In the past few years, have the laws in Minnesota changed, regarding the amount of child support payments?: Is Minnesota now more like California, that is, income based? Is there still a limit on the amount of money paid out monthly in child support?
Eric's answer: I can't say how it works in California, because I'm not licensed there, but yes, Minnesota's system changed completely on January 1st, 2007. Under the new system, Child support pursuant to the Guidelines is based on the following factors: 1. The gross income of both parties. 2. The cost of work and education related child care. 3. The children's portion of the cost of medical and dental insurance. 4. The number of non-joint children of each party (entitles you to a discount). 5. Each party's percentage of parenting time (<10% means you get no discount; 10% to 45% means you get a small discount; 45.1% to 54.9% means parenting time is deemed equal, and you normally wouldn't pay child support unless you make significantly more than the other party, or the other party is paying more of the medical insurance or child care costs; 55%+ means the other parent pays you child support). Calculations of child support under the Minnesota Guidelines are very complicated. A good way to get an idea of how it would compute in your situation is to type your data into this very user-friendly Minnesota Child Support Calculator: http://childsupportcalculator.dhs.state.mn.us/ And yes, there is still a cap on the total child support. Here's a link to an article I've published on child support: http://www.minnesotadivorce.com/articles/child-support/index.html
In MN, when calculating the $ of child support, is spousal support part of the total gross income?: Or is spousal support exempt? If the caregiver is a student & living on spousal support, is the money considered into the total gross income of the couple? If so, wouldn't that be counting that money twice?
Eric's answer: Spousal maintenance which one receives is included as income to the recipient when calculating child support involving the recipient, pursuant to Minnesota Statute section 518A.29(a). https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=518A.29
In MN, is spousal support included, or exempt when calculating the couple's gross income: If the ex-wife's only income is spousal support (she's a student), is that factored in to a couples gross income when determining what the child support amount should be?
Eric's answer: Spousal maintenance which one receives is included as income to the recipient when calculating child support involving the recipient, pursuant to Minnesota Statute section 518A.29(a). https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=518A.29