DANCO / No Contact Orders
What Is a DANCO in Minnesota?
A DANCO (Domestic Abuse No Contact Order) is an order a criminal court issues in a domestic case that bars contact with the alleged victim - often issued at the first appearance, sometimes without the other person's input, and often including children in a shared home. Violating it is a separate crime, even if the other person initiates contact.
What a DANCO restricts
A DANCO is issued under Minn. Stat. Section 629.75 by a criminal court against a defendant in a domestic case. It typically prohibits all contact with the alleged victim - and that usually means all forms: in person, by phone, by text, by email, through social media, and through other people.
It is issued inside the criminal case, often at the very first appearance, and frequently without input from the protected person - sometimes even over their objection. It commonly extends to children who live in the home, which is why it can disrupt family life so quickly.
How violations happen
The most common and surprising way people violate a DANCO is by responding to contact the other person started. The order restrains YOU. If it says no contact, then replying to a text, answering a call, or meeting up - even when the protected person reached out first - can still be a violation.
Contact through a third party counts too. Asking a friend or relative to pass along a message can be a violation. The safest rule while a DANCO is in place is simple: no contact, in any form, period - until the order is changed by the court.
How DANCOs affect families
Because a DANCO can bar contact with a partner and children and can require leaving a shared home, the practical effects land immediately - on housing, parenting, and daily logistics. This happens before the case is resolved and before guilt is decided.
It is also independent of other orders. You can be subject to a DANCO and a release condition and a civil OFP all at once, each enforceable on its own. That overlap catches a lot of people off guard.
Modification questions
If a DANCO is causing real hardship - keeping you from your kids or your home - the answer is to ask the court to modify it, not to ignore it. A defense lawyer can bring a modification request and present the circumstances to the judge.
Violating the order to solve the problem only creates a new criminal charge on top of the existing case. Work through the court. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask about what is a danco in minnesota?
Can I be charged with violating a DANCO if the other person contacted me?
Yes. A DANCO restrains you, so if it forbids contact, responding to the protected person - even when they reached out first - can still be a violation. The safest course is no contact until the court changes the order.
Does a DANCO cover my kids?
It often does. DANCOs commonly extend to children who live in the home, which is one reason they can disrupt family life so quickly. Read the order carefully and ask your lawyer about anything unclear.
How is a DANCO different from an OFP?
A DANCO is issued by the criminal court inside a criminal case. An OFP is a civil order obtained in a separate proceeding. They can overlap, and you can be subject to both at once.
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Read the guideThe information on this article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.