Eric C. Nelson, Attorney at Law

Since graduation from the University of Minnesota Law School in May of 1994, I spent two years as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Lois J. Lang, judge of district court, during which time roughly half of my workload involved the drafting of divorce decrees, orders, and legal memoranda on a host of issues pertaining to divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, spousal maintenance, distribution of marital and non-marital property, valuation of property, adoption, name changes, domestic abuse and harassment, and the like. During this period I attained a great deal of inside experience and expertise in the family law area.

In 1996 I opened my own law practice in downtown Minneapolis, practicing exclusively in the areas of family law (i.e. divorce, custody, child support, spousal maintenance, adoption, etc.), and criminal defense. I have successfully handled many divorces, contested and uncontested, custody matters, child support cases, adoptions, domestic abuse and harassment, and other miscellaneous family law matters, both in and out of court. I have been praised by my clients for my respectful attitude, promptness and honesty. References are available upon request.

Characteristic of my practice is a high level of individual client attention and communication, as well as professionalism and competence.

I graduated magna cum laude from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN in 1990, and earned a J.D. (Doctor of Law) degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in May of 1994.

I am a member of the Family Law section of the Hennepin County Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

At leisure I enjoy reading, piano, movies and spending time with my friends and family.

Articles Written

Modification of Physical Custody in Minnesota

Created On: 01/21/2009

A Court may not change physical custody from one parent to the other unless the change is in the best interests of the child.1

Furthermore, even if the change of custody is in the best interests of the child, the Court cannot order a change of custody unless:

a) both parties agree to the change; OR

b) the child has been integrated into the family of the non-c

Should I Move Out?

Created On: 01/21/2009

Clients often ask whether they should move out of the marital home prior to or during the commencement of divorce proceedings. The answer is that it depends. Generally speaking, if child custody, parenting time, or possession of the home might be an issue in the proceedings, I advise against it.

Spousal Maintenance in Minnesota

Created On: 01/21/2009

Initial Spousal Maintenance Awards

Spousal maintenance awards can be difficult to predict, because there are no Guidelines, as with child support, and both the amount and duration of an award of spousal maintenance are within the broad discretion of the trial court.

Essentially, an award of spousal maintenance requires three showings:

1.

The Standard for Determining Physical Custody in Minnesota

Created On: 01/21/2009

As in many areas of family law, the standard applied by the Court in making an initial award of physical custody is the so-called "best interest of the child" standard. This standard requires findings by the Court with respect to all relevant factors, including the following factors enumerated by statute.1 NO SINGLE FACTOR IS CONTROLLING:

1.

see all articles

Resume

• Education
• Licenses
• Affiliations

University of Minnesota Law School, (Minneapolis, MN)

Juris Doctor, Law 1994

Minnesota Supreme Court (MN), 1994

United States Supreme Court, 2000

Minnesota State Bar Association, 1994 - present

Hennepin County Bar Association, 1996 - present

Lawyers

Eric Nelson

Free Case Review

Location : Minneapolis, MN

Practice Areas: Divorce