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Who qualifies as a child for support purposes:
“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.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.26
How the court determines each parent’s income
“Gross income” means the gross income of the parent calculated under section 518A.29.
“Parental income for determining child support,” or “PICS,” means gross income minus deductions for nonjoint children allowed under section 518A.33.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.26
What basic support covers
“Basic support” means the basic support obligation computed under section 518A.34; it includes the dollar amount ordered for a child’s housing, food, clothing, transportation, and education costs, and other expenses relating to the child’s care, but does not include monetary contributions for a child’s child care expenses and medical and dental expenses.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.26
The six steps the court must follow
To determine the obligor’s basic support obligation, the court shall: (1) determine the gross income of each parent under section 518A.29; (2) calculate the PICS of each parent; (3) determine each parent’s percentage contribution to combined PICS; (4) determine the combined basic support obligation by application of the guidelines in section 518A.35; (5) determine each parent’s share of the combined basic support obligation by multiplying the percentage figure from clause (3) by the combined obligation in clause (4); and (6) apply the parenting expense adjustment formula provided in section 518A.36.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.34
How the total obligation is assembled
The court shall determine each parent’s total child support obligation by adding together each parent’s basic support, child care support, and health care coverage obligations as provided in section 518A.34.
The final child support order shall separately designate the amount owed for basic support, child care support, and medical support.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.34
The guidelines and when a court can depart from them
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 under chapter 518A.
The basic child support obligation shall be determined by referencing the guideline for the appropriate number of joint children and the combined parental income for determining child support of the parents.
For high-income households:
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 for determining child support of $20,000 per month.
Deviation factors:
In addition to the child support guidelines and other factors used to calculate the child support obligation under section 518A.34, the court must take into consideration the following factors in setting or modifying child support or in determining whether to deviate upward or downward from the presumptive child support obligation: (1) all earnings, income, circumstances, and resources of each parent, including real and personal property; (2) the extraordinary financial needs and resources, physical and emotional condition, and educational needs of the child to be supported; (3) the standard of living the child would enjoy if the parents were currently living together.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.35 | Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.43
How parenting time affects the amount
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, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, transportation, recreation, and household expenses.
The court shall apply a formula to determine the obligor and the basic support obligation: raise to the power of three the annual overnights with each parent; multiply each cubed overnight count by the other parent’s share of the combined basic support obligation; subtract and divide by the sum of the two cubed overnight counts.
When parenting time and incomes are equal:
If the parenting time is equal and the parental incomes for determining child support of the parents also are equal, no basic support shall be paid unless the court determines that the expenses for the child are not equally shared.
When one parent has the majority of parenting time:
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.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.36
Income withholding
Every support order must address income withholding, and 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.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.53
When a support order ends
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 to reduce, modify, or terminate the order upon the emancipation of the child as provided under section 518A.26, subdivision 5.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.39
When an existing order can be modified
It is presumed that there has been a substantial change in circumstances and the terms of a current support order shall be rebuttably presumed to be unreasonable and unfair if the application of the child support guidelines 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.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.39
Questions people ask about Minnesota child support
What counts as a child for child support in Minnesota?
“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.
What income does the court look at?
“Gross income” means the gross income of the parent calculated under section 518A.29. “Parental income for determining child support,” or “PICS,” means gross income minus deductions for nonjoint children allowed under section 518A.33.
Does it matter how many nights my child spends with each parent?
Yes. The court shall apply a formula to determine the obligor and the basic support obligation: raise to the power of three the annual overnights with each parent; multiply each cubed overnight count by the other parent’s share of the combined basic support obligation; subtract and divide by the sum of the two cubed overnight counts.
What if we split parenting time equally?
If the parenting time is equal and the parental incomes for determining child support of the parents also are equal, no basic support shall be paid unless the court determines that the expenses for the child are not equally shared.
Can the court order an amount different from the guideline?
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 under chapter 518A.
How does income withholding work?
Every support order must address income withholding, and 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.
When does the obligation stop automatically?
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 to reduce, modify, or terminate the order upon the emancipation of the child as provided under section 518A.26, subdivision 5.
How do I get an existing order changed?
It is presumed that there has been a substantial change in circumstances and the terms of a current support order shall be rebuttably presumed to be unreasonable and unfair if the application of the child support guidelines 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.
Talk with Martine Law about child support in Minnesota
Acting early gives counsel time to gather income information and parenting-time data before a hearing. Martine Law handles these 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 2026-10-16.
