Reviewed August 2026
Court Hearings in Minnesota
Minnesota files divorce and custody cases in district court. A spouse can ask the court to decide custody, support, or property arrangements before the case ends. This request is called a motion for temporary relief, and it applies while the case is still pending. The resulting interim order gives the family a working arrangement so they don't have to wait for a final judgment. Minnesota also uses child support magistrates. These are judicial officers who handle certain child support matters separately from a district court judge. Some counties also use referees to hear other family law motions. Who hears a specific motion depends on the type of matter and the county where the case sits. The state's Judicial Branch runs a well-established remote hearing program through Zoom. It publishes detailed public instructions for joining a hearing by app, browser, or phone. Video and phone participation are now central to how Minnesota's courts operate. The state has ten judicial districts covering all 87 counties, and each district manages its own family law calendar.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how court hearings works under Minnesota law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Minnesota paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
Get notified when Virdix reaches Minnesota
We'll send one email, nothing else, the day Minnesota launches.
Requesting temporary relief
In a Minnesota divorce case, either spouse can file a motion for temporary relief. The motion asks the district court to decide certain issues while the case is pending. These can include temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, or use of the marital home. This interim relief gives the family a working arrangement without waiting for the case to conclude. A contested divorce can take considerably longer to finish. The temporary order applies only until the court changes it or the case reaches a final judgment. A motion that touches on support generally requires a financial affidavit.
Child support magistrates and referees
Minnesota uses child support magistrates. These are judicial officers who handle certain child support matters separately from a district court judge. This applies particularly to cases connected to the state's child support enforcement process. In some counties, referees also hear other family law motions. They issue recommendations that a district court judge then reviews. Which judicial officer hears a specific motion for temporary relief depends on two things: the type of issue and the county where the case is filed. Hennepin and Ramsey counties, the state's most populous, generally have dedicated family court judges and referees handling a high volume of cases.
How a temporary relief hearing gets scheduled
After a motion for temporary relief is filed and served, the district court sets the matter for hearing according to that county's docket. Minnesota's judicial districts and counties each manage their own family law calendars. How quickly a temporary relief hearing gets scheduled can vary widely. Anyone filing a motion for temporary relief should confirm the specific scheduling process with the court administrator's office in the county handling the case. That includes checking the required notice period. Some counties also require a scheduling conference before they set a contested temporary relief hearing.
Statewide Zoom remote hearings
The Minnesota Judicial Branch conducts many hearings remotely. It publishes detailed public instructions for joining a hearing through the Zoom mobile app, a web browser, or by phone. A tool is also available to test the connection in advance. Whether a specific temporary relief hearing will be remote, in person, or hybrid depends on the county and the assigned judge or magistrate. There is no single uniform rule for every family law hearing. The hearing notice a party receives identifies the format and provides the meeting details. Rural districts covering large geographic areas have generally kept remote options in wide use to reduce travel time.
What happens at a temporary relief hearing
A hearing on temporary relief is narrower than a trial. The judge, magistrate, or referee decides what arrangement should apply while the case is pending. This is not a final finding on custody, support, or property division. Depending on the county and whether the request is contested, the hearing may involve limited argument and affidavits. If the parties disagree, it may involve more extensive testimony. Common subjects are temporary custody and parenting time, temporary support, and use of the marital home. The resulting order remains in effect only until the court modifies it or the case reaches a final judgment. Either party can later ask the court to change the order if circumstances shift meaningfully.
Sources: Minnesota Judicial Branch, Remote Hearing Information (Zoom instructions), Minnesota Judicial Branch, Divorce self-help topic, Minnesota Judicial Branch, Self-Help Centers
Not independently confirmed
- The specific statute governing motions for temporary relief in Minnesota divorce cases (commonly cited as Minn. Stat. section 518.131) was not confirmed against a directly fetched copy of the statute for this page.
- Which specific Minnesota counties use referees for family law motions, and the scope of what they are authorized to decide versus a child support magistrate or district judge, was not confirmed county by county for this page.
- The divorce self-help page's specific content on temporary relief procedure was not directly extracted; its existence was confirmed but detailed body text could not be retrieved for this page.
- The specific claim that Hennepin and Ramsey counties have dedicated family court judges and referees was not independently confirmed against a directly fetched source for this page.
Court Hearings in Minnesota: frequently asked questions
How do I get temporary custody or support decided in a Minnesota divorce?+
You file a motion for temporary relief with the district court. It decides the specific issue, such as custody or support, while the case is pending. The resulting order applies only until it is changed or the case reaches a final judgment.
What is a child support magistrate in Minnesota?+
A child support magistrate is a judicial officer who handles certain child support matters separately from a district court judge. This applies particularly to cases tied to the state's child support enforcement process. Some counties also use referees for other family law motions.
Can I attend a Minnesota family court hearing by Zoom?+
Often, yes. The Minnesota Judicial Branch publishes detailed instructions for joining hearings by Zoom app, browser, or phone. Whether a specific hearing is remote, in person, or hybrid depends on the county and the assigned judge or magistrate. The hearing notice identifies the format.
How long does a temporary order last in a Minnesota divorce?+
It applies only while the case is pending. The court can change it earlier. Once the court enters the final judgment, the temporary order is replaced by whatever the judgment provides for custody, support, and property.
Who hears a motion for temporary relief in Minnesota?+
It depends on the type of issue and the county. District court judges generally hear family law motions. Child support magistrates handle certain support matters, and referees hear some motions in counties that use them.
What can a temporary relief order in Minnesota cover?+
It can address temporary custody and parenting time, temporary child support, or spousal maintenance. It can also cover use of the marital home while the case is pending. This is an interim arrangement, not the final resolution, and it is replaced once the court enters judgment.
This page is general information about court hearings in Minnesota, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Minnesota's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Minnesota. Virdix does not prepare or file Minnesota divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Minnesota.
More Minnesota divorce guides
Virdix currently serves California and Florida
In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Minnesota, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
If the court clerk rejects a document we prepared, we fix it for free until it's accepted. See how the guarantee works