This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 518.1751, to regulate the use of parenting consultants in family court cases. It establishes that a parenting consultant must meet specific qualifications, either as a parenting time expeditor or as a licensed marriage and family therapist. The role of the parenting consultant is defined as assisting parties in resolving issues related to custody and parenting time court orders, without the authority to modify custody orders or change parenting time percentages. Additionally, any party can discharge a parenting consultant with written notice, which must also be filed with the court.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new subdivision that clarifies the non-binding nature of decisions made by parenting consultants. It states that the court is not obligated to adhere to these decisions and that any evidence or recommendations from a parenting consultant are inadmissible in court proceedings. This aims to ensure that while parenting consultants can provide guidance, their determinations do not carry legal weight in court decisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 518.1751