SF697

The proposed bill SF No 697 revises family law in Minnesota, specifically addressing how custody and parenting time decisions are made based on the best interests of the child involved. The bill lists a series of factors that courts must consider when determining custody arrangements, including the child’s various needs (physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual), any special requirements due to medical or educational conditions, the child's preferences if deemed mature enough, the impact of any domestic abuse, and each parent's ability to provide care.

Key points include: 1. Detailed court findings must be made for each considered factor and should demonstrate how they affect the final custody decision. 2. Parental gender is not to be a deciding factor in assigning custody. 3. Disabilities of a parent or the child should not solely determine custody outcomes. 4. There is generally no fixed assumption for or against joint physical custody, although joint custody is not favored if there's an indication of domestic abuse. 5. The bill also prohibits courts from considering a parent's past or potential military deployments as a significant factor in custody decisions.

These amendments aim to ensure that custody decisions are fair, prioritize the child’s welfare, and recognize the evolving dynamics of modern parenting.