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How Minnesota Calculates Child Support

Minnesota uses the Income Shares model to determine child support obligations. This page explains the guidelines, formula, and key factors.

Model Type

Income Shares

Income-shares model based on combined parental income for determining basic support (PICS); each parent's obligation prorated by gross income share; adjusted for parenting time (parenting expense adjustment) and add-ons (childcare, medical/dental insurance).

Income Basis & Definitions

Income Basis:

gross

Number Of Children On Order

Selects the base-support amount from the guidelines schedule.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.35: Guidelines schedule
Parent A Income

Parent A gross income per statutory definition.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.29: Gross income definition
Parent B Income

Parent B gross income per statutory definition.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.29: Gross income definition

Parenting Time Handling

Custody Type Or Worksheet Selection

Parenting expense adjustment (PEA) applied based on percentage of parenting time.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.36: PEA formula
Parenting Time Input

Percentage of parenting time with each parent.

Source: Parenting time percentage input

Deductions & Adjustments

Other Child Support Or Dependents Adjustment

Nonjoint children adjustment per Minn. Stat. § 518A.33.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.33: Nonjoint children adjustment
Spousal Support Adjustment

Spousal maintenance paid or received adjusts income.

Source: Spousal maintenance income adjustment

Add-Ons & Allocation

Work Related Childcare Costs

Childcare support determined separately per Minn. Stat. § 518A.40.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.40: Childcare costs
Child Health Insurance And Uninsured Medical

Medical support per Minn. Stat. § 518A.41.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.41: Medical and dental support

Caps, Minimums & Deviations

Income Cap And Above Cap Handling

Schedule applies to combined PICS up to statutory cap; above-cap at discretion.

Source: Maximum schedule income
Deviation Factors And Findings

Deviation allowed per Minn. Stat. § 518A.43; requires findings.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 518A.43: Deviation criteria

Try the Calculator

Use our Minnesota child support calculator to estimate your obligation.

Official Sources

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 518A (Child Support)