Moore Family Law – On Budget Cuts

BUDGET CUTS 

Article XI of the Minnesota Constitution prohibits the State from running a deficit.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/rules/mncon/Article11.htm When tax revenues are significantly lower than expected, the State must cut spending or raise taxes in order to balance the budget.

Over the past couple of years, Family Law Attorney MN has observed some significant changes in the Courts as budgets have tightened.  Hennepin County Family Court’s offices are closed on Wednesday afternoons.

Family Court Services can no longer perform custody evaluations except in the most limited circumstances.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that Courts are less willing to grant fee waivers than in the past.

Chief Justice Eric Magnuson has stated that if the Court does not receive an addition $43,000,000 in funding out of the state budget for courts, many cases will not be processed.  Of particular interest to family law attorneys, it is likely that harassment cases will not be processed, which could have implications for safety in cases of domestic violence.  Here is a link to an article discussing the problem.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/01/14/chief_justice_courts_need_an_additional_43_million/

In these tough economic times, it is even more important to have qualified family law attorneys on your side.  It’s not just about winning your case.  Sometimes, it’s about ensuring that you receive due process in a Court system that has few resources to provide it.  And sometimes, it’s getting sound advice to ensure your safety in the midst of a volatile family situation.

About Author

Jennifer graduated from the University of Minnesota cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in speech communications. In 2006, Jennifer achieved her life’s dream; owning her own family law practice. She practices every day as Divorce lawyers Minnesota with the intention of representing her clients’ future.