This bill amends Minnesota family law to enhance the consideration of domestic abuse and child abuse allegations in child custody, parenting time, and marriage dissolution cases. It mandates that courts appoint guardians ad litem with specialized training in these areas to ensure they can effectively handle sensitive cases. The legislation emphasizes the child's safety and well-being, establishing a rebuttable presumption against granting unsupervised parenting time to parents deemed a risk to the child. Additionally, it outlines specific factors for courts to consider when determining the best interests of the child, including the history of abuse and the ability of each parent to provide a safe environment.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that a parent's inability to pay support cannot be used to deny parenting time and introduces a rebuttable presumption for a minimum of 25% parenting time entitlement. It requires courts to hold prompt hearings when allegations of danger are raised regarding parenting time. The overall aim of the amendments is to prioritize the safety of children and household members in custody disputes involving domestic or child abuse, ensuring that these serious allegations are given significant weight in court decisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 518.165, 518.17, 518.175