence on factors such as each parent's ability to provide care, the child's relationship with each parent, the child's adjustment to home and school, and any history of domestic abuse or substance misuse. The court may also consider the child's preferences if the child is mature enough to express a reasoned opinion.

After the court issues a custody order, you will have a schedule that specifies when the child is with each parent and who holds legal custody to make major decisions. That schedule defines your parenting time, holiday arrangements, and decision-making responsibilities. You will know when your child is in your care, what authority you have over their upbringing, and what recourse you have if the other parent violates the order.

The firm represents parents in initial custody determinations and in modification proceedings when circumstances have changed significantly. The attorneys prepare for custody evaluations, gather supporting evidence such as school records and medical reports, and cross-examine witnesses during hearings. Cases involving allegations of neglect, abuse, or parental unfitness require careful legal strategy and thorough preparation to protect your rights and your child's welfare.

Parents involved in custody disputes often need to understand how the court makes decisions, what evidence matters, and what their legal options are before the case proceeds.

These are common concerns for parents

Legal custody refers to the authority to make major decisions about the child's education, health care, and religious upbringing, while physical custody refers to where the child lives and the parenting time schedule. Minnesota courts can award sole or joint custody for each type, depending on the circumstances.
What is the difference between legal and physical custody?
The court evaluates factors such as each parent's ability to provide care, the child's relationship with each parent, the child's adjustment to their current home and school, and any history of abuse or neglect. The judge weighs all relevant evidence and makes a determination based on what will best support the child's welfare and stability.
How does the court decide what is in the child's best interests?
A custody order can be modified if there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the original order was entered and if the modification serves the child's best interests. Changes such as a parent's relocation, a significant change in the child's needs, or a pattern of noncompliance with the existing order may support a modification request.
When can a custody order be modified?
A custody evaluation is conducted by a court-appointed evaluator who interviews both parents, observes interactions with the child, and reviews records such as school reports and medical history. The evaluator submits a report with recommendations to the court, and both parties have the opportunity to challenge the findings during the hearing.
What happens during a custody evaluation?
Custody cases are filed in the county with jurisdiction over the child, and Abedi Hanson Sletten PLLC represents parents in any Minnesota county. The attorneys travel to hearings and manage cases regardless of location, so you have access to representation no matter where your case is filed.
Why does the firm represent clients statewide?

Abedi Hanson Sletten PLLC represents parents in St Cloud and Apple Valley and throughout Minnesota in custody and parenting time disputes that require courtroom advocacy and careful legal preparation. Get in touch with the firm to discuss your case and your parental rights.