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 evidence-based training on these issues and requires judges to prioritize the child's health and safety in their decisions. Key amendments include specific factors for courts to evaluate, such as the child's safety and the history of domestic abuse, and the introduction of mandatory training for judges and magistrates on handling such cases. Additionally, the bill establishes a rebuttable presumption against granting unsupervised parenting time to parents deemed a risk of abuse.

Furthermore, the legislation clarifies that a parent's inability to pay support cannot be a reason to deny parenting time and requires courts to hold hearings on abuse allegations, making findings based on a preponderance of evidence. It also introduces a rebuttable presumption that children should spend a minimum of 25% of parenting time with each parent, while allowing for modifications to parenting plans to prioritize the child's best interests, especially in light of any abuse allegations. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen protections for children in custody disputes by ensuring thorough evaluation of abuse claims in court decisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 518.165, 518.17, 518.175