Minnesota Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in Minnesota that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other Minnesota court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular Minnesota court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a Minnesota court ordered it?
Minnesota ties domestic-abuse programs to sentencing by statute. Under Minn. Stat. § 518B.02, when a court stays imposition or execution of a sentence for a domestic abuse offense and places the offender on probation, it must order a domestic abuse counseling or educational program as a condition. The statute sets program standards, including at least 24 sessions or 36 hours unless a probation agent recommends fewer, and does not mention anger management.
Orders for protection are issued under the Domestic Abuse Act, § 518B.01. Relief generally lasts up to two years unless the court finds a longer period appropriate, and after a hearing it can include counseling or required abuser treatment or education programs. Custody decisions under § 518.17 also weigh domestic abuse. Confirm exactly what any court order requires before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, Minnesota included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a Minnesota court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, Minnesota-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — Minnesota civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Orders for protection (Domestic Abuse Act)Minn. Stat. § 518B.01
A family or household member can petition, with filing fees waived. An ex parte order can issue on a showing of immediate and present danger. After a hearing, relief can include no-contact terms, exclusion from the home, temporary custody and parenting time, and counseling or abuser treatment.
Domestic abuse counseling and educational programsMinn. Stat. § 518B.02
Sets standards for court-ordered programs, including minimum length, intake screening, victim notice, and a bar on couples counseling until the minimum sessions are done and the violence has stopped.
Child custody: best interests and domestic abuseMinn. Stat. § 518.17
Courts must consider whether domestic abuse occurred in either parent's household or relationship. If it occurred between the parents, there is a rebuttable presumption that joint legal or joint physical custody is not in the child's best interests.
Criminal law
Domestic assaultMinn. Stat. § 609.2242
Inflicting or attempting to inflict bodily harm, or intending to cause fear of immediate harm, against a family or household member. A first offense is a misdemeanor; within ten years of a prior qualifying offense it is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or $3,000); with two or more priors it is a felony (up to 5 years and/or $10,000).
Fifth-degree assaultMinn. Stat. § 609.224
The general assault offense, a misdemeanor, with gross misdemeanor and felony tiers when the person has prior qualifying domestic violence-related offenses.
Harassment and stalkingMinn. Stat. § 609.749
Harassment is a gross misdemeanor, with felony tiers for aggravating factors or a prior qualifying domestic violence-related offense. Stalking is a felony carrying up to 10 years, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.
Violating an order for protectionMinn. Stat. § 518B.01
Violating an order with knowledge of it is a misdemeanor, with gross misdemeanor and felony tiers based on prior qualifying offenses or a dangerous weapon (felony: up to 5 years and/or $10,000). Officers must arrest on probable cause.