Minnesota law is continually trying to find the appropriate and fair calculation for child support determinations.
There is an ongoing dispute as to the resources needed to care for a child while having extensive parenting time with a child.
In a continued effort to do so, new Minnesota laws that went into effect this summer now provide for reductions of child support based on the exact number of overnights of parenting time you have with your child.
Old Minnesota Child Support Law
Under the old law, there was a significant difference in the child support reduction you received if you had 45% of the parenting time versus 45.1%. So the parent that had their children only 10% of the time had the same amount of child support reduction as the parent that had their children 45% of the time.
Many custody battles were waged over whether or not to let a parent have six overnights every two weeks or seven. Many good parents felt wronged that they essentially working as an equal parent, but did not receive a greater child support reduction even though they had all the costs associated with having their children close to half of the time.
New Minnesota Child Support Law
Under the new child support law, the reduction in child support a parent receives based on the parenting time they have with the children is based on the exact number of overnights. No more will custody and parenting time battles be bogged down with that battle over 45% of the parenting time.
Now a parent that has six out of fourteen overnights with the children may be eligible for a larger reduction in their child support than they previously received under the old laws child support calculation. This will also hopefully lead to more equal parenting time plans where appropriate, as there will no longer be a significant difference in child support between six or seven overnights every two weeks.
This new method of calculation of child support based on the exact number of overnights of parenting time will also hopefully allow parties to focus on more child centered parenting plans, with less concern for the child support outcomes. Perhaps this change in child support laws will allow an opportunity for parents to re-visit what is best for the parenting time with the children.
Child Support Reduction?
If you believe that you may be eligible for a child support reduction based on your present parenting time circumstances, you could investigate the new calculations online with the child support calculator. (https://childsupportcalculator.dhs.state.mn.us/). If you would like to take an opportunity to re-visit your parenting time with your children, perhaps now is a good chance to look into it.
If you would like to further pursue a potential modification of your child support or parenting time, please call our office now to speak with an attorney.
Minnesota Child Support Lawyers
Contact the law firm of Flanders Law Firm LLC to discuss a possible child support modification motion. Contact the firm for a free initial consultation at 612-424-0398.
