Custody And Parenting Time

In deciding custody and parenting time, a Minnesota court considers all relevant factors in the child's best interests, including:

• §Minn. Stat. 518.17

• The child's physical, emotional, cultural, spiritual and other needs, and any special needs.
• The child's reasonable preference, if of sufficient ability, age and maturity.
• Whether domestic abuse has occurred, and what it means for the child's safety.
• Each parent's history of caring for the child and willingness and ability to keep doing so.
• The benefit of maximizing parenting time with both parents, and the harm of limiting it.
• Each parent's support for the child's relationship with the other, except where there has been domestic abuse.
• The parents' willingness and ability to cooperate and keep the child out of their conflict.

• §Minn. Stat. 518.17