Reviewed by the Marketing Team Last updated
The guideline in section 518A.35 is a rebuttable presumption and shall be used in any judicial or administrative proceeding to establish or modify a support obligation.
Who Minnesota child support covers
A child means an individual under 18 years of age, an individual under age 20 who is still attending secondary school, or an individual who, by reason of physical or mental condition, is incapable of self-support.
How Minnesota calculates the guideline amount
On a motion for modification of support, the court shall apply section 518A.35, and shall not consider the financial circumstances of each party’s spouse, if any.
For combined parental incomes for determining child support exceeding $20,000 per month, the presumed basic child support obligations shall be as for parents with combined parental income of $20,000 per month, though a court may order an amount exceeding that level if a child has a disability or other substantial, demonstrated need.
How parenting time affects the amount
Every child support order must specify the percentage of parenting time granted to or presumed for each parent, and the parenting expense adjustment reflects the presumption that while exercising parenting time, a parent is responsible for and incurs costs of caring for the child.
If a parent has more than 55 percent court-ordered parenting time, there is a rebuttable presumption that the parent has a zero dollar basic support obligation.
If parenting time is equal and the parental incomes for determining child support of the parents are also equal, no basic support shall be paid unless the court determines that the expenses for the child are not equally shared.
A support order issued under section 518A.38 may provide that during any period of time of 30 consecutive days or longer that the child is residing with the obligor, the amount of support otherwise due under the order may be reduced.
Income withholding and arrears
Every support order must address income withholding; whenever a support order is initially entered or modified, the full amount of the support order must be subject to income withholding from the income of the obligor.
Arrears are amounts that accrue pursuant to an obligor’s failure to comply with a support order.
Source: Minn. Stat. 518A.53; Minn. Stat. 518A.26
When a child support order can be modified
The court may, on motion of either party, modify a child support order respecting the amount of support money or medical support, and the payment of it.
The terms of an order respecting child support may be modified upon a showing of one or more of the following, any of which makes the terms unreasonable and unfair: substantially increased or decreased gross income of an obligor or obligee; substantially increased or decreased need of an obligor, obligee, or the child; a change in the cost of living; extraordinary medical expenses of the child not provided for under section 518A.41; a change in the availability of appropriate health care coverage or a substantial increase or decrease in health care coverage costs; or the addition of work-related or education-related child care expenses or a substantial increase or decrease in existing such expenses.
It is presumed that there has been a substantial change in circumstances, and the current support order is rebuttably presumed to be unreasonable and unfair, if the application of the child support guidelines to the current circumstances results in a calculated court order that is at least 20 percent and at least $75 per month higher or lower than the current support order.
There is also a rebuttable presumption of substantial change in circumstances if the gross income of an obligor or obligee has decreased by at least 20 percent through no fault or choice of the party.
A child support order is not presumptively modifiable solely because an obligor or obligee becomes responsible for the support of an additional nonjoint child born after an existing order.
An enactment, amendment, or repeal of law constitutes a substantial change in circumstances for purposes of modifying a child support order when it meets the standards for modification in section 518A.39.
Retroactivity and hearing process
A modification of support may be made retroactive only with respect to any period during which the petitioning party has pending a motion for modification, but only from the date of service of notice of the motion on the responding party.
The court need not hold an evidentiary hearing on a motion for modification of support.
Modifying medical support separately
The medical support terms of a support order may be modified without modification of the full order for support or maintenance, if the order has been established or modified in its entirety within three years from the date of the motion, upon a showing of specified grounds including a change in availability of health care coverage or a change in a party’s medical assistance eligibility.
Source: Minn. Stat. 518A.39 Subd. 8
When a child is emancipated or the obligor dies
Unless a court order provides otherwise, a child support obligation in a specific amount per child terminates automatically and without any action by the obligor upon the emancipation of the child.
The obligor may request a modification of the obligor’s child support order upon the emancipation of a child if there are still minor children under the order, and the child support obligation shall be determined based on the income of the parties at the time the modification is sought.
When a parent obligated to pay support dies, the amount of support may be modified, revoked, or commuted to a lump-sum payment, to the extent just and appropriate in the circumstances.
Source: Minn. Stat. 518A.39; Minn. Stat. 518A.26
Questions people ask about child support in Minnesota
What has to change for me to get child support modified in Minnesota?
The terms of an order respecting child support may be modified upon a showing of one or more of the following, any of which makes the terms unreasonable and unfair: substantially increased or decreased gross income of an obligor or obligee; substantially increased or decreased need of an obligor, obligee, or the child; a change in the cost of living; extraordinary medical expenses of the child not provided for under section 518A.41; a change in the availability of appropriate health care coverage or a substantial increase or decrease in health care coverage costs; or the addition of work-related or education-related child care expenses or a substantial increase or decrease in existing such expenses.
How much does income have to drop before the court presumes a change in circumstances?
There is also a rebuttable presumption of substantial change in circumstances if the gross income of an obligor or obligee has decreased by at least 20 percent through no fault or choice of the party.
Does having a new child automatically lower my support obligation?
A child support order is not presumptively modifiable solely because an obligor or obligee becomes responsible for the support of an additional nonjoint child born after an existing order.
If I have my child more than half the time, do I still owe support?
If a parent has more than 55 percent court-ordered parenting time, there is a rebuttable presumption that the parent has a zero dollar basic support obligation.
Can a modification go back to before I filed the motion?
A modification of support may be made retroactive only with respect to any period during which the petitioning party has pending a motion for modification, but only from the date of service of notice of the motion on the responding party.
Does Minnesota hold a full trial before changing support?
The court need not hold an evidentiary hearing on a motion for modification of support.
What happens to child support when my child turns 18?
Unless a court order provides otherwise, a child support obligation in a specific amount per child terminates automatically and without any action by the obligor upon the emancipation of the child.
Can I modify just the medical support part of my order?
The medical support terms of a support order may be modified without modification of the full order for support or maintenance, if the order has been established or modified in its entirety within three years from the date of the motion, upon a showing of specified grounds including a change in availability of health care coverage or a change in a party’s medical assistance eligibility.
Talk with Martine Law about child support in Minnesota
Acting early gives you and your attorney time to build a complete record. Martine Law handles child support matters across Minnesota.
Call for a confidential consultation, or fill out the contact form on this page with your name, phone number, and a short description of your situation, and we will follow up promptly.
Prepared by the Martine Law editorial team; sources reviewed October 15, 2026.
