Child support is a parent’s legal obligation to provide support for their children. In any action for dissolution, legal separation or annulment, the court must include an order defining child support. Child support orders may also be included in a paternity action. There are three types of child support in Minnesota:
- Basic support
- Child care support
- Medical support
Basic support includes the contribution to the basic needs of the child such as housing, food, clothing, transportation, education costs and any other expenses relating to the child’s care. Child care support is simply each party’s contribution to the cost of child care. Medical support is each party’s contribution to the cost of medical care for their child, including the cost of medical insurance.
Basic support is determined based on each party’s respective incomes and the number of overnights each party has with the child. Custody labels play no part in the determination of basic child support. Child care and medical support are determined based on each party’s respective income regardless of the amount of time the children are in their care.
The Department of Human Services has provided a child support calculator to aid in determining child support. In order to correctly use the calculator, you must know each party’s gross monthly income, the amount of money paid for child care and the cost of health insurance for the children. You can find the calculator here.
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Bill Casey has exceptional experience in helping families with child care support issues.
To make an appointment for a consultation with William Casey Law Office, LLC, please call 612-355-6280 or send an email.