Legal Services
Family Law Support That Meets You Where You Are
Legal issues involving your family can feel overwhelming, especially when you are unsure where to start or whether you can afford an attorney.
At Pattain Legal Help, we believe quality legal support should be accessible. We provide family law services throughout Minnesota, offering flexible options based on your needs, goals, and budget.
Whether you need an attorney to represent you throughout your case or help with one specific part of the process, we're here to help you understand your options and move forward with confidence.
What Types of Cases Does PLH Handle?
Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage)
Thinking about filing for divorce? Already going through one?
PLH helps clients navigate the divorce process, including dividing property and debts, addressing financial concerns, and resolving issues involving children. Whether you and your spouse agree on most things or have significant disagreements, PLH can help you understand your rights and work toward a resolution.
Child Custody & Parenting Time
Need to establish custody, create a parenting schedule, or change an existing court order?
PLH assists parents with legal custody (who makes important decisions for a child), physical custody (the child's care and daily living arrangements), and parenting time (when each parent spends time with the child).
PLH also helps parents request changes to existing custody and parenting-time arrangements when circumstances change.
Child Support
Need to establish child support or understand how much support should be paid?
PLH helps parents navigate child support matters, including establishing support obligations, understanding Minnesota child support guidelines, and requesting changes to existing support orders.
Paternity (Establishing Legal Parentage)
PLH assists with paternity matters, including establishing legal parentage and addressing related questions about custody, parenting time, and child support.
Orders for Protection (OFPs)
Need legal protection because of domestic abuse, or have you been served with an Order for Protection?
We help individuals understand the OFP process, prepare court documents, and navigate court proceedings, whether they are requesting protection or responding to a petition.
Harassment Restraining Orders (HROs)
Experiencing harassment or being accused of harassment?
We assist individuals seeking or responding to Harassment Restraining Orders, including preparing paperwork, understanding legal requirements, and navigating hearings.
Family Law Mediation
Want to resolve family disagreements without asking a judge to make every decision?
Mediation provides an opportunity for parties to work toward agreements with the assistance of a neutral third party.
PLH offers mediation services for family law matters, including parenting schedules, custody arrangements, and other family-related disputes.
In mediation, Ashley serves as a neutral facilitator rather than an attorney representing either party.
How Can PLH Help?
You don't always need an attorney for your entire case. At Pattain Legal Help, PLH offers different levels of support so you can choose what works best for your situation.
Full Legal Representation
You want an attorney to handle your case from beginning to end.
With full representation, we take an active role in managing your legal matter. Depending on your case, this may include preparing and filing court documents, communicating with the other party or their attorney, negotiating agreements, preparing for hearings, and representing you in court.
This option may be a good fit if you want ongoing legal support throughout your case.
Limited-Scope Representation
You want to handle some parts of your case yourself but need an attorney for specific tasks.
Limited-scope representation allows you to hire an attorney for only certain parts of your case rather than the entire matter.
For example, we may be able to help you:
Prepare or respond to court documents.
Draft a motion or supporting affidavit.
Review a proposed agreement before you sign it.
Prepare for an upcoming court hearing.
Represent you at a specific hearing.
Develop a strategy for the next stage of your case.
You remain responsible for the parts of your case that are outside our agreed-upon services.
Legal Consultations & Guidance
You have questions and need to understand your options.
Sometimes, you simply need to speak with an attorney to understand what is happening in your case and what to do next.
PLH offers affordable consultations for individuals who need legal guidance, including people representing themselves in court.
During a consultation, we can discuss your situation, answer legal questions, review appropriate next steps, and explore whether additional services may be helpful.
Court Document Preparation
You are representing yourself but want help preparing legal paperwork.
We offer document preparation services for individuals handling their own court cases.
Depending on your needs, we can assist with divorce paperwork, motions, affidavits, responses to court filings, and other family law documents.
25-Minute Consultation
Best for focused legal questions, practical guidance, and understanding your next steps.
A 25-minute consultation provides an affordable opportunity to discuss your Minnesota legal matter, ask specific questions, and receive guidance on your options. Whether you are navigating the court process on your own or exploring whether legal representation is right for you, this consultation can help you make informed decisions about your next steps.
Cost: $60
Common examples include:
Cost: $60
Common examples include:
• custody or parenting-time questions
• responding to a single court document
• preparing for an upcoming hearing
• reviewing procedural next steps
• deciding what forms to file
This consultation is a good starting point for individuals seeking accessible legal guidance without committing to ongoing representation.
50-Minute Consultation
Best for more detailed legal guidance, multiple legal issues, or exploring representation options.
A 50-minute consultation provides additional time to discuss your Minnesota legal matter, explore your options, and develop a clearer understanding of your next steps. This consultation is also recommended for individuals interested in establishing full legal representation with Pattain Legal Help.
Cost: $110
Common examples include:
• divorce (dissolution) questions
• custody and child support together
• property division concerns
• reviewing several court documents
• planning next steps in an active case
• determining whether document-drafting support may be appropriate
This consultation allows for a more thorough discussion of your circumstances, personalized legal guidance, and an opportunity to determine whether additional legal services or representation may be appropriate.
40-Minute Document Review Consultation
Best if you already have paperwork and want attorney guidance before responding
This session is designed for clients who already have documents and would like help understanding what they mean and how to respond.
Cost: $90
Examples include reviewing:
• proposed stipulations
• pleadings from the opposing party
• court orders
• Orders for Protection (OFP) paperwork
• custody or parenting-time proposals
This consultation focuses on helping you understand your options and identify appropriate next steps.
50-Minute Hearing Preparation Session
Preparation support for an upcoming Minnesota court appearance
This 50-minute session includes strategy discussion, issue identification, and guidance on presenting your position effectively.
Cost: $110
Common uses include preparing for:
• Initial Case Management Conferences (ICMCs)
• Orders for Protection (OFP) hearings
• motion hearings
• custody hearings
• default hearings
• mediation preparation
These sessions are especially helpful for individuals representing themselves in court who want structured preparation before appearing.
25-Minute Follow-Up Consultation
Available only for clients continuing work on the same matter
This appointment type is designed for clients who have already completed an initial consultation with Pattain Legal Help and would like additional guidance as their case progresses.
Cost: $60
Common examples include:
• custody or parenting-time questions
• responding to a new court document
• preparing for an upcoming hearing
• reviewing procedural next steps
• deciding what forms to file
Follow-up sessions help continue work efficiently without repeating background information from your initial appointment.