Child Support in Minnesota

At Martin-O'Rourke Law, PLLC, Attorney Nicole C. Geffre provides practical, down-to-earth legal guidance to help parents across Central Minnesota understand their rights, protect their financial stability, and keep the focus where it belongs: on the well-being of their children.

Quick Summary - At a Glance

In Minnesota, child support is calculated using the Income Shares Model (Minn. Stat. § 518A.34). Both parents’ gross incomes are combined to determine a total support obligation, which is then split proportionally. Minnesota child support consists of three separate components: Basic Support, Medical Support, and Child Care Support. The amount paid is directly adjusted based on the number of court-ordered overnights each parent has (Parenting Expense Adjustment).

The 3 Components of Minnesota Child Support

Child support in Minnesota is not just one lump sum. Under Minnesota law, a child support order is broken down into three distinct obligations:

1.     Basic Support: Covers the child's essential day-to-day living costs, including housing, food, clothing, transportation, and school supplies.

2.     Medical & Dental Support: Covers the cost of providing health and dental insurance premiums for the child, as well as splitting out-of-pocket medical expenses (such as copays, deductibles, and prescriptions).

3.     Child Care Support: Covers work- or education-related daycare and after-school care expenses so parents can earn a living or pursue training.

Agreements About Other Child Related Costs. Many parents also agree about how to split extra-curricular and other substantial child related expenses. These agreements are not required and are not part of statutory child support.

Sometimes this means reaching agreements about vehicles, related insurance and post-secondary education. Again, while not required nor included in child support, having agreements regarding these topics/matters can greatly reduce co-parenting disputes and tension.

How Minnesota Calculates Child Support: The Income Shares Model

Minnesota uses what is known as the "Income Shares" framework. This model is built on the idea that children should receive the same proportion of parental income that they would have received if both parents lived in the same household.

Step 1: Gross Income & Potential Income

The calculation starts with each parent's gross monthly income from all sources (salaries, wages, bonuses, self-employment earnings, workers' compensation, or unemployment benefits).

No Net Income Deductions: Minnesota does not subtract taxes, retirement contributions, or union dues before running the calculation.

Potential Income: If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, Minnesota courts can impute "potential income" based on work history, qualifications, or local minimum wage standards.

Step 2: Combined Parental Income for Child Support (PICS)

Both parents' gross monthly incomes are added together to establish the Parental Income for Child Support (PICS). Each parent is then assigned a percentage share of that combined total.

Example: If Parent A earns $6,000/month and Parent B earns $4,000/month, their combined PICS is $10,000. Parent A is responsible for 60% of the obligation, and Parent B is responsible for 40%.

How Parenting Time Impacts Child Support (The Parenting Expense Adjustment)

One factor influencing monthly support payments is the number of court-ordered overnights the child spends with each parent under Minn. Stat. § 518A.36.

Parents incur direct expenses (like food and housing) when caring for children overnight, Minnesota applies a Parenting Expense Adjustment (PEA):

Some important things families should know:

·       No Court-Ordered Schedule.  The court only looks at Court Ordered overnights. So, if you have an oral agreement but no Order, the Court usually does not include any overnights. Sometimes, parties will agree in Court that though there is no Court Order, a party is receiving a certain number of overnights. However, it is important to know that Court Ordered overnights are important to a child support calculation. If there is no Court Order, Basic support is typically calculated without any parenting time discount. Thus, it is important your Order matches what your family is utilizing on a day-to-day basis.

·       Court-Ordered Schedule.  The formula applies an overnight-based calculation. As overnight parenting time increases, basic support obligations decrease smoothly on a sliding curve.

·       Equal (50/50) Parenting Time.  If parents have equal parenting time and equal incomes, basic support is $0. If incomes differ, the higher-earning parent pays an offset amount.

Modifying an Existing Minnesota Child Support Order

Life changes, and child support orders often need to adapt over time. You may request a child support modification if there has been a substantial change in circumstances that makes the current order unfair or unreasonable (Minn. Stat. § 518A.39).

When Can Child Support Be Modified?

Common reasons to file a Motion to Modify Child Support include:

  •        A substantial increase or decrease in either parent's income.

  •        A job loss, lay-off, or career change made in good faith.

  •        A change in the cost of health insurance premiums or daycare expenses.

  •        A formal change in court-ordered custody or parenting time.

  •        The emancipation of a child (turning 18 or graduating high school).

The $75 / 20% Threshold Rule

Under Minnesota law, the court generally presumes a substantial change has occurred if recalculating support under current guidelines results in an amount that is at least $75 AND 20% higher or lower than your current order.

Serving Central Minnesota & Local District Courts

Navigating the court system is much easier with an attorney who knows your local court procedures, administration, and child support magistrates. Nicole C. Geffre provides accessible, cost-conscious legal counsel to parents across the region:

  • Meeker County (Litchfield)

  • McLeod County (Hutchinson, Glencoe)

  • Kandiyohi County (Willmar)

  •        Stearns County (St. Cloud)

  •        Wright County (Buffalo)

Whether you need full-scope courtroom representation or flexible, unbundled legal services (such as help drafting paperwork or reviewing a proposed stipulation to keep legal fees manageable), we tailor our approach to fit your goals and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota Child Support

Does child support cover extracurricular activities or sports fees?

Basic child support is intended to cover essential living costs like housing, food, and clothing. Extracurricular fees, club sports, and music lessons are not automatically included in basic support. Parents can address how to split these costs through a negotiated agreement or court order.

What happens if the other parent is paid under the table or self-employed?

Self-employed parents can deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses from gross income, but courts carefully inspect business tax returns, profit and loss statements, and bank deposits. If a parent is underreporting income, the court can estimate income based on lifestyle, past earnings, or earning capacity.

Can parents agree to $0 in child support?

While parents can negotiate many terms, child support belongs to the child, not the parents. A judge must review any agreement (stipulation) to ensure it complies with state guidelines and serves the child's best interests. Waiving basic support requires specific legal findings by the court.

Sometimes, if the parties make similar incomes, or the higher earning parent is covering insurance, there is essentially no child support based upon the calculator. Parties can run their own child support calculation at this link.

How long does child support last in Minnesota?

Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 years old, or until they graduate from high school (up to age 20), whichever happens later, unless the child becomes emancipated earlier.

Protect What Matters Most: Talk with a Local Minnesota Attorney

Child support determinations impact your household's financial stability for years to come. You don't have to navigate complex state calculators or court filings alone.  Sometimes a free consultation is all that is needed to put your mind at ease.

Contact Nicole C. Geffre today for a practical, compassionate consultation to discuss your child support case.

·       Phone: 612-405-5728

·       Email: nicole@martinorourkelaw.com

·       Office Location: 32 East Second Street, Suite C, Litchfield, MN 55355 & Lake Elmo (all by appointment only)

Serving Meeker, McLeod, Kandiyohi, Stearns, Wright Counties & the Twin Cities Metro.