Children are entitled to financial support from both parents. “Child support” is generally paid by the parent with less than 45% parenting time to the parent with the majority (45.1% to 50%) parenting time. When parents share roughly equal parenting time, there may still be a child support obligation from the parent with higher income to the parent with lower income; this is meant to keep the child from having significantly disparate living conditions at both parents’ homes.
Beginning January 1, 2007, Minnesota’s child support laws changed. Under the new laws, child support is now calculated based on both parents’ incomes and the amount of time each parent spends with the child.
Child support is divided into three components:
- Basic Support. Basic support is for the everyday costs of raising a child: food, housing, clothing, and transportation.
- Medical Support. Medical support is based on the cost of carrying health insurance for the child. In cases where the child is covered under public coverage such as MNCare or Medical Assistance, this support is the contribution the non-custodial parent is required to reimburse the County for the public support.
- Child Care Support. Generally thought of as “day care,” child care support is the contribution for the actual cost of day care for the child.
It is important to understand that child support is based upon the right of a child to receive financial support from both parents. The parent responsible for paying support does not have the ability to dictate how child support is spent, or withhold support based upon the actions of the parent receiving the support. Conversely, absent specific language in a child support Order, the parent receiving support generally may not demand additional payments of support from the paying parent.
Regardless of your situation, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced family attorney. Call (651) 756-8781 or email to schedule your free consultation.
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