Every child deserves stability and the right to receive support from both parents. As such, Minnesota’s child support program ensures that children’s needs are met by holding parents accountable for their financial responsibilities.
In the federal fiscal year 2024 alone, the program’s 1,342 county and state staff members served nearly 280,870 parents and 198,241 children. Together, they collected and distributed $510.3 million in child support payments.
How does the state decide what each parent should contribute? Burns & Hansen, P.A. is here to help parents in Minneapolis navigate the process with clarity and confidence.
Defining Child Support
Child support is the financial contribution one parent makes to the other to cover the costs of raising their child. It is divided into three categories:
- Basic support covers everyday necessities, such as housing, food, clothing, education, and transportation.
- Medical support includes medical and dental insurance and out-of-pocket health expenses.
- Childcare support covers the cost of daycare or after-school programs while parents work or attend school.
These payments ensure that children maintain a stable and healthy lifestyle, regardless of their parents’ relationship status.
Factors Determining Child Support in Minnesota
Minnesota’s child support calculations are based on a specific formula that considers several financial and personal factors.
Income of Both Parents
A system called PICS (Parental Income for Child Support) calculates how much each parent contributes. The court looks at gross income, which includes salaries and wages, commissions and bonuses, earnings from self-employment, veterans or military benefits, and trust, investment, retirement, or disability income.
By evaluating each parent’s total financial picture, the court guarantees that the support amount is fair and proportionate.
The Number of Shared Children
After determining the gross income for both parents, the court subtracts any credits for non-joint children, meaning children from other relationships, to acknowledge those existing responsibilities.
Then, each parent’s percentage of the combined income (their PICS percentage) is calculated. The Minnesota child support guidelines use this information to establish a baseline support amount, based on both parents’ combined income and the number of children they share.
Through this approach, child support reflects the financial demands of the entire family, not just one child in isolation.
Parenting Time
Parenting time also plays a key role in determining support.
When a parent spends more time with their children, they naturally take on more of the daily costs, such as food, transportation, recreation, and housing. The court recognizes this by adjusting the support amount accordingly.
Generally, the more parenting time a parent has, the lower their support obligation will be.
Childcare and Medical Support
A parent who pays childcare costs so they can work or attend school may receive a contribution from the other parent. However, this amount is adjusted based on the childcare tax credit the paying parent may be eligible for.
Similarly, if one parent provides health insurance for the child, the other parent must typically contribute to that cost. The court divides medical expenses and insurance premiums proportionately, based on each parent’s PICS percentage.
Minnesota Child Support Guideline Deviations
While Minnesota generally follows standardized child support guidelines, there are cases where courts may deviate from them. The court might adjust the support amount based on:
- The financial resources and employment situation of both parents
- The child’s extraordinary needs, such as medical conditions or special education
- The standard of living the child would have had if the parents were still together
- Whether the child lives in another country with significantly different living costs
- Which parent claims the tax dependency exemption
- Existing debts or liabilities that affect each parent’s ability to pay
In some situations, if the total payments of an obligor, or the parent paying support, exceed statutory limits, the court may also reduce the ordered amount. These deviations allow judges to tailor decisions to each family’s unique circumstances.
The Role of Family Lawyers in Minneapolis, MN
When facing a child support dispute, you need family lawyers in Minneapolis, MN, who understand the law and all the challenges that come with it. Skilled attorneys take every step with you.
Here is how experienced local family lawyers in Minneapolis serve parents:
- Evaluate your financial situation: Lawyers ensure your income and expenses are accurately represented in court.
- Negotiate fair support terms: Representatives advocate for a balanced outcome that supports your child while protecting your financial well-being.
- Modify existing orders: If your circumstances change with job loss, relocation, or medical issues, attorneys may request a modification to adjust the support amount.
- Enforce court orders: If the other parent is not paying as required, your lawyer can pursue enforcement actions to collect overdue payments.
- Provide emotional and legal guidance: Family law is stressful. A knowledgeable attorney helps you stay focused on your child’s future.
Are you establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support? Having a trusted legal professional makes all the difference.
Find Local Family Lawyers in Minneapolis
Burns & Hansen, P.A. is a team of local family lawyers in Minneapolis dedicated to helping parents reach practical child support agreements. We represent clients throughout the Twin Cities area, providing compassionate, results-driven legal support.
Our attorneys carefully review your financial situation, explain how child support affects your taxes, and ensure your child receives the benefits they are entitled to. Whether you’re going through a divorce or are an unmarried parent seeking support arrangements, we will protect your rights and your child’s interests.
If you’re ready to take the next step toward resolving your child support concerns, call (952) 564-6262 or contact our office online to schedule a free initial discussion with our family lawyers in Minneapolis, MN.