Child Support in Minnesota

If you are going through a divorce   and have children, there are several important issues that will need to be resolved, including who will have custody and parenting time , who is responsible for paying  child support , and how you and your ex-spouse will co-parent moving forward. Whether your divorce is amicable or you cannot reach an agreement on most key issues, you and your ex probably agree that you both want what is best for your children. If you agree that sharing custody is in the children’s best interest, you may have questions about who is responsible for child support payments. An experienced lawyer will guide you through every step of the process, address any concerns about child support and custody, and negotiate the best possible outcome.

 

How Is Child Support Determined in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, child support is determined based on the Minnesota  Child Support Guidelines and follows the Income Shares Model. This means both parents are responsible for contributing to the child’s support based on their combined incomes. 

 

For example, if one parent earns $48,000 annually and the other earns $72,000, the total combined income is $120,000. The first parent’s share would be 40% of the combined income, while the second parent’s share would be 60%. Each parent’s contribution to the child support award will be based on their proportion of the total income.

 

What Is Considered Income?

The goal of child support is to ensure the continued financial support of the child. All income is included as gross income when calculating child support.  This includes:

• Salary, wages, bonuses, and commissions
• Business income after regular expenses have been deducted
• Social Security benefits, pensions, annuities, and retirement plan distributions
• Rents or income from real estate properties
• Workers’ Compensation, unemployment, and disability benefits
• Spousal Maintenance received from a current or former spouse

How Will Our Parenting Time Impact Child Support Obligations?

In Minnesota , parenting time schedules  affect child support calculations. Th child support calculations take into consideration each parent's parenting time as determined by the number of overnights each parent has, unless a different method makes morse sense to use.   Even if parenting time is equal , the parent with the higher income may still be required to pay more child support to the lower-income parent under statutory guidelines.

 

Reaching a Child Support Agreement in Shared Custody Situations

Child support agreements can be complex, even in cases of shared custody. To ensure your children’s needs are met and that the child support arrangement is fair, it is highly recommended to consult with an experienced child custody lawyer. A lawyer can guide you through the legal process, help you modify support agreements when necessary, and negotiate a fair outcome that serves your children’s best interests.

 

Call Attorney Maury D. Beaulier (952) 442-7722.