S.F. No. 5376 Summary

• Parenting consultants selected by parties must meet qualifications of a parenting time expeditor or marriage and family therapist under Minnesota law.

• Parenting consultants serve as third-party neutrals to resolve parenting time disputes and conflicts arising from custody orders, but may not modify custody orders or change parenting time percentages.

• Any party may discharge a parenting consultant by providing written notice to the consultant, court, and other parties; the court may also discharge a consultant if it finds the consultant is not serving the child's best interest.

• Parenting consultant decisions are non-binding on parties and courts; evidence, evaluations, and recommendations made by parenting consultants are inadmissible in court proceedings.

• Parties retain the right to voluntarily agree to submit disputes to neutral third parties or resolve parenting time disputes through other voluntary means.