| Child support in Minnesota is defined pursuant to | | | | the County against noncustodial parents or against |
| the Minnesota Child Support Guidelines. Normally, | | | | putative fathers in paternity cases. The County |
| the parent who is granted primary physical | | | | may be assisting a custodial parent in attempting |
| custody of the minor children receives child | | | | to establish or increase child support, or the |
| support from the other parent. The amount of | | | | County may be seeking reimbursement of public |
| child support paid is based on the number of | | | | assistance money that it paid to the custodial |
| children and the noncustodial parent's net monthly | | | | parent. The County may also be seeking a |
| income. | | | | cost-of-living increase or be pursuing an individual |
| A noncustodial parent can also be ordered to | | | | who has failed to meet his or her court ordered |
| contribute toward day care expenses that the | | | | obligations. |
| custodial parent incurs on a monthly basis. The | | | | In most instances, the County is acting within the |
| Courts use a formula to determine the | | | | new Expedited Child Support System. Within that |
| appropriate percentage of the monthly day care | | | | system, all hearings are held before a Child |
| expense that a noncustodial parent will be ordered | | | | Support Magistrate who has authority over all |
| to contribute. | | | | issues pertaining to the support of minor children. |
| Also, a noncustodial parent can be ordered to | | | | Unfortunately, absent an agreement between the |
| provide health insurance or to contribute toward | | | | parents, the Child Support Magistrate does not |
| the health insurance costs incurred by the | | | | have authority over custody or visitation issues. If |
| custodial parent or the County. The amount of | | | | a parent wants to have custody and visitation |
| child support ordered may be adjusted if the | | | | issues addressed by the Court, he or she must |
| parents are granted joint physical custody or in | | | | appear before a judge or referee of Family Court. |
| cases where the noncustodial parent and the | | | | Changing child support is can occur if the parent |
| custodial parent share almost equal parenting time. | | | | requesting the modification can demonstrate that |
| In those instances, the Court determines each | | | | there has been a substantial change in |
| parent's child support obligation separately, | | | | circumstances which makes the existing order |
| reduces both of them based on the percentage | | | | unreasonable or unfair. A review of the parties' |
| of parenting time granted to each parent and | | | | respective incomes and expenses are only two of |
| then off-sets the remaining amounts against each | | | | the many factors that a Court must consider |
| other to arrive at a figure that one parent may | | | | before making any changes in an existing child |
| be ordered to pay. | | | | support Order. |
| Child support actions are generally commenced by | | | | |