How is child support calculated in Minnesota?

Using the income shares model under Minn. Stat. § 518A.35: both parents' monthly gross incomes are combined into Parental Income for Determining Child Support (PICS), the guidelines table gives the basic support obligation for the number of children, and each parent pays a proportionate share based on their percentage of PICS.

Is there a cap on the income used in the calculation?

The guidelines table lists specific amounts from under $1,400/month up to $20,000/month combined income. For combined PICS above $20,000/month, the presumed obligation is set as if PICS were exactly $20,000/month.

How do I request a modification in Minnesota?

Minnesota requires a 20% and $75/month change to modify an order. You can ask your county child support office to review the order rather than filing a court motion independently, and the office is required by law to review and adjust orders once every three years, with review available any time circumstances warrant it.

How is child support enforced in Minnesota?

Most new or modified orders require employers and payors of funds to automatically withhold basic support, medical support, and child care support from a parent's paycheck or other income. Employers must begin withholding no later than the first pay period following a 14-day notice window, and continue until the child support office notifies them of a change.

Minnesota, United States

Minnesota Child Support: A Parent's Guide

How child support works in Minnesota, in plain English: the income shares guidelines, the 20% modification rule, and withholding enforcement.

Legal sources reviewed: August 10, 2026

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In short: Minnesota combines both parents' gross incomes into a defined figure called PICS (Parental Income for Determining Child Support) and applies a statutory table capped at $20,000/month. Modification requires a 20% and $75/month change, with a guaranteed review every three years, and enforcement leans on largely automatic income withholding.

This is an educational overview written for parents, not lawyers. It isn't legal advice. For anything beyond general understanding, talk to a licensed Minnesota family law attorney.

What Minnesota generally provides

Under Minn. Stat. § 518A.35, Minnesota's income shares model combines both parents' monthly gross incomes into Parental Income for Determining Child Support (PICS), then consults the guidelines table to find the basic support obligation for the number of children involved.

Important terminology

PICS: Parental Income for Determining Child Support, Minnesota's specific term for the combined income figure used in the calculation.
20% and $75/month rule: the general threshold a recalculated amount must meet to qualify for a modification.
Automatic 3-year review: the guaranteed periodic review Minnesota's child support office must perform regardless of whether either parent requests it.

How the calculation works

Combining income into PICS

Both parents' monthly gross incomes are added together to create PICS, then the guidelines table in § 518A.35 provides the basic support obligation for that combined figure and the number of children. Each parent pays a proportionate share based on their percentage of PICS.

The income cap and minimum

The statute lists specific monthly amounts for combined incomes from under $1,400/month up to $20,000/month, broken out by number of children. For combined PICS exceeding $20,000/month, the presumed obligation is set as though PICS were exactly $20,000/month, the schedule doesn't keep scaling above that point. The minimum support for one child is $50/month.

Requesting or defending a modification

Minnesota requires roughly a 20% and $75/month difference between the current order and a fresh calculation to qualify for a modification. Parents can request their county child support office review the order instead of filing an independent court motion, and that office is required by law to review and adjust orders once every three years, with review available any time circumstances genuinely warrant it sooner. See the child support calculator and guideline finder for jurisdiction-specific calculation sources and guidance.

How enforcement works

Most new or modified orders require employers and other payors of funds to automatically withhold basic support, medical support, and child care support from a parent's paycheck or other income sources. Employers must begin withholding no later than the first pay period following a 14-day notice window, and must continue until the child support office notifies them in writing of any change to the order. Withholding can also be triggered specifically where previous support wasn't paid timely and consistently, or where the obligor has threatened to stop or reduce payments.

Common questions

Does a small income change qualify for a modification? Not necessarily, Minnesota generally requires roughly a 20% and $75/month difference, so minor fluctuations may not meet the threshold on their own, though the guaranteed 3-year review provides a separate path.

What happens above the $20,000/month combined income cap? The guideline table doesn't keep scaling, the presumed obligation is calculated as if combined income were capped at $20,000/month, which can matter for higher-earning families.

What if my co-parent isn't paying? Contact the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) child support office, which can enforce through income withholding and other collection methods.

Practical considerations

Because Minnesota's modification threshold is a specific dollar-and-percentage combination, run the numbers before assuming a change qualifies, and if it doesn't quite meet the threshold, the guaranteed three-year review is still available as a separate path. For the custody and parenting-time rules that intersect with these calculations, see the Minnesota custody guide.

Official Minnesota resources

FAQ

Questions, answered

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Family law varies by individual circumstances and may change over time. Consult a qualified attorney or appropriate official resource for advice about your situation.