Legal Question in Family Law in Minnesota
My husband is moving forward with filing for divorce, I wish to mend the relationship and do not want the divorce. Can he legally force me to sign anything?
2 Answers from Attorneys
No, he cannot make you sign anything. If you cannot come to an agreement regarding your divorce (an agreement would require your signature), your husband can proceed to a trial where a judge can decide all the terms of your divorce and finalize the divorce without your signature.
You can never be forced to sign anything. However, Minnesota is a "no fault" divorce state that requires only that one party believes that the marital relationship is irreparable. As a result, you cannot stop the divorce from proceeding if your spouse does not wish to reconcile. He may serve you with a Summons and Petition for Divorce where you have thirty (30) days to respond with a legal Answer to the Petition. If you do not do so, your spouse may seek to proceed with the divorce by default, which means it is treated as if it is uncontested. You should hire legal counsel.