When parents with joint custody end their marriage or relationship, Child Support becomes a sensitive and significant issue. Child Support is an essential component of parenting responsibility, and it is necessary to ensure the child’s well-being. If you are a parent with joint custody in Minnesota, you might have questions about how Child Support is calculated. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand the Child Support calculation in Minnesota.
Understanding Joint Physical Custody
Joint physical custody means that the child spends an equal amount of time with both parents. For instance, the child might spend three nights with one parent and four nights with the other parent. In Minnesota, joint physical custody means that each parent has the child for at least 45.1% of the year.
Determining Child Support in Minnesota
The state of Minnesota determines Child Support by considering several factors. The first factor is the income of both parents. The income includes the gross income, which includes wages, bonuses, commissions, and income from self-employment. The court might also consider each parent’s earning capacity, which means the potential income based on education, work experience, and job skills.
Other factors that Minnesota considers when determining Child Support include:
Basic Support Obligation
The basic support obligation is the amount of money that Minnesota presumes a parent with a specific income should pay to support one child. The obligation is calculated using guidelines that Minnesota has established. The amount of basic support obligation depends on the number of children involved and the combined gross income of both parents.
Parenting Time
Parenting time is the amount of time a parent spends with the child. Since parents with joint physical custody share equal parenting time, Minnesota uses a child support calculation worksheet that considers both parents’ incomes to determine the amount each parent should contribute towards the child’s support.
Child Care and Medical Expenses
Minnesota also considers child care and medical expenses when determining Child Support. Typically, each parent will pay a percentage of child care expenses and medical expenses depending on their income. The percentage is determined by the combined income of both parents.
Deviations
The court might also consider deviations when determining Child Support. Deviations refer to unique circumstances that might result in a different Child Support obligation. For example, if the child has special needs or one parent is providing additional child support to a non-joint child, the court might adjust the Child Support obligation.
Conclusion
If you are a parent with joint custody in Minnesota, understanding how Child Support is calculated is crucial. The state of Minnesota recognizes that joint custody requires both parents to contribute to the child’s upbringing and well-being. Therefore, the Child Support calculation considers the income of both parents, parenting time, child care and medical expenses, and deviations. By understanding these factors, parents can ensure that the Child Support obligation is fair and reasonable for both parents and, most importantly, the child.