In Minnesota, the federal government has a say in what child support laws are passed. In 1975, the federal government became involved and enacted laws that established a uniform minimum standard that all state systems needed to adhere to. The goal was to avoid so many...
Child Support
The holidays can pose financial challenges for single parents
Keeping up with the everyday expenses of one's family can sometimes be difficult. Single parents in particular can face significant challenges when it comes to this. Many things can impact how strong of a position a single parent is in when it comes to being able to...
How expensive of a place is Minnesota for families?
Some places can be more expensive for families than others. This is because area economic conditions and other factors can cause there to be quite a bit of variation between different geographic areas in what sorts of costs families face in connection to typical...
Finding solutions to child support problems
In previous blogs, we've discussed the importance and purpose of child support payments. In most cases, for divorced parents or those who were never married but are no longer together, a noncustodial parent is ordered to pay child support. In Minnesota, child support...
Obtaining and enforcing child support in Minnesota
Today's American families are very different in composition from those of 40 or more years ago. According to a Pew Research Center, today less than half or roughly 46 percent of U.S. kids live with "two married heterosexual parents in their first marriage." With the...
My ex won’t pay child support. Can I withhold visitation?
It can certainly be frustrating not to receive the child support the family court has ordered. For a custodial parent who relies on that money to meet the children's basic needs, the holidays can be a particularly exasperating time for your kids' other parent to come...
How do the courts decide who is a child’s legal father?
If a mother isn't sure who's the biological father of her child -- or if the alleged father doesn't agree -- biological paternity can be determined relatively easily via DNA test. When done correctly, these tests are so accurate that they are accepted as proof of...
How is child support calculated in Minnesota?
Under Minnesota law, children have the right to receive support from both parents, and financial support in the form of child support may be ordered by the court. A child's parent or a guardian, such as a grandparent, has the right to request child support....
Legal help with paternity
In Minnesota, a biological father does not have rights to his child if he is not married to the mother unless he can prove that he is the father. This can be established through a recognition of parentage or a DNA test. The father will then gain the privileges of...
Child support reimbursement sought by grandparent
Although it is not uncommon for parents to be held responsible for their minor children's financial issues, Minnesota residents may be surprised at the situation facing a Florida woman. The woman's son was a minor when his daughter was born, and a court order was...