ML Brooks Law
Our Practice Areas
Criminal • Family • Juvenile
Trial & Appellate Representation
Divorce & Separation
Everybody gets married with the hope and belief that they have found the person to spend the rest of their lives with. But, sometimes, it turns out that is simply not the case. The decision to legally separate from a spouse or end a marriage is a difficult one. Resolving separations and divorces is often times stressful. To compound upon the emotional and mental stress, separation and divorce proceedings can become rather complex and involve several areas of dispute, including spousal maintenance, property and liability division, child custody, and child support.
On your own, these issues can be overwhelming and seem impossible to resolve, especially when children are involved. At ML Brooks Law, we handle your case with care and compassion, seeking what is just and fair for you and your family. When there are children involved, we believe that their health, happiness, and stability is of utmost important, just as you do. So, when you hire ML Brooks Law for your legal separation or divorce, you will have dedicated and experienced attorneys by your side every step of the way.
Child Custody & Support
Whether you’re the mother or father, and whether the issues come up as part of a paternity case or a divorce, the big issues that involve your children are often the most stressful and difficult to navigate. Custody decisions involve both legal and physical custody. In other words, parents agree or courts decide who will have the power to make decisions for the children (legal custody), as well as who the children will live with and how time will be allocated between parents (physical custody). As part of physical custody, courts also determine parenting time, which is how much time per year children spend with each parent. Child support digs into the finances of each parent to determine how much they can afford to provide for the children. Both custody and support matters involve complex factors that must be considered together to come to a good solution.
At ML Brooks Law, we want what you want – for your children’s interests to be paramount and to ensure they have the tools and stability they need to thrive and grow. That is why we first work diligently toward coming to an agreement that both you and your children’s other parent can agree to. And, if that’s not possible, we will zealously advocate for you and your children’s needs to the court.
Protection Orders
Domestic violence is no laughing matter. Partners and children endure such tragedy and trauma far too often. And it can be difficult to know where to turn when you need to get out. The attorneys at ML Brooks Law have experience with every type of protection order in Minnesota and can help find the right one for your situation. Having the right protection order in place stops unwanted harassment or abuse and can make it a crime for your abuser to even have contact with you and/or your children.
While protection orders are a great tool in cases of harassment and abuse, sometimes they get misused. False allegations of abuse or harassment can affect you for a long time and having a protection order placed against you can substantially affect your rights to go to your home or visit your children. That is why, at ML Brooks Law, we not only work with victims to obtain necessary protection orders, but we assist those who are falsely accused in defending against unnecessary and harmful orders.
Criminal & Traffic Defense
Being charged with a crime can be a stressful and life-altering event. A criminal conviction can inhibit your freedom, affect what jobs you are able to obtain, limit your ability to obtain housing, and damage the relationships you’ve worked hard to build throughout your life. Not only that, but they can ripple out and affect other areas where you may be legally involved. If you are not a U.S. citizen, a misstep in your criminal case can jeopardize your status and ability to remain in the country. If you are in the middle of a divorce or custody battle, it can negatively affect your interests and desired outcome.
The attorneys at ML Brooks Law are aware of just how damaging a criminal conviction can be. That is why we scrutinize every charge and investigation to determine whether law enforcement has violated your constitutional rights and whether the prosecution is able to actually prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crimes you’ve been charged with. Our experience in the justice system ensures we are ready to act swiftly to protect your rights, give you an honest assessment of your options, help minimize the far-reaching consequences of a conviction, and zealously advocate for you through every step of the case. From the most minor traffic ticket to the most serious felony, ML Brooks Law will be by your side.
Juvenile Delinquency Defense
In Minnesota, children as young as ten years old can be charged for committing a criminal act. They do, however, go through a different system than adults when they are accused. The juvenile delinquency system can be difficult to navigate as it is foreign to most people. And having a delinquency adjudication on your record can create many difficulties as you begin looking at jobs, colleges, and getting into your own housing. The attorneys at ML Brooks Law are experienced in juvenile law and are able to determine whether your constitutional rights were violated and whether the prosecution can prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. We will help you understand your options during a delinquency case and zealously advocate for you through any trial or appeal.
Child Protection Defense
Few things are more invasive or scary than having a social worker or a police officer at your door, carrying your child away and telling you they are going to be placed in foster care. Even when your child is not placed out of your home, getting paperwork that accuses you of mistreating or neglecting your child can be stressful and difficult to understand. The government is given a lot of power to protect children and it is often hard to tell where those powers end and where your rights begin. The experienced and dedicated attorneys at ML Brooks Law do understand that. We can look through the case to ensure social services and law enforcement followed the law and to determine whether social services can actually prove their case. If a court does determine your child is in need of protection or services, we will help you understand what social services expects from you to get your children back and work with you to avoid their permanent placement out of your home. The child protection system is difficult to navigate, it strongly favors the government, and more often than not, it feels like it’s designed for you to fail. With ML Brooks Law at your side, you will have the tools to succeed and you will have dedicated counsel through every step of the process.