tags on every page of your site. -->
Terzich & Ort, LLP
Photo of Jodi Marie Terzich and Shannon Leigh Ort
Super Lawyers
Divorce in Minnesota

Divorce In Minnesota

Divorce in Minnesota

Divorce In Minnesota

Spousal Maintenance

Spousal Maintenance

Spousal Maintenance

Spousal Maintenance

Property Division

Property Division

Property Division

Property Division

Paternity Cases

Paternity Cases

Paternity Cases

Paternity Cases

Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse

Child support payments are a basic responsibility of a non-custodial parent. Evading this responsibility is not only wrong, but doing so can create major financial stress for the child as well as the custodial parent. For those reasons, Minnesota law strictly prohibits such child support payment evasion.

In some cases, the reason for non-payment could be that the non-custodial parent may be unemployed. In such cases, paying child support may become a financial hardship. State law allows the parents to then seek a modification of the court-ordered child support payment. However, when the non-custodial parent is receiving unemployment insurance from the state, paying child support becomes an indispensible responsibility and must be taken care of. But, even a child support charge deducted from unemployment insurance may be less than the full court-ordered payment.

The departments of Employment and Economic Development in Minnesota keep track of child support payment evasion by non-custodial parents and a charge of failing to provide child support can be leveled against those individuals who fail to make their payments. State records indicate that recently there have been more child support charges made against those parents who are collecting unemployment insurance benefits.

A non-custodial parent needs to remember that child support payments are an obligation that must be met until the child reaches the age of 18. Unemployment or financial duress does not negate the need to pay child support. Therefore, non-custodial parents may want to contact the Child Support and Economic departments in Minnesota immediately should they become unemployed.

Source: DHS.State.MN.us, “Payment from Minnesota unemployment insurance“, accessed on Jan. 15, 2015