Minnesota law lets some abuse victims take over a home contract

An unmarried co-buyer may ask a court to end the other buyer’s interest in the contract. The co-buyers must share a contract for deed to buy residential property. The petitioner must be a victim or live with a child who is a victim. The petitioner or a child living with them must have experienced domestic abuse, criminal sexual assault, sexual extortion, or harassment by the other buyer. The other buyer must not have lived at the home for at least six straight months before the case, and the petitioner must have made all payments due for at least six straight months before the case. The petitioner must prove the required facts in court. A qualifying document or a conviction or stay of adjudication for a listed offense can establish the abuse or harassment. The court must deny the petition if the vendor proves that ending the other buyer’s interest would harm the vendor. The section applies to contracts for deed entered into on or after July 1, 2026.

If the court grants the petition, the other buyer’s interest passes to the petitioner, and the other buyer has no further liability under the contract. This applies when a court grants a petition under this section. The rest of the contract remains in effect. The petitioner must record the court’s termination judgment with the county recorder or registrar of titles. The section applies to contracts for deed entered into on or after July 1, 2026.