2006 Minnesota Statutes

518.13 FAILURE TO ANSWER; FINDINGS; HEARING.
    Subdivision 1. Default. If the respondent does not appear after service duly made and
proved, the court may hear and determine the proceeding as a default matter.
    Subd. 2. Dispute over irretrievable breakdown. If one of the parties has denied under oath
or affirmation that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court shall consider all relevant factors,
including the circumstances that gave rise to the commencement of the proceeding and the
prospect of reconciliation, and shall make a finding whether the marriage is irretrievably broken.
A finding of irretrievable breakdown under this subdivision is a determination that there is
no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. The finding must be supported by evidence that (i) the
parties have lived separate and apart for a period of not less than 180 days immediately preceding
the commencement of the proceeding, or (ii) there is serious marital discord adversely affecting
the attitude of one or both of the parties toward the marriage.
    Subd. 3. Agreement over irretrievable breakdown. If both parties by petition or otherwise
have stated under oath or affirmation that the marriage is irretrievably broken, or one of the parties
has so stated and the other has not denied it, the court, after hearing, shall make a finding that
the marriage is irretrievably broken.
    Subd. 4. Referee; open court. The court or judge, upon application, may refer the
proceeding to a referee to take and report the evidence therein. Hearings for dissolution of
marriage shall be heard in open court or before a referee appointed by the court to receive the
testimony of the witnesses, or depositions taken as in other equitable actions. However, the
court may in its discretion close the hearing.
    Subd. 5. Approval without hearing. Proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law, order
for judgment, and judgment and decree must be submitted to the court for approval and filing
without a final hearing in the following situations:
(1) if there are no minor children of the marriage, and (i) the parties have entered into a
written stipulation, or (ii) the respondent has not appeared after service duly made and proved
by affidavit and at least 20 days have elapsed since the time for answering under section 518.12
expired; or
(2) if there are minor children of the marriage, the parties have signed and acknowledged a
stipulation, and all parties are represented by counsel.
Notwithstanding clause (1) or (2), the court shall schedule the matter for hearing in any case
where the proposed judgment and decree does not appear to be in the best interests of the minor
children or is contrary to the interests of justice.
History: (8592) RL s 3581; 1974 c 107 s 10; 1978 c 772 s 28; 1979 c 259 s 10; 1991 c 271 s 2