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Minnesota governor pocket vetoes amended child custody bill

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has vetoed a bill to amend the state's child custody law. Readers may recall from an earlier post that the bill recently passed in both the Minnesota House and Senate. However, the bill failed to make it past the governor's desk.

Dayton sent a letter to the legislature notifying them of his intent to veto the bill through a pocket veto. A pocket veto occurs if the governor fails to sign a bill passed during the last three days of the legislative session.

In his letter, Governor Dayton expressed mixed feelings over the amendments to the bill, due to the complexities inherent in a custody dispute. He also referenced the persuasive arguments provided by both proponents and opponents of the bill, but indicated that arguments provided by family law advocates against the bill were most convincing in the end.

The proposed amendment would have changed the minimum amount of visitation time with a child from 25 percent to 35 percent. The bill, which underwent many changes during the legislative process, saw strong support from proponents who believed both parents need more time with their children than the current 25 percent minimum visitation standard provides. The bill also received fierce opposition from opponents who believed the new formula did not provide judges with the discretion needed to make child custody decisions on a case-by-case basis.

The current child custody law will remain in effect for now, but Governor Dayton encouraged legislators to continue to hash out the complex issues that surrounded the proposed legislation. For now, parents seeking joint custody will continue to get a minimum of 25 percent visitation time with their children.

Whatever the case, the overarching standard by which all custody arrangements are developed remains in place. Whenever parents work together, alongside their legal representatives, they are urged to create a parenting and custody plan that reflects the best interests of their children. Oftentimes, children benefit from spending significant time with both parents, but unique circumstances often shape arrangements to best provide for the kids involved.

Source: CNN Money, "Dayton issues pocket veto of child custody bill," Jennifer Brooks, May 24, 2012

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