Subdivision 1. Hearing Date in Summons. Inclusion of a hearing date does not preclude a noninitiating party from serving and filing a written answer. Within 21 days from service of the summons and complaint, a noninitiating party may serve upon all parties a written answer to the complaint. The service and filing of a written answer or the failure of a noninitiating party to appear at a hearing does not preclude the hearing from going forward, and the child support magistrate may issue an order based upon the information in the file or evidence presented at the hearing.
Subd. 2. Hearing Date Not in Summons. If the summons does not contain a hearing date, within 21 days from service of the summons and complaint, a noninitiating party shall either:
The initiating party shall schedule a hearing upon receipt of the request for hearing form or the service of a written answer.
Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 370.05