(a) Custody proceedings shall receive priority in being set for hearing.
(b) The court may tax as costs the payment of necessary travel and other expenses incurred by a person whose presence at the hearing the court deems necessary to determine the best interests of the child.
(c) The court without a jury shall determine questions of law and fact. If it finds that a public hearing may be detrimental to the child's best interests, the court may exclude the public from a custody hearing, but may admit any person who has a direct interest in the particular case.
(d) If the court finds it necessary for the protection of the child's welfare that the record of an interview, report, investigation, or testimony in a custody proceeding be kept secret, the court may make an appropriate order sealing the record.
(e) At the first hearing or at an initial appearance before the court under this chapter, the court shall provide an information sheet to the parties explaining:
(1) in cases where alternative dispute resolution is required under General Rules of Practice, rule 310.01, that the parties have the choice of using alternative dispute resolution methods including mediation, arbitration, and other processes to resolve the divorce or custody matter;
(2) how mediation and other available forms of alternative dispute resolution for family law cases work;
(3) that the parties may choose which method of alternative dispute resolution to use; and
(4) that the court administrator is able to provide additional information about resources for alternative dispute resolution.
Each party who is present at the first hearing or at an initial appearance must receive a copy of the information sheet from the court.
(f) The state court administrator shall prepare an alternative dispute resolution information sheet that the court must use to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (e).
1978 c 772 s 38; 2016 c 167 s 1
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.