Rule 307.Final Hearings

Last verified July 1, 2026

In one sentenceRule 307 lets the court sanction a party who misses the final hearing and requires a fourteen-day waiting period before entering a decree based on an oral stipulation that lacks every party's written approval.

Full Text of Rule 307

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Failure to Appear-Sanctions. Failure to appear at the scheduled final hearing may result in the case being stricken from the contested calendar, granting of partial relief to the appearing party, striking of the nonappearing party’s pleadings and the hearing of the matter as a default, an award of attorney’s fees and costs, and such other relief as the court finds appropriate, without further notice to the defaulting party.

(b) Stipulations Entered on the Record-Preparation of Findings. Where a stipulation has been entered orally upon the record, the lawyer directed to prepare the decree shall submit it to the court with a copy to each party. Unless a written, fully executed stipulation is filed or unless the decree contains the written approval of the other party or their legal representative, a transcript of the oral stipulation shall be filed by the lawyer directed to prepare the decree. Responsibility for the cost of the transcript shall be determined by the court. Entry of the decree shall be deferred for 14 days to allow for objections unless the decree contains the written approval of the lawyer for each party, or the other party if he or she is self- represented. (Amended effective July 1, 2026).

End

Advisory Committee Comments

Task Force Comment--1991 Adoption

Subsection (a) of this rule is derived from existing Rule 6.01 of the Rules of Family Court Procedure.

Subsection (b) of this rule is derived from existing Rule 6.02 of the Rules of Family Court Procedure.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 307 covers what happens at the final hearing itself. A party who doesn't show up can face real consequences: the court may strike the case from the contested calendar, grant partial relief to the party present, treat the absent party's pleadings as stricken and proceed as a default, award attorney's fees and costs, or fashion some other appropriate relief.

Many family court cases settle on the record at the final hearing rather than on paper beforehand. When that happens, the lawyer assigned to draft the decree has to submit it to the court and send a copy to each party. Unless the parties later sign a written stipulation, or the decree itself carries the written approval of the other side or their lawyer, that drafting lawyer also has to get the hearing transcribed and filed, with the court deciding who pays for it.

Entry of the decree waits fourteen days after an oral stipulation, giving anyone who didn't sign off a window to object, unless every party's lawyer — or a self-represented party — has already approved it in writing. That built-in pause protects a party who agreed to terms on the record but hasn't yet seen them reduced to a final written decree.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a party doesn't appear at the scheduled final hearing?

The court can strike the case from the contested calendar, grant partial relief to the party who appeared, treat the absent party's pleadings as stricken and proceed as a default, or award attorney's fees and costs.

Does an oral stipulation at a final hearing need to be transcribed?

Yes, unless the parties later file a written, fully executed stipulation, or the decree itself carries the written approval of the other party or their lawyer.

How long must a court wait to enter a decree after an oral stipulation?

Fourteen days, to allow time for objections, unless every party's lawyer or a self-represented party has already approved the decree in writing.

Who prepares the decree after a stipulation is read into the record?

The lawyer directed to prepare it, who must submit it to the court and send a copy to each party.

Who pays for the transcript of an oral stipulation?

The court decides responsibility for that cost.

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. 307). 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

Also known as: final hearing family court sanctionsoral stipulation transcript requirementfourteen day wait before decree enteredfailure to appear family court hearing