Minnesota Child Support Modification

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 18, 2019

When child support is first ordered, it is based on a variety of factors that are true at the time. However, as time goes by, circumstances may change. You or the other parent may want to modify the child support terms.

State laws allow for child support modification when there has been a substantial change in circumstances. For example, if a father paying a certain amount of child support for his child has to take a significant pay cut instead of being laid off, he can apply to have his child support order modified.

Determining Child Support in Minnesota

In Minnesota, a court may order one or both parents to pay a reasonable amount of child support. The factors that a court will use to determine child support include:

Each parent's financial resources;
The standard of living the child would have if the parents were living together/married; and
The child's physical and mental condition and their educational needs.

The amount that's ordered as child support will cover the basic needs of the child. A child support order must also require one or both parents to provide medical support for the child if health insurance coverage is available to the parent at a reasonable cost.

Overview of Minnesota Child Support Modification

While it's important to read the actual text of a statute (law), it can be a tedious task since laws are usually written in "legalese." For this reason, it can be equally important to read an overview of the statute. In the following table you can find both an overview of child support modification in Minnesota as well as links to the applicable statutes.

Statute(s)

Minnesota Statutes Domestic Relations (Ch. 517-519A) Sec. 518A39. (Modification of Orders or Decrees)

When a Child Support Order Can Be Modified

A child support order can be modified temporarily or permanently if a party can show one of the following:

Substantial change in gross income;
Substantial change in the need for child support;
Receipt of assistance through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program;
A cost of living increase;
The child has extraordinary medical expenses;
A change in the availability of appropriate health care coverage or a substantial change in health care coverage costs;
The addition or change of work-related or education-related child care expenses; or
The child's emancipation.

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.