Minnesota calculates child support using the income shares model under Minn. Stat. § 518A.35, combining both parents' gross monthly incomes and referencing a statutory guidelines table based on the number of children. The combined parental income cap is $20,000 per month, and minimum support is $50 per month for one child. Parents with combined monthly income of $6,000 supporting one child owe approximately $1,158 in basic support before adjustments for parenting time, childcare, and medical support.
Key Facts: Minnesota Child Support
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Calculation Model | Income Shares (both parents' incomes combined) |
| Governing Statute | Minn. Stat. Chapter 518A |
| Filing Fee | $390-$425 (varies by county, as of March 2026) |
| Modification Fee | $50 |
| Income Cap | $20,000 combined monthly income |
| Minimum Support | $50/month (1 child), $60 (2), $70 (3), $80 (4+) |
| Support Duration | Until age 18 or high school graduation (max age 20) |
| Residency Requirement | 180 days (6 months) in Minnesota |
| Modification Threshold | 20% and $75 difference from current order |
How Minnesota Calculates Child Support Under the Income Shares Model
Minnesota determines child support by adding both parents' monthly gross incomes to create the Parental Income for Determining Child Support (PICS), then consulting the guidelines table in Minn. Stat. § 518A.35 to find the basic support obligation for the number of children involved. Each parent pays a proportionate share based on their percentage of the combined income. For example, if Parent A earns $6,000 monthly and Parent B earns $4,000 monthly, Parent A pays 60% of the basic support obligation while Parent B pays 40%.
The income shares model replaced Minnesota's older percentage-of-income approach in 2007, reflecting research showing that child-rearing costs correlate with both parents' combined resources rather than just the non-custodial parent's income. Courts reference the statutory table that lists presumptive support amounts for combined incomes ranging from $800 to $20,000 per month.
Gross income under Minn. Stat. § 518A.29 includes wages, salaries, commissions, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, pensions, Social Security payments, spousal maintenance received, military pay, and investment income. Courts may impute potential income under Minn. Stat. § 518A.32 if a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, basing the imputation on work history, education, and local job availability.
Three Components of Minnesota Child Support Orders
Every Minnesota child support order includes three separate obligations: basic support, medical support, and childcare support, which are added together to calculate the total monthly payment. Basic support covers housing, food, clothing, transportation, education costs, and routine care expenses. Medical support addresses health insurance premiums and unreimbursed medical expenses. Childcare support covers work-related or education-related daycare costs.
Basic Support Calculation
Basic support is determined by referencing the guidelines table in Minn. Stat. § 518A.35 using the combined PICS and number of joint children. The statutory table provides presumptive monthly amounts:
| Combined Monthly Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $675 | $1,059 | $1,246 |
| $6,000 | $1,158 | $1,760 | $2,084 |
| $10,000 | $1,576 | $2,371 | $2,834 |
| $15,000 | $1,885 | $2,859 | $3,456 |
| $20,000 (cap) | $2,172 | $3,322 | $4,045 |
For combined incomes exceeding $20,000 per month, courts presume the support obligation is the same as for $20,000 combined income, though a parent may present evidence justifying a higher amount under Minn. Stat. § 518A.43.
Medical Support Under Minn. Stat. § 518A.41
Medical support obligations under Minn. Stat. § 518A.41 require courts to assign responsibility for maintaining health insurance coverage and paying unreimbursed medical expenses. The parent with access to more affordable coverage through an employer typically carries the insurance obligation. Unreimbursed expenses are divided proportionally based on each parent's percentage of combined income. Employers must enroll dependent children when ordered and face a $500 civil penalty for non-compliance.
Childcare Support
Childcare support covers necessary work-related or education-related daycare costs. Courts divide actual childcare expenses between parents proportionally based on their shares of combined income. If childcare costs $1,200 monthly and Parent A earns 60% of the combined income, Parent A pays $720 toward childcare while Parent B pays $480.
Parenting Time Adjustment: How Overnights Affect Support
Minnesota adjusts basic support based on the percentage of parenting time each parent exercises, recognizing that parents incur direct costs when children stay with them. Under Minn. Stat. § 518A.36, the parenting expense adjustment reflects presumed expenses for food, clothing, transportation, recreation, and household costs during parenting time. The 2018 formula change eliminated abrupt cliffs in support calculations by providing incremental adjustments for each overnight rather than using categorical tiers.
Prior to August 2018, parents with 10-45% parenting time received a flat 12% reduction, while those with over 45% used an equal parenting time formula. The current system provides graduated adjustments for every additional overnight, preventing dramatic support changes when parenting time crosses arbitrary thresholds. Parents with exactly equal parenting time (50/50) and equal incomes owe no basic support to each other unless expenses are unequally shared.
A 2025 legislative update lowered the threshold for the more generous parenting time credit from strictly over 45.1% to approximately 40% parenting time, benefiting parents with near-equal custody arrangements.
Minimum Child Support for Low-Income Parents
Minnesota establishes minimum support obligations for parents whose gross income falls below 120% of federal poverty guidelines for one person. Under Minn. Stat. § 518A.35, minimum monthly support amounts are:
| Number of Children | Minimum Monthly Support |
|---|---|
| 1 child | $50 |
| 2 children | $60 |
| 3 children | $70 |
| 4 or more children | $80 |
These minimums ensure every parent contributes to their children's support while recognizing that impoverished parents cannot pay amounts that would leave them unable to meet their own basic needs. Courts may deviate from these minimums only in extraordinary circumstances.
Filing for Child Support in Minnesota: Fees and Process
Filing for child support as part of a divorce costs $390-$425 in Minnesota courts as of March 2026. The base filing fee is $340 plus a $50 surcharge, with county law library fees adding $10-$35 depending on the county. Hennepin County charges $402 total. Filing a motion to modify an existing child support order costs $50. Fee waivers are available through the In Forma Pauperis process for parents who cannot afford filing costs.
Minnesota requires that at least one spouse has resided in the state for 180 days (6 months) before filing for divorce. For standalone custody or child support cases, the child must have lived in Minnesota with a parent for at least 6 consecutive months before filing, with exceptions for emergencies. Military members stationed in Minnesota for 6 months satisfy the residency requirement.
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families provides an official Child Support Guidelines Calculator that helps parents estimate support amounts. Courts use this calculator to determine presumptive support obligations, though judicial discretion allows deviation when circumstances warrant.
Modifying Child Support Orders: The 20%/$75 Rule
Minnesota presumes a modification is appropriate when the current guidelines calculation differs from the existing order by at least 20% and at least $75 per month under Minn. Stat. § 518A.39. If the current order is less than $75 monthly, a 20% change alone triggers the presumption. Either parent can file a motion to modify, and county child support offices will review cases upon request.
Additional grounds for modification include substantially increased or decreased income, changes in the cost of living, extraordinary medical expenses, availability of health coverage, or changes in childcare expenses. Once a parent demonstrates the 20%/$75 threshold is met, they need not prove additional factors to justify modification, though they must show the current obligation is unreasonable or unfair.
Effective January 1, 2025, Social Security or veterans benefits received by the custodial parent for the benefit of a joint child based on the paying parent's disability may be applied to satisfy arrears when a modification motion is filed. This change prevents obligors from accumulating arrears when their children already receive benefits based on their disability status.
When Child Support Ends in Minnesota
Child support terminates when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later, but never beyond the child's 20th birthday under Minn. Stat. § 518A.26. If a child turns 18 in April but graduates in June, support continues through graduation. If a child is still in high school at age 20, support ends at the 20th birthday regardless of educational status.
Support may continue indefinitely for children with physical or mental disabilities preventing self-support. Parents must file a motion and prove the disability and continued dependence before the child turns 18. Additionally, parents can voluntarily agree in writing to extend support past the normal termination date, such as through college, and courts may incorporate such agreements into enforceable orders.
Support ends early if the child marries or enlists in the military before reaching majority. Once support would normally terminate, the paying parent must take legal steps to officially end the obligation; automatic termination does not occur without court action.
Enforcement: Consequences of Non-Payment
Minnesota aggressively enforces child support orders through multiple mechanisms under Minn. Stat. § 518A.53 and related statutes. Income withholding is mandatory in all support orders, and withheld amounts can reach the maximum permitted under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (up to 50-65% of disposable income depending on circumstances).
Parents with arrears equal to or exceeding three months of support who are not complying with a payment plan face:
| Enforcement Action | Statutory Authority |
|---|---|
| Wage garnishment | Minn. Stat. § 518A.53 |
| Tax refund interception (state and federal) | Minn. Stat. § 518A.53 |
| Driver's license suspension | Minn. Stat. § 518A.65 |
| Occupational license suspension | Minn. Stat. § 518A.66 |
| Recreational license suspension | Minn. Stat. § 518A.68 |
| Bank account levy | Minn. Stat. § 518A.53 |
| Motor vehicle lien | Minn. Stat. § 518A.67 |
| Contempt of court (potential jail time) | Minn. Stat. § 518A.72 |
| Passport denial | Federal law |
Employers cannot discharge, refuse to hire, or discipline employees because of wage withholding orders. Employers who fail to withhold or transfer funds are liable for unpaid amounts plus interest.
Deviation from Guidelines: When Courts Order Different Amounts
Courts may deviate from presumptive guidelines amounts when strict application would be unjust or inappropriate under Minn. Stat. § 518A.43. Deviation factors include extraordinary educational expenses, the needs of children from other relationships, the standard of living the children would have enjoyed if the marriage continued, and special physical or mental needs of the children.
Deviation requires written findings explaining why the guidelines amount is inappropriate and how the ordered amount serves the children's best interests. Courts cannot deviate merely because a parent disagrees with the calculated amount; they must identify specific circumstances justifying departure from the presumptive obligation.
Using the Minnesota Child Support Calculator
The Minnesota Child Support Guidelines Calculator requires both parents' monthly gross incomes, parenting time percentages, childcare costs, and health insurance premiums to generate presumptive support amounts. The calculator implements the statutory formulas from Chapter 518A automatically, reducing mathematical errors and ensuring consistent application of guidelines statewide.
To calculate how much is child support in Minnesota for your situation:
- Gather both parents' gross monthly income from all sources
- Determine the parenting time percentage for each parent (based on annual overnights)
- Obtain actual monthly childcare costs
- Calculate each parent's health insurance premium contribution for the children
- Enter values into the official calculator
- Review the output showing basic support, medical support, and childcare support obligations
The calculator generates an estimate only. Courts have final authority over support amounts and may adjust the calculated figure based on individual circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is child support in Minnesota for one child?
Child support for one child in Minnesota ranges from $50 to $2,172 per month depending on combined parental income. At $6,000 combined monthly income, basic support is approximately $1,158 before parenting time adjustments. The paying parent's share depends on their percentage of combined income; if they earn 60% of combined income, they pay 60% of the basic support obligation.
What is the average child support payment in Minnesota?
Minnesota does not publish official statistics on average child support payments because amounts vary dramatically based on individual circumstances. Parents with combined monthly incomes of $10,000 supporting two children owe approximately $2,371 in basic support under the guidelines table, divided proportionally between parents based on income shares.
How do I calculate child support in Minnesota?
Minnesota child support is calculated by combining both parents' gross monthly incomes, referencing the guidelines table in Minn. Stat. § 518A.35 for the basic support amount, and dividing that amount proportionally based on each parent's percentage of combined income. The official Minnesota Child Support Calculator performs these calculations automatically.
Can child support be modified in Minnesota?
Yes, child support can be modified when the current guidelines calculation differs from the existing order by at least 20% and $75 per month under Minn. Stat. § 518A.39. Filing a modification motion costs $50. Either parent can request a review through their county child support office or file directly with the court.
How long does child support last in Minnesota?
Child support in Minnesota continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later, but never beyond the child's 20th birthday. Support may continue indefinitely for disabled children who cannot support themselves. Parents can voluntarily agree to extend support through college.
What income counts for Minnesota child support?
Minnesota counts all gross income before taxes under Minn. Stat. § 518A.29: wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, pensions, Social Security, spousal maintenance received, military pay, rental income, dividends, and trust distributions. Courts may impute potential income for voluntarily unemployed parents.
Does parenting time affect child support in Minnesota?
Yes, parenting time directly affects child support through the parenting expense adjustment in Minn. Stat. § 518A.36. The 2018 formula provides incremental reductions for each overnight the paying parent has with the child. Parents with 50/50 custody and equal incomes typically owe each other nothing in basic support.
What happens if I don't pay child support in Minnesota?
Minnesota enforces unpaid child support through wage garnishment, tax refund interception, license suspension (driver's, professional, and recreational), bank levies, property liens, passport denial, and contempt proceedings that can result in jail time. Arrears equal to three months of support trigger aggressive enforcement actions.
How much does it cost to file for child support in Minnesota?
Filing for child support as part of a divorce costs $390-$425 depending on county (base fee $340 plus $50 surcharge plus $10-$35 law library fee). Filing a modification motion costs $50. Fee waivers are available for low-income parents through the In Forma Pauperis process.
What is the minimum child support in Minnesota?
The minimum child support in Minnesota is $50 per month for one child, $60 for two children, $70 for three children, and $80 for four or more children. Minimums apply when the obligor's gross income falls below 120% of federal poverty guidelines for one person.