Subdivision 1. Meaning and effect; grounds. A dissolution of marriage is the termination of the marital relationship between a husband and wife. A decree of dissolution completely terminates the marital status of both parties. A legal separation is a court determination of the rights and responsibilities of a husband and wife arising out of the marital relationship. A decree of legal separation does not terminate the marital status of the parties. A dissolution of a marriage shall be granted by a county or district court when the court finds that there has been an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage relationship.
A decree of legal separation shall be granted when the court finds that one or both parties need a legal separation.
Defenses to divorce, dissolution and legal separation, including but not limited to condonation, connivance, collusion, recrimination, insanity, and lapse of time, are abolished.
Subd. 2. [Repealed, 1978 c 772 s 63]
Subd. 3. Uncontested legal separation. If one or both parties petition for a decree of legal separation and neither party contests the granting of the decree nor petitions for a decree of dissolution, the court shall grant a decree of legal separation.
(8585) RL s 3574; 1909 c 443 s 1; 1927 c 304 s 1; 1933 c 262 s 1; 1933 c 324; Ex1933 c 78 s 1; 1935 c 295 s 1; 1941 c 406 s 1; 1951 c 637 s 1; 1969 c 764 s 1; 1971 c 177 s 1; 1974 c 107 s 4; 1978 c 772 s 22,23; 1979 c 259 s 4,5
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 517 - 519A — Domestic Relations
Chapter 518 — Marriage Dissolution
Section 518.002 — Meaning Of Divorce.
Section 518.003 — Definitions.
Section 518.005 — Rules Governing Proceedings; Formal Requirements; Fee.
Section 518.01 — Void Marriages.
Section 518.02 — Voidable Marriages.
Section 518.03 — Action To Annul; Decree.
Section 518.04 — Insufficient Grounds For Annulment.
Section 518.05 — Annulment; When To Bring.
Section 518.055 — Putative Spouse.
Section 518.06 — Dissolution Of Marriage; Legal Separation; Grounds; Uncontested Legal Separation.
Section 518.07 — Residence Of Parties.
Section 518.09 — Proceeding; How And Where Brought; Venue.
Section 518.10 — Requisites Of Petition.
Section 518.11 — Service; Alternate Service; Publication.
Section 518.12 — Time For Answering.
Section 518.13 — Failure To Answer; Findings; Hearing.
Section 518.131 — Temporary Orders And Restraining Orders.
Section 518.14 — Costs And Disbursements; Attorney Fees; Collection Costs.
Section 518.145 — Decree, Finality And Reopening.
Section 518.146 — Social Security Numbers; Tax Returns; Identity Protection.
Section 518.148 — Certification Of Dissolution.
Section 518.155 — Custody Determinations.
Section 518.156 — Commencement Of Custody Proceeding.
Section 518.157 — Parent Education Program In Proceedings Involving Children.
Section 518.165 — Guardians Ad Litem For Minor Children.
Section 518.167 — Investigations And Reports.
Section 518.17 — Custody And Support Of Children On Judgment.
Section 518.1705 — Parenting Plans.
Section 518.175 — Parenting Time.
Section 518.1751 — Parenting Time Dispute Resolution.
Section 518.1752 — Grandparent Visitation.
Section 518.176 — Judicial Supervision.
Section 518.177 — Notification Regarding Deprivation Of Parental Rights Law.
Section 518.178 — Parenting Time And Support Review Hearing.
Section 518.1781 — Six-month Review.
Section 518.18 — Modification Of Order.
Section 518.183 — Replacing Certain Orders.
Section 518.185 — Affidavit Practice.
Section 518.191 — Summary Real Estate Disposition Judgment.
Section 518.195 — Summary Dissolution Process.
Section 518.25 — Remarriage; Revocation.
Section 518.27 — Name Of Party.
Section 518.551 — Postsecondary Education Trust Fund.
Section 518.552 — Maintenance.
Section 518.58 — Division Of Marital Property.
Section 518.581 — Surviving Spouse Benefit.
Section 518.582 — Procedure For Valuing Pension Benefits Or Rights.
Section 518.612 — Independence Of Provisions Of Decree Or Temporary Order.
Section 518.619 — Custody Or Visitation; Mediation Services.
Section 518.62 — Temporary Maintenance.
Section 518.63 — Homestead, Occupancy.
Section 518.65 — Property; Sale, Partition.