Minnesota Dissolution of Marriage With Children (2026)

When minor children are involved, Minnesota dissolution adds two key requirements: a complete Parenting Plan in the Marital Termination Agreement and completion of the Parent Education Program by both parents.

Minnesota Terminology

Legal Custody

Authority to make major decisions about the child's education, healthcare, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities.

• Joint legal custody: Both parents share major decisions — most common
• Sole legal custody: One parent has final authority — ordered when joint is impractical

Physical Custody

Where the child lives on a day-to-day basis.

• Sole physical custody: Child lives primarily with one parent; other parent has parenting time
• Joint physical custody: Child has substantial time with both parents

Minnesota uses both "legal custody" and "physical custody" — it also uses "parenting time" for the schedule of the non-primary parent.

Best Interests Standard — Minn. Stat. § 518.17

Courts determine custody and parenting time based on the best interests of the child:

1. Child's physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs
2. Special medical, mental health, or educational needs
3. Reasonable preference of the child (if of sufficient age and maturity)
4. Domestic abuse — whether domestic abuse has occurred, its nature, and its effect
5. Physical, mental, or chemical health issue affecting the child's safety and development
6. History of the child's care: who has been primarily responsible for care
7. Effect of change on the child (disruption of continuity)
8. Relationship of the child with parents and siblings
9. Child's adjustment to home, school, and community
10. Length of time in a stable home environment
11. Permanence of the family unit
12. Cultural background of the child
13. Effect of domestic abuse and any previous co-parenting
14. Willingness to support child's relationship with the other parent
15. Such other factors as the court finds relevant

Parent Education Program — Required

Both parents must complete the Parent Education Program (Minn. Stat. § 518.157) when minor children are involved.

• Both parents required to attend
• Approximately 8–10 hours; many programs available online
• Check your county's District Court website for approved providers
• Must be completed before or by the time of the final hearing (county rules vary — check your county)
• Attend separately — it is not a joint session between the parties
• Obtain a completion certificate for filing with the court

Minnesota Child Support

Minnesota uses the income shares model — both parents' incomes are included in the calculation.

Key factors:

• Both parents' gross monthly incomes
• Parenting time: days the obligation-paying parent has with the child (more time = lower obligation)
• Number of children
• Child care costs attributable to parenting time
• Health insurance premiums paid for the child
• Other legal child support obligations of either parent

Important: Minnesota's parenting time adjustment means that if the paying parent has more overnights, child support is reduced. Joint physical custody (substantial equal time) typically results in a much lower obligation.

Duration: Support ends when the child turns 18, or 20 if still in secondary school (high school).

Online calculator: Minnesota Department of Human Services child support calculator.

Parenting Plan

The Parenting Plan (included in or attached to the MTA) must address:

• Legal custody (joint or sole)
• Primary residence/physical custody designation
• School-year parenting time schedule (specific days, exchange times and locations)
• Summer parenting time schedule
• Holiday parenting time schedule (specific list)
• School breaks and long weekends
• Vacation notification requirements (advance notice in days)
• Communication: phone/video contact between child and each parent
• Transportation: who drives exchanges
• Relocation notice requirements (Minnesota requires advance notice for relocation — check current statute)
• Decision-making protocol for joint legal custody (communication method, dispute resolution)

Impact of Parent Education Program on Timeline

Completing the Parent Education Program adds approximately 1–3 weeks to the timeline (depending on class availability in your county). Because Minnesota has no waiting period, scheduling the program early accelerates the overall timeline.

Last reviewed: March 2026 | Parent Education Program required — both parents | Income shares child support model | Support ends at 18 or 20 if in school | "Marital Termination Agreement (MTA)" | District Court

Last reviewed: March 2026 · Verify current fees and forms with your local court before filing.