Our Rochester, Minnesota, Family Law Lawyers Are Prepared To Help You Resolve Your Family Law Dispute

Last updated on July 21, 2026

Family law encompasses a broad range of issues, including divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, adoption and even orders for protection for victims of domestic violence. Any of these matters will impact your life in many ways. Therefore, it is absolutely critical to retain the services of a lawyer who will handle your family matter with the care and attention it requires.

Representing Clients In All Types Of Family Matters

For years, people throughout Rochester and southern Minnesota have placed their trust in our team at Klampe Law Firm LLC. As a smaller firm, we give you direct access to the attorneys who handle your case, so you always know exactly where things stand. Our lawyers have deep roots in Rochester, and they take real pride in serving the families who call this community home.

Our family law attorneys and staff have the experience, skill and compassion required to effectively navigate all types of family issues. Above all, they recognize that every family matter involves sensitive, emotionally taxing issues. You can depend on our team to provide compassionate, discreet and zealous representation in all types of family matters, including the following:

• Divorce
• Custody, parenting time and support
• Paternity
• Stepparent adoption
• Orders for protection

Whether your case is resolved through litigation in family court, negotiations or an alternative dispute resolution method, such as mediation, our family law attorneys are prepared to do what it takes to protect your rights and help you move forward to the next chapter of your life on favorable terms.

Placing A High Priority On Family

Family is everything. Our team knows this. In fact, our attorneys and staff structured Klampe Law Firm LLC to be a firm that they would want to accommodate their own family law needs. They extend this “family-first” approach to our clients as well. They are committed to providing personal attention through timely communication with our clients. They are also able to handle crisis situations as they arise, taking decisive action on behalf of our clients as necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law In Rochester, Minnesota

For answers to some of the questions our clients commonly ask us, please review our FAQ section below.

Do I need a lawyer?

It depends. Dissolutions (divorces) can become complicated when there are issues of retirement accounts, real estate and children involved – whether they are children common to you and your spouse or children from prior relationships. Our team always recommends meeting with an attorney in an initial consultation to find out exactly what your rights are and what issues you may need to give extra attention.

How long will my divorce take?

Every divorce is different, and the time and fees involved usually depend on how complicated the issues are and how much you and your spouse can agree upon. Generally, the less there is to fight about, the quicker the case will move along.

My spouse wants custody of our children. If I agree to this, do I lose my legal rights to them?

There are two types of custody: legal and physical. There are two ways to have custody: sole or joint. Even if one parent has sole physical custody (primary residence) of the children, you can still enjoy significant parenting time (visitation) with them. If you have joint legal custody, you will also have the right to determine important decisions in your children’s lives. Lastly, if one parent has sole legal and physical custody, the other parent always has a right to access important records involving the child’s schooling, medical treatments, religious development, and other areas of training and/or treatment.

We have never been married, but we live together and have a child together. She moved out and took our child. What are my rights?

First, you must determine whether you have been adjudicated as the child’s father. If you have never been to court, but you signed a Recognition of Parentage form (ROP) when your child was born, you have admitted paternity but have not been adjudicated as the father. You will need to have a court order adjudicating your paternity. At that point, you can further pursue custody (physical and legal) and parenting time (visitation) with your child.

How is child support calculated?

Child support is calculated on an income shares method, meaning that it is necessary to know each parent’s gross monthly income, the cost of medical insurance, the cost of child care and the number of minor children common to both parents (joint children). It is also important to know whether either parent has a child from another relationship (a non-joint child) and whether the parent pays child support pursuant to a court order for that child’s benefit. Once this information is available, a simple computer program will figure out the total support amount, each parent’s percentage of total gross income and each parent’s percentage of the total support amount. The amount of support paid by either parent will also depend on the amount of court-ordered custody/parenting time either party has with the children. If one parent carries medical insurance for the children, the other parent will be responsible for a percentage of the medical premium and out-of-pocket costs. If the family has child care costs, each party will be responsible for a percentage of the total child care costs. Please review the child support calculator to learn more.

My spouse left me with our children. How can I get child support?

You can visit your county’s social services office and speak to representatives from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) division. They can assist you, but it usually takes several months before any court-ordered support is put in place. If you need to apply for public assistance, such as through the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) or Medical Assistance (MA), the financial worker will direct you to DCYF to begin the process. Another option is to consult with an attorney who can help you begin the process of obtaining support and possibly reach an agreement with your spouse to shorten the time you may be without financial support.

My spouse has abused me, and I am frightened for myself and my children. What can I do?

If you do not feel safe in your home, you may seek shelter elsewhere, at least on a temporary basis. Call a family member, friend or a women’s shelter. If you cannot leave your home, you can contact the courthouse to find out how you can file an Order for Protection to have your spouse removed from the home. The Court Administrator’s office will make sure that your petition is filled out correctly and make arrangements for you to be notified whether your petition is granted or denied. From there, a court hearing may be necessary, and you should consider hiring an attorney to assist you with that hearing.

Do you accept major credit cards as a form of payment?

Yes. There is an initial conference charge for family law cases, and we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. All credit card payments are subject to a 3.95% service fee.

Contact Klampe Law Firm LLC

Call 507-405-2188 to schedule an initial consultation with one of our Minnesota family law attorneys in Rochester, such as Carole Pasternak, Lori L. Nelson or Jared Hines. You can also reach us through our online contact form. There is an initial conference charge for family law cases, and we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.