In Minnesota, child support includes three separate financial obligations payable from one parent to another: basic support, medical support and child care support. Basic support is determined by applying the guidelines, using the gross income of both parents. A noncustodial parent can receive a credit on a basic support obligation to take into consideration shared expenses, if the children spend more than 10 percent of their time with the noncustodial parent. At Terzich & Ort, LLP, we work with parents, reviewing all proposed orders for compliance with Minnesota child support payment guidelines. We will also review any proposed order to verify that all relevant income, such as self-employment, seasonal or commission-based income, is properly included in the calculation.
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Medical support is also ordered, such as medical and dental insurance premiums, co-pay and deductibles. Child care support is also divided between the parents. The Minnesota Department of Human Services provides a child support calculator for parents to use to assist them in calculating support. Several factors are involved in the calculations, including:
Child support can be modified or changed if the circumstances of either parent or the children change. Changes in circumstances can include a change in income, the residence of the child or significant changes in the needs of a child, such as an illness requiring child medical support, among other things.
At the law office of Terzich & Ort, LLP, our lawyers handle a wide range of divorce and family law matters for men and women throughout the 13-county metropolitan area in and around Minneapolis-St. Paul. Though we are a new firm, both of our attorneys have significant family law experience. Both have been lauded as “Rising Stars” by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine (each having received this designation every year since 2006), and attorney Jodi M. Terzich has been named a Minnesota “Super Lawyer” for 2009.
At Terzich & Ort, LLP, we recognize that finances play an important part in every family. We will do everything we can to make certain that the child support order fairly and equitably protects your interests.
Call us at 763-391-7354 to schedule an appointment or email our Maple Grove office. Our office is open weekdays during regular business hours, and evenings, if the need arises. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Minnesota uses an “income shares” model, which combines both parents’ gross monthly incomes to determine a basic support obligation, then divides that obligation based on each parent’s share of the combined income and the percentage of parenting time each parent has. Medical support and child care support are calculated and added on top of basic support.
A parent who has the child for a set percentage of parenting time may qualify for a parenting expense adjustment that reduces their support obligation, since they’re covering more day-to-day costs directly. We review your parenting schedule to make sure it’s factored into the calculation correctly.
Nearly all income counts, including wages, self-employment income, commissions, bonuses, and seasonal income. We routinely review proposed child support orders to confirm that all relevant income for both parents is properly included, since a missed income source can skew the support amount.
You can request a modification when there’s been a substantial change in circumstances, such as a job loss, a significant change in either parent’s income, a change in parenting time, or a change in the child’s needs. Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 518A.39) presumes a substantial change exists if the recalculated support amount differs from the current order by at least 20% and $75 per month.
In addition to basic support, Minnesota child support orders typically include medical support (health and dental insurance costs) and child care support (work- or school-related child care costs), divided between the parents according to their income share.
