Introduction:
This Research Guide is designed to provide a starting point for research in the area of family law. It is by no means comprehensive of all of the sources that are out there available to the public but it will give a general overview of the area of family law and provide a basis to start a research strategy. It is designed to help family law practitioners in Minnesota find online and print sources. Since this research guide offers both free and subscriptions sources it is geared toward helping all types of attorneys, judges, and law students who are interested in the area of family law. This guide offers free online sources, subscriptions sources, family law blogs, books, and other informational sources that surround the topic of family law in Minnesota.
Online Sources:
BNA Family Law Reporter (Subscription required)
http://news.bna.com.proxy.wmitchell.edu/flln/
The Family Law Reporter is a bulletin that complies highlights and topics in the area of family law. The Family Law Reporter is published weekly so it is current with the different happenings in family law. The Reporter discusses recently decided cases, attorneys in the field, family law firms, and many different family law topics. It is a good was to stay abreast with the issues and topics in the area of family law.
LexisNexis Academic (Subscription required)
http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.wmitchell.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/
LexisNexis Academic is a website that allows you to search case law, people, news, and companies for research in the area of family law. LexisNexis Academic is not strictly used for family law but it is helpful in researching any topic.
Findlaw-Family Law (Subscription required)
http://www.findlaw.com/01topics/15family/index.html
Findlaw is a website that helps link to many family law resources such as news articles, case law, articles, and web guides.
Westlaw (Subscription required)
https://lawschool.westlaw.com/desktopdefault.aspx
Westlaw is a website that allows you to search case law, news, statutes, forms, briefs, court documents, and secondary sources Westlaw is not strictly used for family law but it is helpful in researching any topic.
Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
The Revisor of Statutes websites provides a comprehensive search of Minnesota statutes, laws, rules, court rules, administrative rules, and the Minnesota Constitution. It also provides information about the Minnesota House of Representatives, and Senate.
Hennepin County Family Court
http://www.mncourts.gov/district/4/?page=364
This website provides information to Minnesota residents regarding family law and family court related issues. Such as forms, guardian ad litem program, fees, family court records, court calendars, and the family court self-help center.
Minnesota Judicial Branch-Divorce, Custody, and Family Law
http://www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp/?page=310
The Judicial Branch website allows you to search for court documents, forms, and cases in the family law area.
Informational Sources:
Child Support Homepage
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/human-services/child-support-homepage.aspx
The Child Support Homepage offers a background on the issues surrounding child custody, child support, and resources that help practitioners in this area.
Same Sex Marriage
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/human-services/same-sex-marriage-overview.aspx
The Same Sex Marriage website offers a look into the issues surrounding same sex marriage. From adoption to civil rights this website is informational on this topic and offers resources to help further practitioners in the area of same sex marriage.
Associations and Organizations:
American Bar Association-Family Law Section
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/family_law.html
The Family Law Section of the American Bar Association is comprised of nearly 10,000 members. The family law section focuses on issues relating to family law; such as divorce, child support, custody, military law, elder law, etc. This site offers information on many topics, information on CLE conferences, programs, publications, and resources.
Minnesota State Bar Association-Family Law Sections
http://www2.mnbar.org/sections/family-law/index.asp
The Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law section offers information on family law topics, CLEs, classes, and keeps practitioners, law students, and judges up to date on the issues in family law.
Books:
Family Law in a Nutshell, by Harry D. Krause and David D. Meyer
Thomson/West. 5th Edition 2007.
Family Law in a Nutshell provides a comprehensive survey of the traditional landscape of family law as well as important new legislation and case law relating to domestic partnerships, same-sex marriage, parentage, adoption, child custody, and support.
Law of Domestic Relations in the United States, by Homer Harrison Clark.
West Hornbook.
http://store.westlaw.com/clarks-law-of-domestic-relations-in-united-states-2d-hornbook/5228/16006076/productdetail
Law of Domestic Relations in the United States analyzes the law of domestic relations.
Family Law, by David Westfall.
West treatise.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/family-law-david-westfall/1000867687
This family law treatise covers all of the legal topics of family law. The treatise is divided into three primary parts:
Part 1 examines the sources of family law – in the Constitution, statutes, and judicial decisions, as well as in religious doctrine and the practices of law enforcement officers and social workers;
Part II deals with marriage and alternative methods of family formation, including new meanings of “family” and an evolving framework for the legal relations between spouses in an ongoing marriage;
Part III explores the legal aspects of parenthood, including custody and support issues that arise outside of the context of divorce.
Minnesota Family Law Practice Manual, Third Edition
ISBN: 9780327110002
Two Volumes:
Volume One provides comprehensive coverage of such topics as: marriage, including same-sex marriage, voidable marriages, and recognition of marriages from other states; proceedings, including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, annulment, cohabitation agreements, putative spouse, and common-law marriage; child custody; child support; visitation; spousal maintenance; attorneys’ fees; property division; discovery and valuation; hearings and appeals; final decree; tax issues; enforcement; Uniform Interstate Family Support Act; domestic abuse; child abuse; and adoption.
Volume Two contains an extensive collection of battle-tested forms, as well as the full text of the myriad statutes and rules governing Minnesota family law.
Blogs/Social Media:
ABA Journal Law Blawg
http://www.abajournal.com/blawgs/topic/family+law
Minnesota Divorce and Family Law Blog
http://www.mnfamilylawblog.com/
Always Family Center
http://practiceblawg.com/top25/2011-selections/
Johnson and Sutton Law 