Child Custody Agreement - Minnesota

CHILD CUSTODY AND PARENTING TIME AGREEMENT — MINNESOTA

This Agreement is made on [__/__/____] between Parent A and Parent B, the legal parents of the children listed below. The Parents submit it for court review in the ☐ dissolution ☐ legal separation ☐ parentage ☐ other proceeding: [________________]. Any existing custody or parenting time order is dated [__/__/____] and is attached or identified as [________________]. The Parents ask the Court to find that the proposed terms serve the children's best interests under Minn. Stat. § 518.17 and to enter an appropriate order. Until then, this Agreement does not itself change an existing court order.

1. Children and best interests

Facts supporting the requested custody and parenting arrangements, including each child's needs, significant relationships, the Parents' caregiving history, and any safety concerns: [____________________________________________________________].

2. Legal and physical custody

The Parents request the following order (select and complete each line):

• Legal custody: ☐ joint to both Parents ☐ sole to Parent [A/B].
• Physical custody: ☐ joint to both Parents ☐ sole to Parent [A/B].
• Primary residence for school and other purposes, if designated: [________________].

For joint legal custody, the Parents will confer in good faith about major decisions concerning education, nonemergency health care, and religious training. Method and time for consultation: [________________]. For sole legal custody, the noncustodial Parent will receive the information and access ordered by the Court, subject to any protective order. Each Parent may make ordinary daily decisions while the child is in that Parent's care. Emergency decision and notification procedure: [________________].

3. Ordinary parenting schedule

This schedule applies from [__/__/____], subject to entry of a court order and any existing order. Each Parent's scheduled time is set out below.

Exchange time when school is closed or a child is ill: [________________]. Late exchange or cancellation notice method: [________________]. Remote contact with the other Parent: [________________]. Supervision, if requested, including supervisor, place, cost, and reason: [________________].

The Parents have considered the rebuttable presumption in Minn. Stat. § 518.175, subd. 1(g), that in the absence of other evidence a child receives at least 25 percent of parenting time with each Parent. If the proposed schedule gives a Parent less, facts supporting it: [________________]. The Court determines parenting time.

4. Holidays, breaks, and vacations

The following schedule overrides the ordinary schedule where the two conflict.

Summer schedule and vacation blocks: [____________________________________________________________]. Vacation selection deadline and notice method agreed by the Parents: [________________]. If both choose overlapping dates, priority rule: [________________]. Any agreed make up time after a missed exchange: [________________].

5. Information, safety, and practical arrangements

Subject to the Court's order and any protective restriction, each Parent may access the children's important school and health records and shall notify the other of an accident or serious illness, consistent with Minn. Stat. § 518.17, subds. 3 and 3a. The Parents shall share current school, provider, emergency contact, and telephone information through [METHOD]. A Parent barred from direct contact by an order shall use only a permitted communication route.

Medication and health instructions during exchanges: [________________]. School and activity transportation: [________________]. Child care arrangements or an agreed offer of care to the other Parent before a third party: [________________]. Communication that supports the children's relationship with each Parent: [________________]. Safety terms appropriate to the family's facts: [________________].

6. Residence changes and travel

If a Parent with whom a child resides proposes to move the child's residence to another state and the other Parent has parenting time under the decree, that Parent shall obtain the other Parent's consent or a court order under Minn. Stat. § 518.175, subd. 3. The Parents agree to exchange information about proposed moves and related schedule changes as follows: [NOTICE METHOD AND AGREED TIME, IF ANY]. This agreed notice does not replace the statutory consent or order.

Travel itinerary, emergency contacts, and passports, if applicable: [________________]. Any existing order that limits travel or contact: [________________].

7. Disagreements and future orders

The Parents will first try to resolve ordinary scheduling disputes by [COMMUNICATION METHOD], if safe and practical. They may jointly seek mediation; this clause does not delay either Parent from seeking court relief. If appropriate, a Parent may ask the Court to appoint a parenting time expeditor under Minn. Stat. § 518.1751. A claim of domestic abuse or another exception under § 518.1751, subd. 1a must be addressed before any required referral.

A later written agreement about a visit does not itself amend a court order. A request to modify an existing custody or primary residence order is subject to Minn. Stat. § 518.18 and the Court's decision. The Parents may ask the Court for relief if an order is violated; no private cure period or fee shifting is imposed by this Agreement.

8. Final terms and signatures

The Parents have exchanged the information needed to make this proposal and have had the opportunity to consult separate counsel. Any change to this Agreement before entry of an order must be in writing and signed by both Parents. If the Court rejects or changes a term, the order controls. This Agreement and any attached, signed schedule state the Parents' proposal concerning custody and parenting time, subject to the following existing orders or agreements: [________________]. Minnesota law governs.

Parent A signature: __________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Printed name: [________________________________]

Parent B signature: __________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Printed name: [________________________________]

Attorney for Parent A, if any: [________________________________]

Attorney for Parent B, if any: [________________________________]