What Is Considered When Calculating Child Support?

Generally, child support obligations in Minnesota are based on a set of statutory guidelines utilizing the following information:

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Each parent's gross monthly income from the following sources:

1. Salaries

2. Commissions

3. Overtime

4. Unemployment benefits

5. Military and Naval retirement

6. Spousal maintenance

7. Bonuses payments

8. Worker's compensation

9. Disability payments

10. Pensions

How many children live in each parent's home (not including children who the parent has a court order to pay child support);

Any existing child support obligations for either parent;

Any spousal maintenance obligations for either parent;

The amount of any benefits received from Social Security or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs paid to a joint child due to a parent's disability or retirement;

The monthly cost for both medical and dental coverage;

The amount of child care costs for each child; and

The parenting time for each parent.

These guidelines serve as a guide and not necessarily as a final determination as to the amount of child support to be paid. The final determination may deviate from the guidelines based upon the following factors:

1. the financial resources of the child;

2. the financial resources, earnings, income, and assets of the parents;

3. the standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the marriage had not been dissolved;

4. the physical and emotional conditions and educational needs of the child;

5. the amount of public aid received by the child or parent;

6. any income tax consequences of the child support payments; and

7. any debt of the parents.

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Misconduct of a parent is not considered in the establishment of the child support obligations.

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