Minnesota Court-Ordered Parent Education Requirements | Laws and Local Mandates

Minnesota courts draw authority from several key statutes. In custody and family law matters, Minn. Stat. § 518.17 directs Minnesota District Courts to evaluate the willingness of each parent to support the child’s relationship with the other parent — making co-parenting education a routine requirement in contested proceedings across Minnesota’s counties. The Minnesota Judicial Branch oversees court-ordered program compliance statewide.

Our platform allows you to enroll and begin immediately — no waiting for class schedules, no commute to the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul, or any other Minnesota court facility. The system saves your progress automatically so you can complete your required hours across multiple sessions. Your Certificate of Completion is available for instant download the moment you finish, allowing you to submit to your court or probation officer without delay.

Minnesota is one of the few states with a statute — [Minn. Stat. § 518.157]() — that directly addresses parenting education in custody and dissolution cases. In counties with populations over 100,000, courts are directed to make parenting education programs available and may require attendance. In smaller counties, judges retain discretion to order it based on the circumstances. Either way, parents in contested custody matters should expect it to come up — and completing it proactively is rarely a bad move.

Minnesota’s statutory framework expects parenting education programs to address the impact of divorce and family dissolution on children, effective co-parent communication, strategies for reducing conflict, and supporting the child’s relationship with both parents. Our curriculum is designed to align with these content areas, and the certificate we issue documents the specific topics covered — which is exactly what Minnesota courts expect to see in your submitted documentation.

Yes. Online completion has become widely accepted across Minnesota’s judicial districts, particularly in greater Minnesota where in-person providers may be scarce. Our program is fully self-paced and accessible on any device, so you can meet your requirement without traveling to a physical location. Always review your order carefully and check with the Minnesota Judicial Branch or your attorney before enrolling. We offer a full refund if our certificate is not accepted by your court.

Under [Minn. Stat. § 518.18](), Minnesota courts can modify custody when there has been a significant change in circumstances affecting the child. A parent’s willingness to complete co-parenting education — especially proactively — can be a meaningful signal to the court that you’re focused on the child’s wellbeing rather than the conflict. Conversely, failing to comply with a court-ordered program can be cited as evidence of non-cooperation and weigh against you in modification proceedings.