As a parent, one of your most important priorities after your divorce is ensuring that your child has what he or she needs for stability and security. In addition to allowing your child to have a consistent relationship with both parents, he or she also needs financial support. The intent of child support is to ensure that a child has what he or she needs for daily life. The non-custodial parent or higher-earning parent is who often pays support.
Whether you believe you will be eligible to receive these payments, or you think that you may have to pay child support, it is important that you understand how it works, how much you will pay and more. This understanding can reduce conflict and allow you and the other parent to work together more cooperatively after divorce.
The number of payments and how it’s decided
Every family is different, and each child support determination is based on the factors that are specific to the individual situation. For example, if you have to pay, the specific amount you may have to pay could be based on your income and the needs of your children. However, federal law states that no parent will have to pay more than 60% of his or her income in child support. Parents may be able to reach an agreement on child support, but they will still need to present it to the court for approval.
The intention of child support is to assist with the expenses most often associated with children, such as food, clothing, housing and childcare. In most cases, child support will continue until the child reaches the age of 18, but parents may continue to support his or her child beyond that age. If at any point you are unable to meet the terms of your child support order, you may seek a modification of the original order.
The best future for your kids
During your divorce, you will benefit from making decisions that allow you to protect the best interests of your children above else. If you have concerns about child support or what steps you can take to ensure that your Minnesota child support order is fair and sustainable, you may benefit from seeking professional guidance.