{"id":374246,"date":"2016-04-11T01:22:51","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/minnesota-law\/minnesota-domestic-violence-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-04-21T14:28:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:28:40","slug":"minnesota-domestic-violence-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/minnesota-law\/minnesota-domestic-violence-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Domestic Violence Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Minnesota Domestic Violence Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Minnesota<\/span> domestic violence<\/span> laws cover the crimes of domestic assault<\/span>, physical harm<\/span>, and terroristic threats<\/span> between family members<\/span>, household members<\/span>, and partners in a romantic or sexual relationship<\/span>. Victims can request orders for protection<\/span> to keep the abuser away.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Violent crimes are an unfortunate part of our world. Domestic violence<\/span> crimes<\/a> take the trauma one step further by involving the people we’re supposed to be able to trust. Minnesota<\/span> law<\/span> has both protections and penalties in place for those caught up in domestic abuse<\/span> offenses<\/a>. These are designed to break the vicious cycle of abuse and violence that makes up family violence crimes.<\/p>\n

While we all hope that domestic violence<\/span> never touches our lives, it’s a good idea to understand how Minnesota<\/span> law<\/span> handles domestic abuse<\/span>. In this article, we’ll highlight key statutes,\u00a0identify and explain the protections available<\/a>, and make clear the\u00a0criminal charges<\/span>\u00a0and punishments awaiting abusers.<\/p>\n

Read on to increase your awareness and comprehension of domestic violence<\/span> laws in Minnesota<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Minnesota<\/span> Domestic Violence<\/span> Laws: What Is Domestic Violence<\/span>?<\/h2>\n

There’s no such thing as a violent crime that’s good, but domestic violence<\/span> crimes can be heartbreaking and alter lives. In the Domestic Abuse<\/span> Act<\/a>, the state of <\/span>Minnesota<\/span> identified a subset of certain crimes considered to be domestic violence<\/span> offenses when specific people are involved.<\/p>\n

The transgressions are about power and control<\/a>. They utilize different types of mistreatment that include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, coercion, neglect, and financial control. Minnesota<\/span> considers the following to be domestic violence<\/span> when inflicted on certain people:<\/p>\n