Rule 301.Scope; Time

Last amended July 1, 2026 · Last verified July 1, 2026

In one sentenceRule 301 sets the outer boundary of Title IV, listing the nine kinds of cases that count as Family Court Actions and confirming that the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure fill any gap this title leaves open.

Full Text of Rule 301

Text sizeJump to: (301.01) (301.02)

301.01 Applicability of Rules

(a) Applicable Rule or Statute. Rules 301 through 314 and, where applicable, the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply to Family Law Actions practice except where they are in conflict with applicable statutes or the Expedited Child Support Process Rules, Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 351 through 379.

(b) Included Proceedings. The following types of proceedings are referred to in these rules as Family Court Actions:

1. Marriage dissolution, legal separation, annulment proceedings, and child custody actions (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 518);

2. Child custody enforcement proceedings (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 518D);

3. Domestic abuse proceedings (Minnesota Statutes chapter 518B);

4. Proceedings to determine or enforce child support obligations (Minnesota Statutes, chapters 518A, 518C-U.I.F.S.A., sections 518A.82; 289A.50, subd. 5; and 393.07, subd. 9);

5. Contempt proceedings in Family Court (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 588);

6. Parentage determination proceedings (Minnesota Statutes, sections 257.51-.74);

7. Proceedings for support, maintenance or county reimbursement judgments (Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091);

8. third-party custody proceedings (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 257C); and

9. Proceedings pursuant to the Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abductions and the International Child Abduction Remedies Act. Other matters may be treated as family court matters by order of the court.

(c) Excluded proceedings. Rules 301 through 314 do not apply to proceedings commenced in the Expedited Child Support Process, except for Rules 302.02, 303.05, 308.02, 309, 313, and 314.

(d) Applicability of Rules of Civil Procedure. The Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure apply to Family Law Actions as to matters not addressed by these rules. To the extent there is any conflict in these rules, these rules govern.

301.02 Time Computation of time under these rules is governed by Rule 6 of the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure.

End

Advisory Committee Comments

Advisory Committee Comment--1992 Amendments

These rules are derived primarily from the Rules of Family Court Procedure. The advisory committee comments from the Rules of Family Court Procedure are included except where inconsistent with new provisions or where applicable rules are not retained. These rules apply to the following specific types of proceedings that are generally

treated as family court actions:

1. Marriage dissolution, legal separation, and annulment proceedings

(Minnesota Statutes, chapter 518);

2. Child custody enforcement proceedings (Minnesota Statutes, chapter

518A);

3. Domestic abuse proceedings (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 518B);

4. Support enforcement proceedings (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 518C--

R.U.R.E.S.A.);

5. Contempt actions in Family Court (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 588);

6. Parentage determination proceedings (Minnesota Statutes, sections

257.51-.74);

7. Actions for reimbursement of public assistance (Minnesota Statutes,

section 256.87);

8. Withholding of refunds from support debtors (Minnesota Statutes, section

289A.50, subdivision 5);

9. Proceedings to compel payment of child support (Minnesota Statutes,

section 393.07, subdivision 9); and

10. Proceedings for support, maintenance or county reimbursement

judgments (Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091).

Other matters may be heard and treated as family court matters. (Amended

effective January 1, 1993.)

Advisory Committee Comment—2001 Amendment

Minn. R. Gen. Prac. 351.01 states that the Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Evidence, and General Rules of Practice shall apply to proceedings in the expedited process unless inconsistent with the Expedited Child Support Rules, Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 351 through 379. With the exception of Family Court Rules 302.04, 303.05, 303.06, 308.02, and 313, Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 301-313 are inconsistent with the Expedited Child Support Rules and therefore do not apply to the expedited process.

Advisory Committee Comment--2012 Amendments

Rules 301 through 314 were originally derived primarily from the Rules of Family Court Procedure as they existed in 1992. These rules have been revised in several important ways in the ensuing years, and were revised and completely restated in 2011. The prior Advisory Committee Comments have been incorporated into a single set of Advisory Committee Comments for the benefit of the Minnesota Supreme Court as well as for courts and litigants. As is consistently made clear by the orders that have amended the rules, the Advisory Committee Comments are not adopted by the Supreme Court and do not have any official status. They reflect the views of the Supreme Court’s advisory committees that have recommended amendments of the rules from time to time.

Rules 301 through 314 apply in the enumerated proceedings, comprising the majority of types of cases involving family relations. Adoption proceedings are governed by separate Rules of Adoption Procedure, adopted effective January 1, 2005.

Minn. R. Gen. Prac. 351.01 states that the Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Evidence, and General Rules of Practice shall apply to proceedings in the expedited process unless inconsistent with the Expedited Child Support Rules, Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 351 through 379. With the exception of Family Court Rules 302.02, 303.05, 308.02, 309, 313 and 314, Rules 301-314 are inconsistent with the Expedited Child Support Rules and therefore do not apply to the expedited process.

Advisory Committee Comment--2026 Amendments

Rule 301.01(b)(4) is amended to reflect a change in statutory citation.

Advisory Committee Comment--2012 Amendments

The rules relating to computation of time are critical, and it is important that they be clear and predictable to all users of the court system. Rule 6 of the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure provides the appropriate clarity and makes it expressly applicable in family matters thereby eliminating any room for confusion. Rule 6 is consistent with the general day-counting rules set forth in Minn. Stat. § 645.15, and provides additional guidance for counting days where the periods of time are short and for responding to papers served by mail, or facsimile.

The time periods in the rules are intended to apply in most situations. Where unusual circumstances exist and justice so requires, the court may shorten the time limits. See Rule 1.02 of these rules.

Amendment History

(Amended effective July 1, 2026.)
(Amended effective May 1, 2012.)

Plain-English Summary

Rule 301 answers the threshold question: is this a family court case at all? It defines a Family Court Action to include marriage dissolution, legal separation, and annulment; child custody disputes and enforcement of custody orders; domestic abuse proceedings; establishing or enforcing child support; proceedings for spousal maintenance or a county reimbursement judgment; contempt arising out of a family case; parentage determinations; third-party custody; and proceedings under the Hague Convention on international child abduction. A judge can also treat other kinds of disputes as family court matters, so this list marks a floor, not a ceiling.

Once a case fits, Rule 301 points to two rulebooks at once. Title IV's own rules control first. Where they say nothing, the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure fill the gap — and where the two conflict, Title IV wins. The rule also folds in how deadlines are counted: Rule 6 of the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure governs computation of time in every family court case, so a party counting days toward a filing deadline uses the same method as any other civil litigant.

The expedited child support process runs on a separate track with its own rules, and Rule 301 marks the boundary. Most of Title IV, including this rule, does not reach a case handled through that process. A short list of provisions still applies there: the rules on designating parties, on orders to show cause, on notices attached to a decree, on contempt, on confidential numbers, and on parentage proceedings. Anyone unsure which track a support matter is on should check that list before assuming the rest of Title IV controls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a Family Court Action under Rule 301?

Marriage dissolution, legal separation, and annulment; child custody disputes and enforcement; domestic abuse proceedings; child support and parentage matters; contempt in a family case; third-party custody; and international child abduction proceedings under the Hague Convention. A court can also designate other kinds of disputes as family court matters.

Do the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure apply in family court?

Yes, wherever Title IV is silent. The Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure fill any gap these rules leave, but Title IV controls whenever the two conflict.

Does Title IV apply to the expedited child support process?

Mostly not. Rule 301 through Rule 314 generally do not apply to cases in the expedited process, except for the rules on designating parties, orders to show cause, notices attached to a decree, contempt, confidential numbers, and parentage proceedings.

How are deadlines counted in a Minnesota family court case?

The same way they are counted in any other civil case. Rule 6 of the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure governs computation of time, and Rule 301 makes that method apply in family court as well.

What happens if Rule 301 conflicts with a Minnesota statute?

The statute controls. Rule 301 applies except where it conflicts with an applicable statute or with the Expedited Child Support Process Rules.

Source & verification. The rule text and Advisory Committee Comments are reproduced verbatim from the official Minnesota Rules of Family Court Procedure (Minn. R. Gen. Prac. 301). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Minnesota (Minn. Stat. § 480.051). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 1, 2026. · Official source

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