Communication between Attorneys

If you are going through a family law issue and also have a criminal issue, it is important to have your legal professionals communicate to get the best result in both of your cases. This is especially important because if there is a conviction it could affect your family law case, depending on the nature of the charge and the level of the sentence. To give a quick example, Minnesota Statutes 518.179 puts the burden of showing that parenting time is in the child's best interests on the person seeking parenting time for certain convictions or certain circumstances. This changes the standard to be used and makes it harder to get parenting time.

The reason that your criminal attorney should speak with your family law attorney is that a plea bargain to a lesser charge might be more beneficial than risking a trial for a higher charge. There are many factors to consider when considering a plea deal but parenting time should be one of those factors. Your criminal defense attorney would be able to further assist you on other factors to consider.