What Is a Minnesota Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA)?
A Minnesota delegation of parental authority (DOPA) is a temporary caregiving document for a minor child. It lets a parent, legal custodian, or nonprofessional guardian give another person authority to care for their child (MN Stat § 524.5-211(a)).
That person is called the attorney-in-fact. Once appointed, they can help with the child’s care, custody, or property. In daily life, that may mean taking the child to medical appointments, communicating with the school, or excusing the child from class.
Even with that authority in place, the parent keeps their rights. They can still make decisions for the child and override the attorney-in-fact when needed. Minnesota law also sets limits, so a DOPA cannot give someone authority to consent to the child’s marriage or adoption.
Minnesota requires a separate DOPA, also called a Minnesota minor power of attorney form, for each child. If you need temporary caregiving authority for more than one child, complete a separate form for each child.
What’s Required for a Minnesota DOPA Form?
A Minnesota DOPA form has to be completed and signed correctly before another person can use it to care for your child. You’ll also need to choose a qualified caregiver and share the form with the other parent within 30 days when required by statute.
Sign It Properly
A DOPA form in MN must be written, dated, and signed by you in front of a notary public. The attorney-in-fact must sign it too, but they don’t need to sign in front of a notary. Your Minnesota power of attorney for a minor child should also make the authority clear. Include your child’s name and date of birth, the powers you’re giving to the attorney-in-fact, and an expiration date if you want the DOPA to last less than one year.
Legal Templates makes it easy to create a Minnesota DOPA form with the child’s details, caregiver information, dates, and signature sections in one place.
Share It With the Other Parent
After signing a DOPA in Minnesota, you must give or mail a copy to the other parent within 30 days. You can skip this step if the other parent has no parenting time, only has supervised parenting time, or there’s an order for protection against them to protect you, the legal custodian, guardian, or child (MN Stat § 524.5-211(c)).
Name an Adult Caregiver
The attorney-in-fact must be over 18, but they don’t need to be a US citizen. Because this person may make day-to-day decisions for your child, choose someone you trust to step in and handle your child’s care when needed.
A delegation of parental authority in Minnesota doesn’t need court approval. Once the form is properly completed and signed, you can use it without filing it with the court.
How Long Does a Minnesota DOPA Last?
A Minnesota DOPA can last for up to one year. The parent can also set a shorter end date if they only need temporary caregiving help for a few weeks or months. Once the DOPA reaches its end date, the attorney-in-fact’s authority ends. If the form does not list an earlier expiration date, it automatically expires after one year.
If the parent wants the caregiving authority to continue, they’ll need to complete a new DOPA. A Minnesota DOPA does not renew on its own.
MN Stat § 524.5-211(b) states that a professional guardian can only delegate parental powers to an agent for up to 30 days.
How Do You Revoke a Minnesota DOPA?
A parent can revoke a Minnesota DOPA in writing before it expires. To end the authority, the parent should tell the attorney-in-fact in writing that they can no longer act under the form.
Once the DOPA is revoked, the parent should also notify anyone who may rely on it. That may include the child’s school, doctors, daycare, or other care providers. This helps prevent confusion and makes it clear that the attorney-in-fact no longer has authority to make decisions for the child.
Sample Minnesota DOPA Form
View the sample Minnesota DOPA form below to see how to list your child’s details, name the attorney-in-fact, describe the powers you’re giving, and complete the signature section. Then customize the template and download your completed Minnesota minor power of attorney in Word or PDF.
