{"id":374255,"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-family-law-on-domestic-violence.html"},"modified":"2026-04-21T16:09:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T21:09:07","slug":"minnesota-family-law-on-domestic-violence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/minnesota-law\/minnesota-family-law-on-domestic-violence.html","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Family Law on Domestic Violence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Minnesota Family Law on Domestic Violence<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, 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> family law<\/span> on domestic violence<\/span> provides legal protections for victims of abuse committed by family or household members<\/span>. Under Minnesota<\/span>‘s Domestic Abuse<\/span> Act<\/span>, domestic violence<\/span> includes physical harm, assault, threats, terroristic conduct, sexual crimes, and interference with emergency calls<\/span>. Victims can seek Orders for Protection<\/span> (OFPs<\/span>) or Harassment Restraining Orders<\/span> (HROs<\/span>) through the court system to ensure their safety.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Domestic violence<\/span> comes in many different forms, and none of them are welcome in Minnesota<\/span>. For those exposed to domestic abuse<\/span>, it can seem like a nightmare you can’t wake up from.<\/p>\n

Minnesota<\/span>‘s domestic violence<\/span> law<\/a>\u200b is designed to help victims of <\/span>domestic violence<\/span>. It also attempts to walk a fine line between holding abusers accountable<\/a>\u200b for their actions and trying to break the vicious cycle of domestic violence<\/span> by teaching self-control and anger management<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To help you understand Minnesota<\/span> family law<\/span> and its relationship to domestic violence<\/span>, we’ve answered key questions below. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, FindLaw’s Minnesota<\/span> Domestic Violence<\/span> Laws<\/a>\u200b article offers a deeper dive into the legal aspects of statutes in the state.<\/p>\n

What Does Minnesota<\/span> Consider To Be Domestic Violence<\/span>?<\/h2>\n

Minnesota<\/span> passed its Domestic Abuse<\/span> Act<\/span><\/a>\u200b in 1979, which identified certain crimes committed against a family or household member<\/span> by another family or household member<\/span> as domestic abuse<\/span>. The same crimes still carry penalties when they occur between two strangers. Classifying the offenses as domestic violence<\/span> offers extra protections to victims and both punishments and opportunities for rehabilitation<\/a>\u200b for the abuser.<\/p>\n

Who Can Be Part of a Domestic Violence<\/span> Crime?<\/h3>\n

In Minnesota<\/span>, there needs to be a substantive relationship between the offender and the victim for the crime to be considered domestic abuse<\/span>. The state requires each person involved<\/a>\u200b<\/strong> to fall under one of the following categories:<\/p>\n