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(f) `custody decision` means a court decision and court orders and instructions providing for custody of a child, including parental leave, but not a decision on child maintenance or any other financial obligation of a person. 1. the custody wishes of the child`s parents; But even if the court finds that domestic violence occurred, “it does not force a rigid presumption that, regardless of the nature or context of the family violence, a parent is unable to serve the best interests of the child.” The court will consider the nature and context of domestic violence and its impact on children`s safety, well-being and developmental needs. If “strong counter-evidence” is presented suggesting that sole custody is not in the best interests of the children, a court has the right to grant joint custody even if domestic violence has occurred. The granting of joint custody is not a ground for departing from the guidelines of section 518A.35. 7. There shall be no presumption of joint custody, except in the cases provided for in paragraph 9. Where to start? The main laws on custody of MNs are found in Chapter 518 of the Minnesota Regulations. Subd. 6. Departure from joint custody guidelines. When the court awards joint custody of a party`s objection, it makes detailed findings on each of the factors in that subsection and explains how the factors led the court to conclude that joint custody is in the best interests of the child. 1.

sole or joint custody of the minor children of the parties; In addition to the factors listed in paragraph 1, when considering or applying for joint legal custody or joint physical custody, the court shall consider the following relevant factors: (a) In assessing the best interests of the child for the purposes of deciding custody and parental leave issues, the court shall consider and evaluate all relevant factors. Includes: If you`re considering a changing of the guard, you`ll find the key law in Section 518.18 of the Minnesota Act. This law, in conjunction with the 1981 decision of the Minnesota Supreme Court in Nice-Petersen v. Nice-Petersen, provides a general overview of the standards associated with changing the guard in Minnesota. When a Minnesota court makes a custody decision, whether the issue arises in divorce proceedings or in separate proceedings, it must determine that its decision is in the “best interests of the child.” Minnesota does not define this term, but it does provide a list of factors that often influence a child`s “best interests.” In addition to custody decisions, the court must determine how much “parenting time” each parent should have. They can give one parent additional parental leave so they can care for the child while the other parent is at work. The Minnesota Supreme Court reviewed the requirements of this provision in a 2018 decision. Two dissenting judges considered the Minnesota legislature`s reasons for enacting the provision. Anthony Toepfer, a family lawyer in St. Cloud, Minnesota, represents people in some of the most difficult times of their lives.

He represents clients in divorce, custody and other family law matters, both inside and outside the courtroom. As a Toepfer at Law client, you always have access to up-to-date information about your case, and we are always available to answer your questions and concerns. Please contact us today via our website or call us at (320) 497-4416 to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case. The same Act also sets out the provisions that the judge must apply in order to benefit from the best interests of the child. For this reason, 518.17 is by far the most important law on the custody of MNs – by far. (a) When deciding on the nullity of a marriage or in proceedings for dissolution or separation or custody, the court shall make a new order which it considers just and proportionate in respect of: The District Court concluded that the father`s request for additional parental leave was partly due to the mother`s plan, Seeking care at school is not in the best interests of the child. According to the dissidents, this “implied that `quality child care` was superior to parental care.” They argue that this was not supported by the evidence and that it defeats the purpose of subsection 8. While dissent is not legally binding, it could influence future court decisions on the issue. (b) “Joint custody” means the equal rights and obligations of both parents, including the right to participate in important decisions that determine the child`s upbringing, including education, health care and religious education.

Under the 2015 amendments to the law, a court must make “detailed findings” on each of these twelve factors when deciding matters related to custody and parental leave. It must take into account all factors as well as other relevant factors that are not listed in the legislation. (a) “Custody” means the right to decide on the child`s upbringing, including education, health care and religious education. In deciding whether or not to grant joint custody, the court must assess, among other things, “the parents` ability to cooperate, their dispute resolution methods, and their willingness to use those methods.” Of course, these factors are assessed in the broader context of the best interests of the child, but the ability of the parents to cooperate is crucial to the custody decision. In fact, joint custody should only be granted if parents can deal in cooperation with parental decisions. If there is significant hostility between parents, if parents cannot communicate, or if parents use custody as a weapon against each other, it is obvious that the interests of children cannot be better accommodated by joint custody. The court assumes a rebuttable presumption that joint custody is in the best interests of the child at the request of one or both parties. However, the court must make a rebuttable presumption that joint legal or physical custody is not in the best interests of the child when domestic violence within the meaning of section 518B.01 has occurred between the parents. As noted earlier, state law requires a court to make “detailed findings” about the twelve “best interest” factors when deciding on custody and parental leave. In Hansen, the father argued that the District Court erred in failing to make detailed submissions when it rejected his application for additional parental leave. The Court of Appeal upheld the District Court`s decision, ruling that the requirement for “detailed submissions” applied only to “substantial changes” to a parenting plan, whereas the husband`s request was only for “minor changes and clarifications.” Determining a parent`s parental leave percentage usually involves calculating the number of overnight visits with the child. It may also include other periods of physical custody if the child and parent are together.

If one parent is entitled to two overnight visits per week, plus a few extra hours in the evenings or weekends, this probably accounts for at least twenty-five per cent of the other parent`s parental leave. The time the child is in school is usually not counted in the total amount, even if the parent has custody during this period. (9) the mental and physical health of all the persons involved; except that a disability within the meaning of section 363A.03 of a proposed guardian or of the child is not determinative of custody of the child, unless the proposed custody agreement is not in the best interests of the child; (c) “physical care and residence” means the routine daily care and the follow-up and residence of the child. (e) When used in this chapter, the term “custodial parent” or “guardian” means the person who has physical custody of the child at any given time. and (3) their support. In determining custody, the court considers the best interests of each child and does not favour one parent over the other solely on the basis of the sex of the parent. (5) A disability alone within the meaning of section 363A.03 of a proposed guardian or of the child is not decisive for custody of the child.