Minnesota Child Support Calculator – Accurate & Easy to Use

What Is the Minnesota Child Support Calculator?

The Minnesota Child Support Calculator is an online tool designed to estimate child support payments under the Minnesota Child Support Guidelines.

It uses key financial and parenting factors — such as both parents’ incomes, number of children, and parenting time — to estimate a monthly payment.

While the calculator offers a reliable estimate, it’s not a legal ruling. The final child support order is always determined by the court, which can adjust amounts based on specific family circumstances.

Why This Calculator Matters

Child support ensures both parents share the financial responsibility of raising their children. The calculator helps you:

• Get a realistic idea of what your payment might be.
• Prepare for court discussions or mediation.
• Plan your monthly budget with more confidence.
• Understand how different factors — like income or custody time — affect support payments.

In short, it gives you a data-driven, transparent starting point.

How the Minnesota Child Support Calculator Works

The calculator follows Minnesota’s “Income Shares Model.” This model assumes both parents should contribute to child support based on their share of the combined income.

Here’s how it works, step by step:

1. Enter Both Parents’ Gross Monthly Incomes

You’ll start by entering the gross income (before taxes and deductions) for each parent.
These are labeled as:

• Parent A Gross Income (PICS)
• Parent B Gross Income (PICS)

The calculator adds these together to get the combined parental income — the foundation for all further calculations.

2. Enter Number of Children

You’ll select how many children the support covers (from 1 to 6).
The number of children directly affects the base support obligation — more children mean a higher overall cost of raising them.

3. Input Parenting Time (Overnights)

Parenting time is measured in annual overnights spent with each parent.

• Parent B’s overnights are entered manually (for example, 100).
• Parent A’s overnights are automatically calculated as the remainder out of 365.

This affects how much support each parent pays or receives — the more time a parent spends with the children, the lower their payment responsibility may be.

4. Add Child-Related Expenses

The calculator also includes:

• Children’s Medical/Dental Insurance Costs
• Work-Related Child Care Costs

These are monthly amounts that are shared between parents according to income proportion.

5. Calculate the Result

Once all information is entered, click “Calculate.”

The calculator:

• Determines the base support from Minnesota’s official child support schedule.
• Adds medical and child care costs.
• Divides the total obligation based on each parent’s income share percentage.
• Adjusts the result based on parenting time.

Finally, it shows:

“Payment from Parent A to Parent B”
or
“Payment from Parent B to Parent A”

along with the estimated monthly payment amount.

Example Calculation (Simplified)

Imagine:

• Parent A earns $5,000/month
• Parent B earns $3,000/month
• They have 2 children
• Parent B has 100 overnights per year

The calculator uses the guideline table to estimate the base child support, applies proportional income shares, and adjusts based on time spent with the children.

In this example, the final transfer might be something like Parent A pays Parent B $700/month — though the exact figure depends on the official Minnesota guideline schedule.

Resetting or Adjusting Your Estimate

You can reset the calculator anytime using the “Reset” button.
This clears all inputs and allows you to try new scenarios — such as adjusting income, changing the number of children, or modifying parenting time.

This flexibility helps parents see how changes in income or custody might affect child support.

Important Disclaimer

The Minnesota Child Support Calculator gives you a helpful estimate, but it’s not a substitute for legal advice.
Actual child support orders can differ based on:

• Special expenses (education, health needs)
• Court discretion
• Parenting agreements
• Additional income sources or deductions

If you’re going through a separation, divorce, or custody process, it’s always smart to consult a family law attorney or Minnesota child support officer for personalized guidance.

Key Takeaways

• The calculator is based on Minnesota’s Income Shares Model.
• It considers both parents’ incomes, number of children, parenting time, and child-related expenses.
• Results show who pays whom and how much each month.
• It’s a tool for planning and understanding, not an official court decision.