Free DOMESTIC ABUSE - Minnesota

DOMESTIC ABUSE INSTRUCTION SHEET (Respondent)
If you are served with these papers, someone is seeking an order for protection against you. A. An Order for Protection (OFP) may be brought by (Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 4(a)): a family or household member on their own behalf; a family or household member, a guardian, or a reputable adult age 25 or older on behalf of a minor, or by a minor age 16 or older against a spouse, former spouse, or person with whom the minor has a child, if allowed by the court. B.

Definitions: (Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 2)
Domestic Abuse is defined as any of the following conduct between family or household members: a. Actual physical harm, bodily injury, assault (such as hitting, kicking, slapping, pushing, stabbing), or fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault (such as verbal threats, threatening gestures); or b. Terroristic threats (such as a threat to commit a crime of violence, bomb threats, or threatening someone when holding a gun); or c. Criminal sexual conduct (such as forced sex or forced sexual contact with an adult or any form of sexual contact with a child); or d. Interference with an emergency call (intentionally interrupts, disrupts, impedes or interferes with an emergency call or intentionally prevents or hinders another from placing an emergency call.) 2. Family or household members are defined as: (a) Married persons; (b) Persons who were married but are now divorced; (c) Parents, children; (d) Persons related by blood (such as brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, or grandparents); (e) Persons who live together now or who lived together in the past; (f) Persons who have a child together, even if they have not been married or lived together; (g) Persons who have an unborn child together; (h) Persons involved in a significant romantic or sexual relationship.

C. A HEARING WILL NOT BE HELD UNLESS YOU REQUEST IT WITHIN 5 DAYS OF RECEIVING THESE DOCUMENTS, UNLESS ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED. CHECK THE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS; IF NO HEARING IS SCHEDULED AND YOU WANT ONE, USE THE ATTACHED REQUEST FOR HEARING TO REQUEST A HEARING. FILL IT OUT AND RETURN IT TO THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE AT:
(address)

The court administrator's office closes at

p.m.

D. If you move, it is important that the court knows where you are. Please keep the court administrator informed of your address.

OFP201

State

ENG

Rev 8/08

www.mncourts.gov/forms

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NOTE: If a hearing is scheduled and an emergency arises and you are unable to attend it, you must call the court administrator about rescheduling. If you do not appear and do not have a good reason for not appearing, the court may grant this domestic abuse petition.

Helpful materials may be found at your public county law library. For a directory, see http://www.lawlibrary.state.mn.us/cllppubdir.rtf . For more information, contact your court administrator or call the Minnesota State Law Library at 651-296-2775.

OFP201

State

ENG

Rev 8/08

www.mncourts.gov/forms

Page 2 of 2