KeepMyProof
Divorce prep · Minnesota
Child custody and parenting plans in Minnesota
Minnesota courts must make detailed findings on each factor of the child's best interests when deciding custody and parenting time. A Minnesota court must not prefer one parent over the other solely because of the parent's gender. Rules change, so check each official source below, and ask a lawyer licensed in Minnesota about your situation.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- Minnesota courts must make detailed findings on each factor of the child's best interests when deciding custody and parenting time. Minnesota Statutes § 518.17. Checked November 2, 2026
- A Minnesota court must not prefer one parent over the other solely because of the parent's gender. Minnesota Statutes § 518.17. Checked November 2, 2026
- In a Minnesota divorce or legal separation, the court grants parenting time on either parent's request so the child can keep a relationship with that parent. Minnesota Statutes § 518.175. Checked November 2, 2026
Official links
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Bank, retirement and debt statements
- Pay stubs and tax returns
- Household bills and expenses
- Home, car and property papers
- Agreements and court papers you have
- Messages sent to you
- Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for Minnesota
- How child support works in Minnesota
- How to get a copy of your divorce record in Minnesota
- Protective orders for domestic violence in Minnesota
- Divorce residency rules and where to file in Minnesota
- Divorce document checklist: the full guide
- Child custody and parenting plans: all states
Neighbouring states
- Child custody and parenting plans in Iowa
- Child custody and parenting plans in North Dakota
- Child custody and parenting plans in South Dakota
- Child custody and parenting plans in Wisconsin
Questions
Where do these Minnesota facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: Minnesota Statutes § 518.17; Minnesota Statutes § 518.175. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in Minnesota or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for divorce prep?
A good start: Bank, retirement and debt statements; Pay stubs and tax returns; Household bills and expenses; Home, car and property papers; Agreements and court papers you have; Messages sent to you; Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes. Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.