In Minnesota, both parents have a legal obligation to financially support their children. Whether you’re divorcing, legally separating, or establishing paternity outside of marriage, child support will be determined using the Minnesota Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines aim to ensure children receive consistent financial support from both parents—regardless of custody arrangements.
At Lommen Abdo, PA, our Minnesota child support attorneys help clients understand and navigate the guidelines to ensure fair outcomes.
How Minnesota Courts Calculate Child Support
1. Parental Income for Child Support (PICS)
Minnesota uses the “income shares model” to determine child support. Here’s how it works:
· The gross incomes of both parents are combined to determine their Parental Income for Child Support (PICS).
· Each parent is responsible for a percentage of the total support obligation based on their share of the combined income.
· The court also factors in medical and dental insurance costs and work- or school-related child care expenses.
2. Gross vs. Potential Income
Minnesota assumes both parents are capable of earning income. If a parent is unemployed, underemployed, or working part-time, the court may assign imputed or potential income. Child support is typically based on gross income, which includes:
· Wages and salaries
· Bonuses, commissions, and overtime
· Unemployment and disability benefits
· Military pay and pensions
· Trust payments and gifts
· Self-employment income (after ordinary and necessary business expenses)
Unlike in the past, Minnesota no longer calculates child support based on net income. Deductions such as taxes or retirement contributions are not subtracted from gross income.
What Does Child Support Include?
Minnesota child support is made up of three components:
1. Basic Support
Covers the child’s housing, food, clothing, transportation, education, and other necessary expenses.
2. Medical and Dental Support
Covers insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for the child’s health and dental care.
3. Child Care Support
Covers daycare or childcare expenses necessary for a parent to work or attend school.
Important: Voluntarily paying for gifts, extracurricular activities, or clothing does not count as official. Private agreements, whether in writing or verbal, are not enforceable and the courts do not have the authority to enforce extrajudicial modifications.
Does Custody Impact Child Support in Minnesota?
It’s a common misconception that child support is only paid by the non-custodial parent. In reality, parenting time, not custody labels, impacts support calculations.
· An obligor (the party paying support) will receive a parenting time adjustment, reducing their support obligation.
· This adjustment is based on the court order, not on actual parenting time exercised.
Even in cases of joint physical custody, child support may still be ordered based on the income shares model and parenting time percentage.
Modifying Child Support in Minnesota
Life circumstances change—and when they do, your child support obligation might need to change as well. You may be eligible to modify your child support order if you experience:
· Job loss or change in income
· Significant changes in living expenses
· Changes in custody or parenting time
· Changes in child care or health insurance costs
· Emancipation of a child
· The birth of a child from another relationship
Our attorneys can help you pursue or defend against a motion to modify child support and represent you in enforcement or contempt actions.
Speak with an Experienced Minnesota Child Support Attorney
At Lommen Abdo, PA, we provide compassionate and strategic legal guidance in Minnesota and Wisconsin for all areas of family law, including child support, custody, and parenting time disputes. Based in Minneapolis, we proudly serve clients across the Twin Cities metro and the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
If you are facing a high asset divorce, reach out for a free consultation to discuss your situation and learn how we can help.