Parent Education Class

By Matt Majeski, Minnesota divorce and family law attorney since 2008. Last reviewed October 2026.

Parents in most Minnesota divorce and custody cases involving children must complete a parent education class. Minnesota law requires at least eight hours of parent education when custody or parenting time is contested. In fact, many courts order it in every case with children. Usually, the order appears in one of the first documents the court sends you.

Unfortunately, most parents have never heard of this requirement. As a result, many miss a step and frustrate the judge without meaning to. This guide walks you through each step.

Parent Education Class: Step by Step Guide

Step #1: Read the Order and Calendar All Deadlines

Even if you have an attorney, read every legal document you receive carefully, including court orders. Also, keep the parent education order for your records.

Highlight the important deadlines and procedures in the order. Since they vary by county, it’s important to follow your county’s rules.

Then put every deadline on your calendar, such as the deadlines to register for a program, attend the class, and file proof of completion.

If you have an attorney, mark anything in the order you don’t understand and ask your lawyer about it. This is good practice for every legal document.

Step #2: Research Parent Education Programs

Next, research programs. Each judicial district keeps a web page listing approved parent education programs for its counties. However, not all programs are the same, and only approved programs satisfy your court order.

Depending on your county, the court may send a list of programs with the order. If so, that list is a great place to start. Just check when it was last updated, because some programs may have closed or changed details such as cost.

Step #3: Select a Parent Education Program

Once you’ve done your research, choose the program that’s right for you. Most people consider cost and convenience, including whether the program is offered online. The right program saves you time and money. Plus, you’ll likely find the class more worthwhile.

Step #4: Register for the Program

As soon as you choose a program, register for it. To save on child care, consider scheduling the class when your child is with the other parent, in school, or at an activity.

Be sure to meet any registration deadlines. For example, Washington County expects parents to contact a program and register within ten days of the court order.

Step #5: Pay for the Program

Some programs require payment in advance to reserve a spot. Get a receipt and a confirmation number for your records. If you can’t afford the fee, ask the program about reduced fees or fee waivers.

Step #6: Arrange Child Care

If you need child care during the class, arrange it once your spot is confirmed. Children should not attend the class. As a general rule, it’s best to keep children out of the legal process.

Step #7: Attend and Participate

Attendance and participation are mandatory. In other words, you won’t receive a certificate unless you take part in the whole program. Also, instructors can refuse to certify disruptive attendees.

Come ready to engage: get a good night’s sleep and silence your phone. If you’re attending in person, arrive 15 minutes early and allow extra time for traffic and parking. If you’re attending online, test your connection ahead of time and plan to be on camera in a quiet place.

Step #8: Complete Assignments, Take Final Exam

Some programs require assignments outside of class. More commonly, you’ll need to take and pass an exam at the end of the program.

If you don’t pass, most online programs let you retake the exam without repeating the whole program. So ask about this when you’re comparing programs.

Step #9: Get Completion Certificate

Next, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. This step is critical, because the certificate proves you attended the class and satisfied the order. Without it, you may have to take the program again.

Depending on the program, you may get your certificate at the end of the session or within a few days. Besides the deadlines for registering and attending, there are also deadlines for submitting the certificate. For example, Washington County asks parents to submit the certificate to the court and the other party within 10 days of completing the program.

Step #10: File Completion Certificate with Court

To satisfy the order, file the certificate with the court, along with a short cover letter. The letter should make it easy for the court to identify:

• The court file number of your case
• Who completed the program
• Which program you attended
• When you attended it
• That you completed it successfully
• The date of completion

That completes the parent education process. Keep copies of everything you submitted, along with your completion certificate and the parent education order, for your records.

Have another divorce or family law question? See our list of topics or the FAQ page.