Establishing Child Support Orders
Child support includes basic support, medical support and child care support. The child support office or a parent may ask the court to issue a support order. When determining child support, the court looks at both parents' abilities to provide financial support for their children.
To estimate the amount of support the court may order, see Minnesota's online Guidelines Calculator. For an accurate estimate, you will need current information about the other parent.
Types of support
Basic support covers a child's basic needs such as housing, food, clothing, transportation and other daily care expenses. The amount is based on both parents gross income, court-ordered parenting time and other factors.
In Minnesota, the court must address medical support. The court may order a parent to do one or more of the following:
- Provide health care coverage, which may include dental and vision coverage
- Pay monthly support toward the cost of health insurance, medical and dental expenses or to reimburse the government if the child receives medical assistance.
- Pay a portion of uninsured or unreimbursed medical or dental expenses.
The court may order a parent to pay some or all work or school-related child care (day care) costs.
Some support orders may address past child support for up to two years or a payment toward past due support.
More information
For more information, go to the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families website.