Minnesota Custody & Parenting Time
Current, source-linked Minnesota terminology and rules without imported out-of-state formulas.
Minnesota terminology
Legal custody
The right to make major decisions for the child (education, health care, religious upbringing) — sole or joint.
Physical custody
Where the child lives and the schedule.
Sole / joint
Legal and physical custody may each be sole (one parent) or joint (shared).
Best interests
The standard; decided on all relevant factors (Minn. Stat. § 518.17).
Core rules
- Minnesota uses 'legal custody' and 'physical custody' (sole/joint) plus 'parenting time'
- There is a rebuttable presumption for joint legal custody upon request of either party
- That presumption is rebutted if domestic abuse between the parents has occurred (Minn. Stat. § 518.17)
- The court must not prefer one parent solely on the basis of gender
- There is no fixed 50/50 presumption and no overnight formula that converts a schedule into a custody right
- Parenting time is governed by Minn. Stat. § 518.175, favoring frequent, meaningful contact
Support and modification cautions
Minnesota uses the Income Shares model for child support — not a flat percentage of one parent's income. The court combines both parents' monthly gross income into PICS and reads the basic support from the statutory table (Minn. Stat. § 518A.34/518A.35; cap $20,000/mo). A custody order may be modified only on a change of circumstances and best interests, with a higher endangerment burden to change an existing order (Minn. Stat. § 518.18).
Always confirm current local forms, fees, and filing procedure with the Minnesota District Court administrator handling your case.