Minnesota divorce: request for production of documents

MINNESOTA DIVORCE: REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS LAWYER

Formal requests for production of documents in family law proceedings can be a very effective method for obtaining necessary and relevant documentation from the "opposing side" for purposes of the proceeding. 

Rule 34 of the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure provides in part as follow:

The request may, without leave of court, be served upon any party with or after service of the summons and complaint. The request shall set forth the items to be inspected either by individual item or by category, and describe each item and category with reasonable particularity. The request shall specify a reasonable time, place, and manner of making the inspection and performing the related acts. The request may specify the form or forms in which electronically stored information is to be produced.

The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written response within 30 days after the service of the request, except that a defendant may serve a response within 45 days after service of the summons and complaint upon that defendant. The court may allow a shorter or longer time. The response shall state, with respect to each item or category, that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, unless the request is objected to, including an objection to the requested form or forms for producing electronically stored information, stating the reasons for objection. If objection is made to part of an item or category, that part shall be specified and inspection permitted of the remaining parts. If objection is made to the requested form or forms for producing electronically stored information - or if no form was specified in the request - the responding party must state the form or forms it intends to use. The party submitting the request may move for an order pursuant to Rule 37 with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond to the request or any part thereof, or any failure to permit inspection as requested.

Unless the parties otherwise agree, or the court otherwise orders:

(a) A party who produces documents for inspection shall produce them as they are kept in the usual course of business at the time of the request or, at the option of the producing party, shall organize them to correspond with the categories in the request;

(b) If a request does not specify the form or forms for producing electronically stored information, a responding party must produce the information in a form or forms in which it is ordinarily maintained or in a form or forms that are reasonably usable; and

(c) A party need not produce the same electronically stored information in more than one form.

Minnesota Divorce Discovery Process & Attorney

Blahnik Law Office, PLLC will take the necessary measures to obtain all relevant documents neeed for the divorce or other family law case.  If this can be accomplished through informal discovery, the firm will first attempt that "less expensive" route.  However, if formal discovery is needed, the firm will serve requests for production of documents on the opposing party to obtain the necessary documents.