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Child support is often one of the biggest financial questions that comes up when parents separate or divorce. How much will one parent pay? Does the amount depend on income? And does the time each parent spends with their child make a difference?

In Minnesota, child support isn’t based on one flat amount or a simple percentage of someone’s paycheck. Instead, the state uses guidelines that take several factors into account, including both parents’ incomes, the number of children, and certain expenses involved in raising them.

So, how is child support calculated in Minnesota? Here’s a closer look at what goes into determining the amount.

How Does Minnesota Determine Child Support?
Minnesota uses what’s known as an income shares model to calculate child support. Rather than focusing only on the income of the parent making payments, this model considers the incomes of both parents.

The calculation starts by looking at each parent’s income under Minnesota’s child support rules. After certain adjustments, those amounts are combined to determine what’s called parental income for determining child support, or PICS.

Each parent’s share of that combined income helps establish how the child support obligation is divided.

The number of joint children and other factors outlined in Minnesota law also play a role in determining the final amount.

What Counts as Income for Child Support?
When it comes to child support in Minnesota, income can include more than just a regular salary.

Wages, commissions, bonuses, and certain other sources of income may all be part of the calculation. For parents who are self-employed, income may be determined differently than it would be for someone receiving a traditional paycheck.

Minnesota law outlines which types of income are included and how certain amounts are treated when calculating child support.

Because income can come from different sources, the financial information involved in one case may look quite different from another.

What Does Child Support Cover in Minnesota?
Child support isn’t limited to one category of expenses. Minnesota law divides it into three main areas: basic support, medical support, and child care support.

Each covers a different part of the financial responsibilities associated with raising a child.

Basic Support
Basic support covers everyday living expenses associated with a child, such as food, housing, clothing, and transportation.

Minnesota’s child support guidelines use the parents’ combined income and the number of joint children to establish a basic support amount before any applicable adjustments.

Medical Support
Medical support deals with certain healthcare expenses, including medical and dental insurance coverage.

It can also address how uninsured or unreimbursed healthcare expenses are divided between parents.

The details depend on factors such as available insurance coverage, its cost, and the circumstances involved.

Child Care Support
Child care support addresses qualifying child care expenses connected to employment or education.

For example, child care costs associated with a parent’s work schedule may be included in the overall support calculation.

The amount depends on the qualifying expenses and how Minnesota’s child support rules apply to the situation.

Does Parenting Time Affect Child Support?
Yes, parenting time can affect child support in Minnesota.

Parenting time refers to the time a child spends with each parent. While it’s separate from child support, Minnesota’s guidelines include a parenting expense adjustment that takes court-ordered parenting time into account when calculating basic support.

This means two families with similar incomes and the same number of children may still have different support amounts because of their parenting time arrangements.

Parenting time is one of several factors that can influence the overall calculation.

Does the Number of Children Make a Difference?
The number of joint children included in a child support case is another part of determining the amount.

Minnesota’s guidelines use the parents’ combined income and the number of joint children to establish the starting basic support obligation.

As a result, a calculation involving one child will generally look different from one involving multiple children.

Other legally recognized support obligations can also affect certain parts of the calculation.

What If One Parent Makes More Money?
It’s common for parents to have different incomes, and Minnesota’s income shares model takes those differences into account.

When one parent earns more than the other, that affects how much of the combined parental income is attributed to each parent.

However, income isn’t the only part of the equation. Parenting time, medical expenses, child care costs, and other applicable adjustments can also influence the final support obligation.

That’s why Minnesota child support calculations can vary even between families with similar income levels.

Can Child Support Change?
Child support amounts aren’t necessarily permanent.

Over time, a parent’s income, employment situation, parenting time arrangement, or other circumstances may change. Those changes can sometimes become part of a request to modify an existing child support order.

Minnesota law establishes specific standards for modifying child support. A change in circumstances doesn’t automatically change the amount required under an existing order.

The process for modifying child support is separate from the original calculation.

How Long Does Child Support Last in Minnesota?
Another common question is when child support payments end.

In Minnesota, child support generally continues until a child turns 18. However, the obligation may continue beyond that age in certain circumstances.

For example, support may continue for an unmarried child who is still attending secondary school, subject to the age limits established under Minnesota law.

The terms of a court order and other applicable legal provisions can also affect how long support continues.

Why Are Child Support Amounts Different for Every Family?
Even when families have similar circumstances, their child support amounts may not be the same.

One family might have different income levels, while another may have higher child care expenses or a different parenting time arrangement. Health insurance costs and other factors can also affect the calculation.

Rather than relying on a single number, Minnesota child support guidelines bring several pieces of information together to determine the obligation.

Final Thoughts
Child support in Minnesota is calculated using guidelines that consider both parents’ incomes, the number of joint children, parenting time, and certain expenses related to raising a child.

Basic support, medical support, and child care support can all be part of the calculation. Because every family’s circumstances are different, the final child support amount can vary from one case to another.

At Borden, Steinbauer, Krueger & Knudson, P.A., we represent clients in child support, child custody, divorce, and other family law matters throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area and greater Minnesota.