Temporary Relief Motion (including Priority Hearings) – Statutory Guidelines

For Full Information on Temporary Relief Motions, click here:

Statutory Authority: Statute 518.131; Rule 115; MN General Rule of Practice – Rule 303 

Waiting period before filing: Some counties (Olmsted primarily) require that ADR & the  ICMC hearing must be completed prior to requesting temporary relief. (See wiki on ECM process for more info) Otherwise, the general requirement is that the initial pleadings must have been served on the other party prior to requesting a temporary relief hearing.  

Required Findings / Legal Standard:  

• The court shall be guided generally by: 

• Child support –  518A  

• Maintenance – 518.552 

• Custody & Parenting Time –  518.17 to 518.175  

• Costs & Attorney’s Fees – 518.14  

Notice Timeline: (Standard Motion Timelines Apply) 

• Once you obtain a hearing date, you must “promptly give written notice” to the other party of the date, time, judge, and primary issues¹. Rule 115.02; Rule 303 

• You must contact the other party within 7 days after filing the motion to talk about settling your case, including the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) options. See Rule 303.03(c) MN Gen. Rules of Practice. 

Mandatory Hearing? Yes 

Filing Fees: Yes – motion filing fee. Varies by County, usually about $100 

Required Documents: Temporary orders shall be made solely on the basis of affidavits and argument of counsel except upon demand by either party in a motion or responsive motion made within the time limit for making and filing a responsive motion that the matter be heard on oral testimony before the court, or if the court in its discretion orders the taking of oral testimony. No testimony will be taken at motion hearings except under unusual circumstances.² 

• Notice of Motion: Must state the date, time, and place of the hearing, name of Judge, notice of time to respond, and sets out with particularity the relief requested in individually numbered paragraphs 

• Affidavits: Must contain facts relevant to the issues before the court. 

• Exhibits: Filed as “other document” or if confidential “Confidential information form 11.2 attachments” 

• Cover Sheet for Non-Public Documents Form 11.2: (if submitting financial documents as exhibits) 

• Parenting/ Financial Disclosure Stmt: When temporary financial relief such as child support, maintenance, payment of debt and attorney’s fees is requested, the Parenting/Financial Disclosure Statement form developed by the state court administrator shall be served and filed by the moving and responding parties, along with their motions and affidavits. Sanctions for failure to comply include, but are not limited to, the striking of pleadings or hearing. ³ Rule 303.02(b) 

• Memorandum of Law: Moving party must submit 21 days prior to hearing. ⁴ Rule 303.03 

• Certificate of Settlement Efforts: Moving party must file a Certificate of Settlement Efforts not later than 24 hours before the hearing. Unless excused by the Court for good cause, no motion shall be heard unless the parties have complied with this rule. (Rule 303.03(c) 

Impermissible Requests: 

• Denial of parenting time: Parenting time may be denied only if it would likely cause harm to the child. 

• Exclusion from home: A party may be excluded from the family home only if harm is likely or the exclusion is otherwise reasonable. 

• Modifying OFP: An order for protection generally cannot be changed without a properly noticed motion, even if heard alongside a divorce, and any change must be issued as a separate order. 

Modification / Duration: A temporary order shall continue in full force and effect until the earlier of its amendment or vacation, dismissal of the main action or entry of a final decree of dissolution or legal separation.  A temporary order may be revoked or modified by the court before the final disposition of the proceeding upon the same grounds and subject to the same requirements as the initial granting of the order. 

Oral Testimony: Minnesota Statutes, section 518.131, subdivision 8, grants a party the right to present oral testimony upon the filing of a demand either in the initial application for temporary relief or in the response thereto. The party demanding oral testimony should provide a list of the proposed witnesses, the scope of their testimony and an estimate of the required time. 

Child Testimony: Any motion relating to custody or visitation shall additionally state whether either party desires the court to interview minor children. No child under the age of fourteen years will be allowed to testify without prior written notice to the other party and court approval.⁵ Rule 303.03 (d)(7) 

Any unique issues by county/magistrate: None that aren’t already addressed here. 

Priority Hearing for Temporary Relief⁶ 

Cases Given Priority for Temporary Relief: While the proceeding is pending, the court must give priority to scheduling and holding an expedited hearing for temporary relief when a party credibly alleges that: 

1. A party has been denied parenting time for 14 consecutive days or more  OR 

2. A party has been unreasonably denied access to necessary financial resources or support during a pending divorce 

Timeline for Hearing: Court must hold priority hearing within 30 days of the “party’s request” 

Considerations for Denied Parenting Time: Court must consider credible allegations of DV, substance abuse, maltreatment findings, or neglect as a reasonable basis for a party who has denied parenting time to the other party. 

Other issues that can be addressed at a priority hearing: If temp parenting time is ordered, temp CS may be ordered. 

Scheduling Priority Hearing: This seems to differ by Judge/County. Sometimes you can call/email the Court and request the priority hearing (reference the statute) and they will give you a court date. Other times, the Court may require that you file your motion/aff docs first and then they’ll give you a priority hearing.  

Timelines and Required Documents: Nothing in statute/rules indicates that there are any different requirements for timelines/documents, so all the regular timelines/requirements for motions should be followed.