Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 353.02
Subdivision 1. Generally. These rules do not prevent a party, upon timely notice to all parties and to the county agency, from commencing a proceeding or bringing a motion in district court if the proceeding or motion involves one or more issues identified in Rule 353.01, subd. 1, and one or more issues identified in Rule 353.01, subd. 3.
Subd. 2. Multiple Issues in District Court. If a proceeding is commenced in district court, the district court judge shall decide all issues before the court. If the district court judge cannot decide the support issues without an additional hearing, the district court judge shall determine whether it is in the best interests of the parties to retain the support issues or refer them to the expedited process for decision by a magistrate. If the district court judge refers the support issues to the magistrate, the referral shall include a clear statement of the issues referred and a description of the additional information needed, and shall provide the date, time, and location of the continued hearing. If possible at the time of the referral, the district court judge shall decide temporary support. A matter referred to district court pursuant to subdivision 3 shall be decided in its entirety by the district court judge and shall not be referred back to the expedited process. After the district court judge has issued a final order in the matter, subsequent review or motions may be heard in the expedited process.
Subd. 3. Prohibited Issues in Expedited Child Support Process. If a proceeding is commenced in the expedited process and the complaint, motion, answer, responsive motion, or counter motion raises one or more issues identified in Rule 353.01, subd. 3, all parties, including the county agency, may agree in writing to refer the entire matter to district court without first appearing before the child support magistrate. Notice of the agreement must be filed with the court at least 7 days before the scheduled hearing in the expedited process. The child support magistrate shall issue an order referring the entire matter to district court. Absent an agreement by all parties and upon motion of a party or upon the child support magistrate's own initiative, the child support magistrate assigned to the matter shall, either before or at the time of the hearing, decide whether to:
The district court judge shall issue an order addressing all issues and, with respect to support, may adopt and incorporate by reference the findings and order of the child support magistrate. If the district court judge does not adopt the findings and order of the child support magistrate, the judge shall make the necessary findings and order regarding permanent support. In the alternative, the order for temporary support shall become permanent upon the dismissal or withdrawal of the prohibited issue referred to district court. If the district court order fails to address the issue of permanent support, the order for temporary support shall become permanent and shall be deemed incorporated upon issuance of the district court order. If the district court judge fails to issue an order, on the 180th day after service of the notice of filing of the order for temporary support, the order for temporary support shall become permanent.
When a matter is referred to district court, service of the summons and complaint or notice of motion and motion in the expedited process is sufficient for the matter to proceed in district court. A child support magistrate's order that refers a matter to the district court calendar shall provide the date, time, and location of the continued hearing.
Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 353.02