Child Support Overview

Accurate Child Support Is Essential For Your Child’s Well-Being

Whether you’re paying more than you can afford to pay or the child support you receive is just not enough to make ends meet, the basic premise is the same: You will continue to pay or receive the same court-ordered amount until you do something to get your case reviewed. It is important to take action as soon as you can. Any change in child support is typically retroactive to the date you serve your motion on the other party. At my law firm, James D. Capra Inc., I have helped families throughout Minnesota. I can help you, too.

How Is Child Support Calculated?

Important factors to be considered in determining the child support amount include the gross monthly incomes of both parents, the relative amount of time the child spends with each parent, and how much dependent medical or dental insurance costs the parent paying the premiums. Everyone should know what effect the law has on their existing support order or what they can anticipate paying/receiving on the establishment of child support obligation.

The state guidelines use both parents’ monthly gross incomes to determine basic support. The physical custody designation is irrelevant to the amount of child support owed to support the child. Child support is based upon the amount of time each parent spends with the child. In terms of health care, the costs of premiums are prorated between the parties based on each parent’s proportionate share of their combined gross income. The costs of child care or education-related expenses are shared by the parents on an ability-to-pay basis, similar to the mechanism for sharing medical support.

Act Now; Call Today

Additional factors may also come into play in determining the appropriate level of support, such as the existence of “nonjoint” children and support obligations ordered against a parent in other cases. Bring in your tax returns and your check stubs, and let us review child support for you. We can even show you how to work Minnesota’s online child support calculator so you can monitor your obligation properly on your own. To discuss your case, contact our office in Ramsey County at 651-337-9613 or fill out this contact form.