Are you wondering how child support works when both parents have equal parenting time in Minnesota? Many parents assume that no support payments are necessary in 50/50 parenting time arrangements, but this isn’t always true. Even when parenting time (commonly referred to as child custody) is split equally, the courts still look at factors like parental income and the child’s needs to determine whether child support is warranted.
How Child Support Works in Minnesota
There are three main types of child support in Minnesota: basic support, medical support, and child care support. Basic support covers everyday needs such as food, housing, and clothing. Medical support includes health and dental insurance costs and any out-of-pocket medical expenses. Child care support covers daycare or other care costs so parents can work or go to school. A court order determines how much each parent pays or receives based on their financial situations and responsibilities.
The Role of Parenting Time in Child Support Calculations
Minnesota judges making child support determinations consider the number of overnights each parent has with the child. The courts use a “parenting expense adjustment” to reflect shared parenting time. In 50/50 parenting time arrangements, both parents qualify for the highest adjustment. This adjustment reduces the amount of basic support the higher-earning parent might pay to the other.
Still, the adjustment does not always eliminate child support obligations. Courts consider parenting time alongside income and expenses. Equal time with a child does not automatically mean no payments are necessary, but it does factor heavily into how the court calculates final support amounts.
Why Child Support Might Still Apply with 50/50 Parenting Time
Parents often expect equal custody arrangements to cancel out child support, but that is not the case. If one parent earns more than the other, the higher earner owes the lower earner a duty of support. Courts will consider which parent provides health insurance, who pays for childcare, and whether either parent receives public assistance. Even if overnights are split evenly, a difference in income results in a support order.
How Minnesota Courts Calculate Child Support
Minnesota uses the “Income Shares” model to set support. The Income Shares model aims to match what parents would spend on their child if they lived together. Under this model, the court adds both parents’ gross incomes to get a combined amount. Each parent’s share of that combined income determines their share of support, called Parental Income for Child Support (PICS).
The court compares that share to a set of guidelines in the law. Then, it applies any parenting time adjustments, along with credits for health insurance or child care costs. This process gives the court a starting number to work with, though judges can adjust it if the result does not meet the child’s needs.
When Child Support Might Be Reduced or Offset
Minnesota courts may reduce or offset child support in certain situations. If parents have similar incomes and split overnights equally, the court may find that no payments are necessary. Credits for health insurance or daycare can also reduce support obligations. A court may also lower payments for a parent with very low income, as long as the child’s needs are still met.
On the other hand, if one parent pays for most of the child’s expenses, the court can order the other parent to contribute. The goal is not to punish either parent, but to balance financial responsibility so the child benefits from both parents’ support, just like they would if the parents lived together.
Contact a Lawyer for Answers to Your Child Support Questions
If you have questions about how your parenting time arrangement could affect your support obligations in Minnesota, contact Terzich & Ort, LLP, to arrange your initial consultation. We can review your arrangement, explain how Minnesota’s child support rules apply, and outline your options.
