I am often asked how much a particular Minnesota child support obligation will be. My answer is always “it depends.”
The Minnesota child support calculator takes into account the amount of overnight parenting time each parent is awarded. As a result, in Minnesota, the amount of child support one pays is heavily dependent on his or her parenting time.
Generally speaking, if both parents have equivalent incomes, and they have equal parenting time, them very little child support is paid by either parent. But, if parents have equivalent incomes, and one parent has a significant majority of overnight parenting time, then the other parent will pay a significant amount of child support.
One of the biggest changes to MN divorce laws in recent history is the way child support is calculated. Though the legislature did not intend this result, by linking child support payments to parenting time, it created a new potential source of disagreement between parents who are divorcing.
Minnesota divorce laws are complex, and it is not possible to address all aspects of child custody and child support in a blog post. So, if you have questions, feel free to call attorney Daniel M. Fiskum at (952) 270-7700. Daniel M. Fiskum is a Minnesota divorce Super Lawyer who has been practicing divorce and matrimonial law for over 28 years. His office, Minnetonka Family Law, is conveniently located in the Carlson Towers at the intersection of I 494 and I 394. Cal Dan at (952) 270-7700 to schedule a free divorce consultation,
