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CHAPTER 518A. CHILD SUPPORT

Table of Sections
Section Headnote
518A.01 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.02 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.03 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.04 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.05 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.06 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.07 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.08 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.09 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.10 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.11 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.12 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.13 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.14 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.15 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.16 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.17 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.18 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.19 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.20 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.21 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.22 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.23 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.24 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.25 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
DEFINITIONS
518A.26 DEFINITIONS.
COMPUTATION OF BASIC SUPPORT
518A.27 MAINTENANCE OR SUPPORT MONEY.
518A.28 PROVIDING INCOME INFORMATION.
518A.29 CALCULATION OF GROSS INCOME.
518A.30 INCOME FROM SELF-EMPLOYMENT OR OPERATION OF A BUSINESS.
518A.31 SOCIAL SECURITY OR VETERANS' BENEFIT PAYMENTS RECEIVED ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD.
518A.32 POTENTIAL INCOME.
518A.33 DEDUCTION FROM INCOME FOR NONJOINT CHILDREN.
518A.34 COMPUTATION OF CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS.
518A.35 GUIDELINE USED IN CHILD SUPPORT DETERMINATIONS.
518A.36 PARENTING EXPENSE ADJUSTMENT.
518A.37 WRITTEN FINDINGS.
518A.38 MINOR CHILDREN; SUPPORT.
518A.39 MODIFICATION OF ORDERS OR DECREES.
CHILD CARE SUPPORT
518A.40 CHILD CARE SUPPORT.
MEDICAL SUPPORT
518A.41 MEDICAL SUPPORT.
ABILITY TO PAY AND SELF-SUPPORT RESERVE
518A.42 ABILITY TO PAY; SELF-SUPPORT ADJUSTMENT.
DEVIATION FACTORS
518A.43 DEVIATIONS FROM CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES.
PUBLIC AUTHORITY
518A.44 NOTICE TO PUBLIC AUTHORITY.
518A.45 FAILURE OF NOTICE.
518A.46 PROCEDURES FOR CHILD AND MEDICAL SUPPORT ORDERS AND PARENTAGE ORDERS IN THE EXPEDITED PROCESS.
518A.47 PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES BY THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY.
518A.48 SUFFICIENCY OF NOTICE.
518A.49 ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS; JUDGMENT.
518A.50 PAYMENT TO PUBLIC AGENCY.
518A.51 FEES FOR IV-D SERVICES.
518A.52 OVERPAYMENTS.
PAYMENT AND COLLECTIONS
518A.53 INCOME WITHHOLDING.
518A.54 CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT CENTER; DEFINITIONS.
518A.55 CENTRAL COLLECTIONS UNIT.
518A.56 MANDATORY PAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS TO CENTRAL COLLECTIONS UNIT.
518A.57 NOTICE OF ORDER.
518A.58 ESCROW ACCOUNT; CHILD SUPPORT; MAINTENANCE OBLIGATION.
518A.59 MS 2022 [Repealed, 2023 c 70 art 14 s 43]
518A.60 COLLECTION; ARREARS ONLY.
518A.61 COLLECTION; REVENUE RECAPTURE.
518A.62 CHILD SUPPORT DEBT AND ARREARAGE MANAGEMENT.
518A.63 TRUSTEE.
ENFORCEMENT
518A.64 ADMINISTRATIVE SEEK EMPLOYMENT ORDERS.
518A.65 DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION.
518A.66 OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE SUSPENSION.
518A.67 MOTOR VEHICLE LIEN.
518A.68 RECREATIONAL LICENSE SUSPENSION.
518A.685 CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY; REPORTING ARREARS.
518A.69 PAYMENT AGREEMENTS.
518A.70 DATA ON SUSPENSIONS FOR SUPPORT ARREARS.
518A.71 SECURITY; SEQUESTRATION; CONTEMPT.
518A.72 CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS FOR NONPAYMENT OF SUPPORT.
518A.73 EMPLOYER CONTEMPT.
518A.735 ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT.
518A.74 PUBLICATION OF NAMES OF DELINQUENT CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGORS.
518A.75 COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS IN MAINTENANCE OR CHILD SUPPORT ORDER.
ADMINISTRATION
518A.76 CASE REVIEWER.
518A.77 GUIDELINES REVIEW.
518A.78 WORKSHEET.
518A.79 MS 2018 [Expired, 2016 c 189 art 15 s 22]
518A.80 MOTION TO TRANSFER TO TRIBAL COURT.
518A.01 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.02 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.03 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.04 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.05 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.06 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.07 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.08 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.09 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.10 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.11 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.12 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.13 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.14 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.15 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.16 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.17 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.18 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.19 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.20 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.21 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.22 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.23 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.24 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]
518A.25 [Repealed, 1999 c 74 art 3 s 18]

DEFINITIONS

518A.26 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Scope.

For the purposes of this chapter and chapter 518, the terms defined in this section shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them.

Subd. 2.Apportioned veterans' benefits.

"Apportioned veterans' benefits" means the amount the Veterans Administration deducts from the veteran's award and disburses to the child or the child's representative payee. The apportionment of veterans' benefits shall be that determined by the Veterans Administration and governed by Code of Federal Regulations, title 38, sections 3.450 to 3.458.

Subd. 3.Arrears.

Arrears are amounts that accrue pursuant to an obligor's failure to comply with a support order. Past support and pregnancy and confinement expenses contained in a support order are arrears if the court order does not contain repayment terms. Arrears also arise by the obligor's failure to comply with the terms of a court order for repayment of past support or pregnancy and confinement expenses. An obligor's failure to comply with the terms for repayment of amounts owed for past support or pregnancy and confinement turns the entire amount owed into arrears.

Subd. 4.Basic support.

"Basic support" means the basic support obligation computed under section 518A.34. Basic support includes the dollar amount ordered for a child's housing, food, clothing, transportation, and education costs, and other expenses relating to the child's care. Basic support does not include monetary contributions for a child's child care expenses and medical and dental expenses.

Subd. 5.Child.

"Child" means an individual under 18 years of age, an individual under age 20 who is still attending secondary school, or an individual who, by reason of physical or mental condition, is incapable of self-support.

Subd. 6.Deposit account.

"Deposit account" means funds deposited with a financial institution in the form of a savings account, checking account, NOW account, or demand deposit account.

Subd. 7.Financial institution.

"Financial institution" means a savings association, bank, trust company, credit union, industrial loan and thrift company, bank and trust company, or savings association, and includes a branch or detached facility of a financial institution.

Subd. 8.Gross income.

"Gross income" means the gross income of the parent calculated under section 518A.29.

Subd. 9.Income withholding only services.

"Income withholding only services" means the services provided by the public authority to collect payments pursuant to a support order but does not include other enforcement services provided by the public authority for IV-D cases. Notices required for income withholding under this section shall be initiated by the applicant for services. An obligation for spousal maintenance under subdivision 21, paragraph (a), clause (3), is only eligible for income withholding only services.

Subd. 10.IV-D case.

"IV-D case" means a case where a party has assigned to the state rights to child support because of the receipt of public assistance as defined in section 256.741 or has applied for child support services under title IV-D of the Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, section 654(4). An obligation for spousal maintenance under subdivision 21, paragraph (a), clause (3), is not an IV-D case.

Subd. 11.Joint child.

"Joint child" means the dependent child who is the child of both parents in the support proceeding. In cases where support is sought from only one parent of a child, a joint child is the child for whom support is sought.

Subd. 12.Nonjoint child.

"Nonjoint child" means the legal child of one, but not both of the parents in the support proceeding. Nonjoint child does not include stepchildren.

Subd. 13.Obligee.

"Obligee" means a person to whom payments for maintenance or support are owed.

Subd. 14.Obligor.

"Obligor" means a person obligated to pay maintenance or support. For purposes of ordering medical support under section 518A.41, a parent who has primary physical custody of a child may be an obligor subject to a payment agreement under section 518A.69. If a parent has more than 55 percent court-ordered parenting time, there is a rebuttable presumption that the parent has a zero dollar basic support obligation. A party seeking to overcome this presumption must show, and the court must consider, the following:

(1) a significant income disparity, which may include potential income determined under section 518A.32;

(2) the benefit and detriment to the child and the ability of each parent to meet the needs of the child; and

(3) whether the application of the presumption would have an unjust or inappropriate result.

The presumption of a zero dollar basic support obligation does not eliminate a parent's obligation to pay child support arrears under section 518A.60. The presumption of a zero dollar basic support obligation does not apply to an action under section 256.87, subdivision 1 or 1a.

Subd. 15.Parental income for determining child support (PICS).

"Parental income for determining child support," or "PICS," means gross income minus deductions for nonjoint children allowed under section 518A.33.

Subd. 16.Payor of funds.

"Payor of funds" means a person or entity that provides funds to an obligor, including an employer as defined under chapter 24, section 3401(d), of the Internal Revenue Code, an independent contractor, payor of workers' compensation benefits or unemployment insurance benefits, or a financial institution as defined in section 13B.06.

Subd. 17.Primary physical custody.

The parent having "primary physical custody" means the parent who provides the primary residence for a child and is responsible for the majority of the day-to-day decisions concerning a child.

Subd. 18.Public authority.

"Public authority" means the local unit of government, acting on behalf of the state, that is responsible for child support enforcement or the Department of Human Services, Child Support Enforcement Division.

Subd. 19.Social Security benefits.

"Social Security benefits" means the monthly retirement, survivors, or disability insurance benefits that the Social Security Administration provides to a parent for that parent's own benefit or for the benefit of a joint child. Social Security benefits do not include Supplemental Security Income benefits that the Social Security Administration provides to a parent for the parent's own benefit or to a parent due to the disability of a child.

Subd. 20.Support money; child support.

"Support money" or "child support" means an amount for basic support, child care support, and medical support pursuant to:

(1) an award in a dissolution, legal separation, annulment, or parentage proceeding for the care, support and education of any child of the marriage or of the parties to the proceeding;

(2) a contribution by parents ordered under section 256.87; or

(3) support ordered under chapter 518B or 518C.

Subd. 21.Support order.

(a) "Support order" means a judgment, decree, or order, whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, issued by a court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction:

(1) for the support and maintenance of a child, including a child who has attained the age of majority under the law of the issuing state;

(2) for a child and the parent with whom the child is living, that provides for monetary support, child care, medical support including expenses for confinement and pregnancy, arrearages, or reimbursement; or

(3) for the maintenance of a spouse or former spouse.

(b) The support order may include related costs and fees, interest and penalties, income withholding, and other relief. This definition applies to orders issued under this chapter and chapters 256, 257, 518, and 518C.

Subd. 22.Survivors' and dependents' educational assistance.

"Survivors' and dependents' educational assistance" are funds disbursed by the Veterans Administration under United States Code, title 38, chapter 35, to the child or the child's representative payee.

COMPUTATION OF BASIC SUPPORT

518A.27 MAINTENANCE OR SUPPORT MONEY.

Subdivision 1.Contents of order.

Every award of maintenance or support money in a judgment of dissolution or legal separation shall clearly designate whether the same is maintenance or support money, or what part of the award is maintenance and what part is support money. An award of payments from future income or earnings of the parent with whom the child resides is presumed to be maintenance and an award of payments from the future income or earnings of the parent with whom the child does not reside is presumed to be support money, unless otherwise designated by the court. In a judgment of dissolution or legal separation the court may determine, as one of the issues of the case, whether or not either spouse is entitled to an award of maintenance notwithstanding that no award is then made, or it may reserve jurisdiction of the issue of maintenance for determination at a later date.

Subd. 2.Notice of address or residence change.

Every obligor shall notify the obligee and the public authority responsible for collection, if applicable, of a change of address or residence within 60 days of the address or residence change. Every order for support or maintenance must contain a conspicuous notice complying with section 518.68, subdivision 2. The court may waive or modify the requirements of this subdivision by order if necessary to protect the obligor from contact by the obligee.

Subd. 3.Determination of controlling order.

The public authority or a party may request the district court to determine a controlling order in situations in which more than one order involving the same obligor and child exists. The court shall presume that the latest order that involves the same obligor and joint child is controlling, subject to contrary proof.

518A.28 PROVIDING INCOME INFORMATION.

(a) In any case where the parties have joint children for which a child support order must be determined, the parties shall serve and file with their initial pleadings or motion documents, a financial affidavit, disclosing all sources of gross income for purposes of section 518A.29. The financial affidavit shall include relevant supporting documentation necessary to calculate the parental income for child support under section 518A.26, subdivision 15, including, but not limited to, pay stubs for the most recent three months, employer statements, or statements of receipts and expenses if self-employed. Documentation of earnings and income also include relevant copies of each parent's most recent federal tax returns, including W-2 forms, 1099 forms, unemployment benefit statements, workers' compensation statements, and all other documents evidencing earnings or income as received that provide verification for the financial affidavit. The state court administrator shall prepare a financial affidavit form that may be used by the parties for disclosing information under this section. The parties may provide the information required under this section in a substantially similar affidavit form.

(b) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (a), at any time after an action seeking child support has been commenced or when a child support order is in effect, a party or the public authority may require the other party to give them a copy of:

(1) the party's complete federal tax returns for the preceding year that were filed with the Internal Revenue Service; or

(2) if the party's federal tax returns have not been filed for that year, one or more of the following:

(i) the party's 1099 form;

(ii) the party's W-2 form; or

(iii) the party's K-1 form.

The party shall provide a copy of the tax returns or forms within 30 days of receipt of the request unless the request is not made in good faith. A request under this paragraph may not be made more than once every two years, in the absence of good cause.

(c) If a parent under the jurisdiction of the court does not serve and file the financial affidavit with the parent's initial pleading or motion documents, the court shall set income for that parent based on credible evidence before the court or in accordance with section 518A.32. Credible evidence may include documentation of current or recent income, testimony of the other parent concerning recent earnings and income levels, and the parent's wage reports filed with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development under section 268.044. The court may consider credible evidence from one party that the financial affidavit submitted by the other party is false or inaccurate.

(d) If the court determines that a party does not have access to documents that are required to be disclosed under this section, the court may consider the testimony of that party as credible evidence of that party's income.

(e) If the court finds that a party has violated a court order or statute requiring the party to disclose income or employment information and any changes to that information, the court may issue an order requiring compensation and cost and reasonable attorney fees to the party who was wrongfully deprived of the information, but in no event later than three years from the date the information should have been provided. A party who brings a meritless motion for such relief may be ordered to pay costs and reasonable attorney fees to the other party.

518A.29 CALCULATION OF GROSS INCOME.

(a) Subject to the exclusions and deductions in this section, gross income includes any form of periodic payment to an individual, including, but not limited to, salaries, wages, commissions, self-employment income under section 518A.30, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, annuity payments, military and naval retirement, pension and disability payments, spousal maintenance received under a previous order or the current proceeding, Social Security or veterans benefits provided for a joint child under section 518A.31, and potential income under section 518A.32. Salaries, wages, commissions, or other compensation paid by third parties shall be based upon gross income before participation in an employer-sponsored benefit plan that allows an employee to pay for a benefit or expense using pretax dollars, such as flexible spending plans and health savings accounts. No deductions shall be allowed for contributions to pensions, 401-K, IRA, or other retirement benefits.

(b) Gross income does not include compensation received by a party for employment in excess of a 40-hour work week, provided that:

(1) child support is ordered in an amount at least equal to the guideline amount based on gross income not excluded under this clause; and

(2) the party demonstrates, and the court finds, that:

(i) the excess employment began after the filing of the petition for dissolution or legal separation or a petition related to custody, parenting time, or support;

(ii) the excess employment reflects an increase in the work schedule or hours worked over that of the two years immediately preceding the filing of the petition;

(iii) the excess employment is voluntary and not a condition of employment;

(iv) the excess employment is in the nature of additional, part-time or overtime employment compensable by the hour or fraction of an hour; and

(v) the party's compensation structure has not been changed for the purpose of affecting a support or maintenance obligation.

(c) Expense reimbursements or in-kind payments received by a parent in the course of employment, self-employment, or operation of a business shall be counted as income if they reduce personal living expenses.

(d) Gross income may be calculated on either an annual or monthly basis. Weekly income shall be translated to monthly income by multiplying the weekly income by 4.33.

(e) Gross income does not include a child support payment received by a party. It is a rebuttable presumption that adoption assistance payments, Northstar kinship assistance payments, and foster care subsidies are not gross income.

(f) Gross income does not include the income of the obligor's spouse and the obligee's spouse.

(g) Spousal maintenance payments ordered by a court for a former spouse or ordered payable to the other party as part of the current proceeding are deducted from other periodic payments received by a party for purposes of determining gross income.

(h) Gross income does not include public assistance benefits received under section 256.741 or other forms of public assistance based on need.

518A.30 INCOME FROM SELF-EMPLOYMENT OR OPERATION OF A BUSINESS.

For purposes of section 518A.29, income from self-employment or operation of a business, including joint ownership of a partnership or closely held corporation, is defined as gross receipts minus costs of goods sold minus ordinary and necessary expenses required for self-employment or business operation. Specifically excluded from ordinary and necessary expenses are amounts allowable by the Internal Revenue Service for the accelerated component of depreciation expenses, investment tax credits, or any other business expenses determined by the court to be inappropriate or excessive for determining gross income for purposes of calculating child support. The person seeking to deduct an expense, including depreciation, has the burden of proving, if challenged, that the expense is ordinary and necessary.

518A.31 SOCIAL SECURITY OR VETERANS' BENEFIT PAYMENTS RECEIVED ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD.

(a) The amount of the monthly Social Security benefits or apportioned veterans' benefits provided for a joint child shall be included in the gross income of the parent on whose eligibility the benefits are based.

(b) The amount of the monthly survivors' and dependents' educational assistance provided for a joint child shall be included in the gross income of the parent on whose eligibility the benefits are based.

(c) If Social Security or apportioned veterans' benefits are provided for a joint child based on the eligibility of the obligor, and are received by the obligee as a representative payee for the child or by the child attending school, then the amount of the benefits shall also be subtracted from the obligor's net child support obligation as calculated pursuant to section 518A.34.

(d) If the survivors' and dependents' educational assistance is provided for a joint child based on the eligibility of the obligor, and is received by the obligee as a representative payee for the child or by the child attending school, then the amount of the assistance shall also be subtracted from the obligor's net child support obligation as calculated under section 518A.34.

(e) Upon a motion to modify child support, any regular or lump sum payment of Social Security or apportioned veterans' benefit received by the obligee for the benefit of the joint child based upon the obligor's disability prior to filing the motion to modify may be used to satisfy arrears that remain due for the period of time for which the benefit was received. This paragraph applies only if the derivative benefit was not considered in the guidelines calculation of the previous child support order.

NOTE: The amendment to this section by Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, section 27, is effective January 1, 2025. Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, section 27, the effective date.

518A.32 POTENTIAL INCOME.

Subdivision 1.General.

This section applies to child support orders, including orders for past support or reimbursement of public assistance, issued under this chapter, chapter 256, 257, 518B, or 518C. If a parent is voluntarily unemployed, underemployed, or employed on a less than full-time basis, or there is no direct evidence of any income, child support must be calculated based on a determination of potential income. For purposes of this determination, it is rebuttably presumed that a parent can be gainfully employed on a full-time basis. As used in this section, "full time" means 40 hours of work in a week except in those industries, trades, or professions in which most employers, due to custom, practice, or agreement, use a normal work week of more or less than 40 hours in a week.

Subd. 2.Methods.

Determination of potential income must be made according to one of three methods, as appropriate:

(1) the parent's probable earnings level based on employment potential, recent work history, and occupational qualifications in light of prevailing job opportunities and earnings levels in the community;

(2) if a parent is receiving unemployment compensation or workers' compensation, that parent's income may be calculated using the actual amount of the unemployment compensation or workers' compensation benefit received; or

(3) the amount of income a parent could earn working 30 hours per week at 100 percent of the current federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher.

Subd. 3.Parent not considered voluntarily unemployed, underemployed, or employed on a less than full-time basis.

A parent is not considered voluntarily unemployed, underemployed, or employed on a less than full-time basis upon a showing by the parent that:

(1) the unemployment, underemployment, or employment on a less than full-time basis is temporary and will ultimately lead to an increase in income;

(2) the unemployment, underemployment, or employment on a less than full-time basis represents a bona fide career change that outweighs the adverse effect of that parent's diminished income on the child;

(3) the unemployment, underemployment, or employment on a less than full-time basis is because a parent is physically or mentally incapacitated or due to incarceration; or

(4) a governmental agency authorized to determine eligibility for general assistance or supplemental Social Security income has determined that the individual is eligible to receive general assistance or supplemental Social Security income. Actual income earned by the parent may be considered for the purpose of calculating child support.

[See Note.]

Subd. 4.TANF or MFIP recipient.

If the parent of a joint child is a recipient of a temporary assistance to a needy family (TANF) cash grant or comparable state-funded Minnesota family investment program (MFIP) benefits, no potential income is to be imputed to that parent.

[See Note.]

Subd. 5.Caretaker.

If a parent stays at home to care for a child who is subject to the child support order, the court may consider the following factors when determining whether the parent is voluntarily unemployed, underemployed, or employed on a less than full-time basis:

(1) the parties' parenting and child care arrangements before the child support action;

(2) the stay-at-home parent's employment history, recency of employment, earnings, and the availability of jobs within the community for an individual with the parent's qualifications;

(3) the relationship between the employment-related expenses, including, but not limited to, child care and transportation costs required for the parent to be employed, and the income the stay-at-home parent could receive from available jobs within the community for an individual with the parent's qualifications;

(4) the child's age and health, including whether the child is physically or mentally disabled; and

(5) the availability of child care providers.

This subdivision does not apply if the parent stays at home only to care for other nonjoint children.

Subd. 6.Economic conditions.

A self-employed parent is not considered to be voluntarily unemployed, underemployed, or employed on a less than full-time basis if that parent can show that the parent's net self-employment income is lower because of economic conditions that are directly related to the source or sources of that parent's income.

NOTE: The amendments to subdivisions 3 and 4 by Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, sections 28 and 29, are effective January 1, 2025. Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, sections 28 and 29, the effective dates.

518A.33 DEDUCTION FROM INCOME FOR NONJOINT CHILDREN.

(a) When either or both parents are legally responsible for a nonjoint child, a deduction for this obligation shall be calculated under this section.

(b) Court-ordered child support for a nonjoint child shall be deducted from the payor's gross income.

(c) When a parent is legally responsible for a nonjoint child and the parent is not obligated to pay basic child support for the nonjoint child to the other parent or a legal custodian under an existing child support order, a deduction shall be calculated. The court shall use the basic support guideline table under section 518A.35 to determine this deduction by using the gross income of the parent for whom the deduction is being calculated, minus any deduction under paragraph (b) and the number of eligible nonjoint children, up to six children. The deduction for nonjoint children is 75 percent of the guideline amount determined under this paragraph.

518A.34 COMPUTATION OF CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS.

(a) To determine the presumptive child support obligation of a parent, the court shall follow the procedure set forth in this section.

(b) To determine the obligor's basic support obligation, the court shall:

(1) determine the gross income of each parent under section 518A.29;

(2) calculate the parental income for determining child support (PICS) of each parent, by subtracting from the gross income the credit, if any, for each parent's nonjoint children under section 518A.33;

(3) determine the percentage contribution of each parent to the combined PICS by dividing the combined PICS into each parent's PICS;

(4) determine the combined basic support obligation by application of the guidelines in section 518A.35;

(5) determine each parent's share of the combined basic support obligation by multiplying the percentage figure from clause (3) by the combined basic support obligation in clause (4); and

(6) apply the parenting expense adjustment formula provided in section 518A.36 to determine the obligor's basic support obligation.

(c) If the parents have split custody of joint children, child support must be calculated for each joint child as follows:

(1) the court shall determine each parent's basic support obligation under paragraph (b) and include the amount of each parent's obligation in the court order. If the basic support calculation results in each parent owing support to the other, the court shall offset the higher basic support obligation with the lower basic support obligation to determine the amount to be paid by the parent with the higher obligation to the parent with the lower obligation. For the purpose of the cost-of-living adjustment required under section 518A.75, the adjustment must be based on each parent's basic support obligation prior to offset. For the purposes of this paragraph, "split custody" means that there are two or more joint children and each parent has at least one joint child more than 50 percent of the time;

(2) if each parent pays all child care expenses for at least one joint child, the court shall calculate child care support for each joint child as provided in section 518A.40. The court shall determine each parent's child care support obligation and include the amount of each parent's obligation in the court order. If the child care support calculation results in each parent owing support to the other, the court shall offset the higher child care support obligation with the lower child care support obligation to determine the amount to be paid by the parent with the higher obligation to the parent with the lower obligation; and

(3) if each parent pays all medical or dental insurance expenses for at least one joint child, medical support shall be calculated for each joint child as provided in section 518A.41. The court shall determine each parent's medical support obligation and include the amount of each parent's obligation in the court order. If the medical support calculation results in each parent owing support to the other, the court shall offset the higher medical support obligation with the lower medical support obligation to determine the amount to be paid by the parent with the higher obligation to the parent with the lower obligation. Unreimbursed and uninsured medical expenses are not included in the presumptive amount of support owed by a parent and are calculated and collected as provided in section 518A.41.

(d) The court shall determine the child care support obligation for the obligor as provided in section 518A.40.

(e) The court shall determine the medical support obligation for each parent as provided in section 518A.41. Unreimbursed and uninsured medical expenses are not included in the presumptive amount of support owed by a parent and are calculated and collected as described in section 518A.41.

(f) The court shall determine each parent's total child support obligation by adding together each parent's basic support, child care support, and health care coverage obligations as provided in this section.

(g) If Social Security benefits or veterans' benefits are received by one parent as a representative payee for a joint child based on the other parent's eligibility, the court shall subtract the amount of benefits from the other parent's net child support obligation, if any. Any benefit received by the obligee for the benefit of the joint child based upon the obligor's disability or past earnings in any given month in excess of the child support obligation must not be treated as an arrearage payment or a future payment.

(h) The final child support order shall separately designate the amount owed for basic support, child care support, and medical support. If applicable, the court shall use the self-support adjustment and minimum support adjustment under section 518A.42 to determine the obligor's child support obligation.

NOTE: The amendment to this section by Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, section 30, is effective January 1, 2025. Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, section 30, the effective date.

518A.35 GUIDELINE USED IN CHILD SUPPORT DETERMINATIONS.

Subdivision 1.Determination of support obligation.

(a) The guideline in this section is a rebuttable presumption and shall be used in any judicial or administrative proceeding to establish or modify a support obligation under this chapter.

(b) The basic child support obligation shall be determined by referencing the guideline for the appropriate number of joint children and the combined parental income for determining child support of the parents.

(c) If a child is not in the custody of either parent and a support order is sought against one or both parents, the basic child support obligation shall be determined by referencing the guideline for the appropriate number of joint children, and the parent's individual parental income for determining child support, not the combined parental incomes for determining child support of the parents. Unless a parent has court-ordered parenting time, the parenting expense adjustment formula under section 518A.34 must not be applied.

(d) If a child is not residing with the parent that has court-ordered or statutory custody and a support order is sought under section 256.87 against one or both parents, the basic support obligation must be determined by referencing the guideline for the appropriate number of joint children and the parent's individual income without application of the parenting expense adjustment formula under section 518A.34.

(e) For combined parental incomes for determining child support exceeding $20,000 per month, the presumed basic child support obligations shall be as for parents with combined parental income for determining child support of $20,000 per month. A basic child support obligation in excess of this level may be demonstrated for those reasons set forth in section 518A.43.

Subd. 2.Basic support; guideline.

Unless otherwise agreed to by the parents and approved by the court, when establishing basic support, the court must order that basic support be divided between the parents based on their proportionate share of the parents' combined monthly parental income for determining child support (PICS). Basic support must be computed using the following guideline:

Combined Parental Number of Children
Income for Determining Child Support One Two Three Four Five Six
$0- $1,399 $50 $60 $70 $80 $90 $100
1,400- 1,499 60 75 85 100 110 120
1,500- 1,599 75 90 105 125 135 145
1,600- 1,699 90 110 130 150 160 170
1,700- 1,799 110 130 155 175 185 195
1,800- 1,899 130 150 180 200 210 220
1,900- 1,999 150 175 205 235 245 255
2,000- 2,099 170 200 235 270 285 295
2,100- 2,199 190 225 265 305 325 335
2,200- 2,299 215 255 300 345 367 379
2,300- 2,399 240 285 335 385 409 423
2,400- 2,499 265 315 370 425 451 467
2,500- 2,599 290 350 408 465 493 511
2,600- 2,699 315 385 446 505 535 555
2,700- 2,799 340 420 484 545 577 599
2,800- 2,899 365 455 522 585 619 643
2,900- 2,999 390 490 560 625 661 687
3,000- 3,099 415 525 598 665 703 731
3,100- 3,199 440 560 636 705 745 775
3,200- 3,299 465 595 674 745 787 819
3,300- 3,399 485 630 712 785 829 863
3,400- 3,499 505 665 750 825 871 907
3,500- 3,599 525 695 784 861 910 948
3,600- 3,699 545 725 818 897 949 989
3,700- 3,799 565 755 852 933 988 1,030
3,800- 3,899 585 785 886 969 1,027 1,071
3,900- 3,999 605 815 920 1,005 1,065 1,111
4,000- 4,099 625 845 954 1,041 1,103 1,151
4,100- 4,199 645 875 988 1,077 1,142 1,191
4,200- 4,299 665 905 1,022 1,113 1,180 1,230
4,300- 4,399 685 935 1,056 1,149 1,218 1,269
4,400- 4,499 705 965 1,090 1,185 1,256 1,308
4,500- 4,599 724 993 1,122 1,219 1,292 1,345
4,600- 4,699 743 1,021 1,154 1,253 1,328 1,382
4,700- 4,799 762 1,049 1,186 1,287 1,364 1,419
4,800- 4,899 781 1,077 1,218 1,321 1,400 1,456
4,900- 4,999 800 1,105 1,250 1,354 1,435 1,493
5,000- 5,099 818 1,132 1,281 1,387 1,470 1,529
5,100- 5,199 835 1,159 1,312 1,420 1,505 1,565
5,200- 5,299 852 1,186 1,343 1,453 1,540 1,601
5,300- 5,399 869 1,213 1,374 1,486 1,575 1,638
5,400- 5,499 886 1,240 1,405 1,519 1,610 1,674
5,500- 5,599 903 1,264 1,434 1,550 1,643 1,708
5,600- 5,699 920 1,288 1,463 1,581 1,676 1,743
5,700- 5,799 937 1,312 1,492 1,612 1,709 1,777
5,800- 5,899 954 1,336 1,521 1,643 1,742 1,811
5,900- 5,999 971 1,360 1,550 1,674 1,775 1,846
6,000- 6,099 988 1,383 1,577 1,703 1,805 1,877
6,100- 6,199 993 1,391 1,586 1,713 1,815 1,887
6,200- 6,299 999 1,399 1,594 1,722 1,825 1,898
6,300- 6,399 1,005 1,406 1,603 1,732 1,836 1,909
6,400- 6,499 1,010 1,414 1,612 1,741 1,846 1,920
6,500- 6,599 1,016 1,422 1,621 1,751 1,856 1,931
6,600- 6,699 1,021 1,430 1,630 1,761 1,866 1,941
6,700- 6,799 1,027 1,438 1,639 1,770 1,876 1,951
6,800- 6,899 1,032 1,445 1,648 1,780 1,887 1,962
6,900- 6,999 1,038 1,453 1,657 1,790 1,897 1,973
7,000- 7,099 1,044 1,462 1,666 1,800 1,908 1,984
7,100- 7,199 1,050 1,470 1,676 1,810 1,918 1,995
7,200- 7,299 1,056 1,479 1,686 1,821 1,930 2,007
7,300- 7,399 1,063 1,488 1,696 1,832 1,942 2,019
7,400- 7,499 1,069 1,496 1,706 1,843 1,953 2,032
7,500- 7,599 1,075 1,505 1,716 1,854 1,965 2,043
7,600- 7,699 1,081 1,514 1,725 1,863 1,975 2,054
7,700- 7,799 1,087 1,522 1,735 1,874 1,986 2,066
7,800- 7,899 1,093 1,531 1,745 1,885 1,998 2,078
7,900- 7,999 1,099 1,540 1,755 1,896 2,009 2,090
8,000- 8,099 1,106 1,548 1,765 1,907 2,021 2,102
8,100- 8,199 1,112 1,557 1,775 1,917 2,032 2,114
8,200- 8,299 1,118 1,566 1,785 1,928 2,044 2,126
8,300 -8,399 1,124 1,574 1,795 1,939 2,055 2,137
8,400- 8,499 1,131 1,583 1,804 1,949 2,066 2,149
8,500- 8,599 1,137 1,592 1,814 1,960 2,078 2,161
8,600- 8,699 1,143 1,600 1,824 1,970 2,089 2,173
8,700- 8,799 1,149 1,609 1,834 1,981 2,100 2,185
8,800- 8,899 1,155 1,618 1,844 1,992 2,112 2,197
8,900- 8,999 1,162 1,626 1,854 2,003 2,124 2,209
9,000- 9,099 1,168 1,635 1,864 2,014 2,135 2,221
9,100- 9,199 1,174 1,644 1,874 2,024 2,146 2,232
9,200- 9,299 1,180 1,652 1,884 2,035 2,158 2,244
9,300- 9,399 1,186 1,661 1,893 2,045 2,168 2,255
9,400- 9,499 1,193 1,670 1,903 2,056 2,179 2,267
9,500- 9,599 1,199 1,678 1,913 2,066 2,190 2,278
9,600- 9,699 1,205 1,687 1,923 2,077 2,202 2,290
9,700- 9,799 1,211 1,696 1,933 2,088 2,214 2,302
9,800- 9,899 1,217 1,704 1,943 2,099 2,225 2,314
9,900- 9,999 1,224 1,713 1,953 2,110 2,237 2,326
10,000-10,099 1,230 1,722 1,963 2,121 2,248 2,338
10,100-10,199 1,236 1,730 1,973 2,131 2,259 2,350
10,200-10,299 1,242 1,739 1,983 2,142 2,270 2,361
10,300-10,399 1,248 1,748 1,992 2,152 2,281 2,373
10,400-10,499 1,254 1,756 2,002 2,163 2,292 2,384
10,500-10,599 1,261 1,765 2,012 2,173 2,304 2,396
10,600-10,699 1,267 1,774 2,022 2,184 2,316 2,409
10,700-10,799 1,273 1,782 2,032 2,195 2,327 2,420
10,800-10,899 1,279 1,791 2,042 2,206 2,338 2,432
10,900-10,999 1,285 1,800 2,052 2,217 2,349 2,444
11,000-11,099 1,292 1,808 2,061 2,226 2,360 2,455
11,100-11,199 1,298 1,817 2,071 2,237 2,372 2,467
11,200-11,299 1,304 1,826 2,081 2,248 2,384 2,479
11,300-11,399 1,310 1,834 2,091 2,259 2,395 2,491
11,400-11,499 1,316 1,843 2,101 2,270 2,406 2,503
11,500-11,599 1,323 1,852 2,111 2,280 2,417 2,514
11,600-11,699 1,329 1,860 2,121 2,291 2,428 2,526
11,700-11,799 1,335 1,869 2,131 2,302 2,439 2,537
11,800-11,899 1,341 1,878 2,141 2,313 2,451 2,549
11,900-11,999 1,347 1,886 2,150 2,323 2,463 2,561
12,000-12,099 1,354 1,895 2,160 2,333 2,474 2,573
12,100-12,199 1,360 1,904 2,170 2,344 2,485 2,585
12,200-12,299 1,366 1,912 2,180 2,355 2,497 2,597
12,300-12,399 1,372 1,921 2,190 2,366 2,509 2,609
12,400-12,499 1,378 1,930 2,200 2,377 2,520 2,621
12,500-12,599 1,385 1,938 2,210 2,387 2,531 2,633
12,600-12,699 1,391 1,947 2,220 2,397 2,542 2,644
12,700-12,799 1,397 1,956 2,230 2,408 2,553 2,656
12,800-12,899 1,403 1,964 2,240 2,419 2,565 2,668
12,900-12,999 1,409 1,973 2,250 2,430 2,576 2,680
13,000-13,099 1,416 1,982 2,259 2,440 2,587 2,691
13,100-13,199 1,422 1,990 2,269 2,451 2,599 2,703
13,200-13,299 1,428 1,999 2,279 2,462 2,610 2,715
13,300-13,399 1,434 2,008 2,289 2,473 2,622 2,727
13,400-13,499 1,440 2,016 2,299 2,484 2,633 2,739
13,500-13,599 1,446 2,025 2,309 2,494 2,644 2,751
13,600-13,699 1,453 2,034 2,318 2,504 2,655 2,762
13,700-13,799 1,459 2,042 2,328 2,515 2,666 2,773
13,800-13,899 1,465 2,051 2,338 2,526 2,677 2,784
13,900-13,999 1,471 2,060 2,348 2,537 2,688 2,795
14,000-14,099 1,477 2,068 2,358 2,547 2,699 2,807
14,100-14,199 1,484 2,077 2,368 2,558 2,711 2,819
14,200-14,299 1,490 2,086 2,378 2,569 2,722 2,831
14,300-14,399 1,496 2,094 2,388 2,580 2,734 2,843
14,400-14,499 1,502 2,103 2,398 2,590 2,746 2,855
14,500-14,599 1,508 2,111 2,407 2,600 2,757 2,867
14,600-14,699 1,515 2,120 2,417 2,611 2,768 2,879
14,700-14,799 1,521 2,129 2,427 2,622 2,780 2,891
14,800-14,899 1,527 2,138 2,437 2,633 2,792 2,903
14,900-14,999 1,533 2,146 2,447 2,643 2,802 2,914
15,000-15,099 1,539 2,155 2,457 2,654 2,813 2,926
15,100-15,199 1,545 2,163 2,466 2,664 2,825 2,937
15,200-15,299 1,551 2,171 2,476 2,675 2,836 2,949
15,300-15,399 1,557 2,180 2,486 2,685 2,847 2,961
15,400-15,499 1,563 2,188 2,495 2,695 2,858 2,973
15,500-15,599 1,569 2,197 2,505 2,706 2,869 2,985
15,600-15,699 1,575 2,205 2,514 2,716 2,880 2,996
15,700-15,799 1,581 2,214 2,524 2,727 2,891 3,008
15,800-15,899 1,587 2,222 2,534 2,737 2,902 3,019
15,900-15,999 1,593 2,230 2,543 2,747 2,913 3,030
16,000-16,099 1,599 2,239 2,553 2,758 2,924 3,042
16,100-16,199 1,605 2,247 2,562 2,768 2,935 3,053
16,200-16,299 1,611 2,256 2,572 2,779 2,946 3,065
16,300-16,399 1,617 2,264 2,582 2,789 2,957 3,076
16,400-16,499 1,623 2,272 2,591 2,799 2,968 3,088
16,500-16,599 1,629 2,281 2,601 2,810 2,979 3,099
16,600-16,699 1,635 2,289 2,610 2,820 2,990 3,110
16,700-16,799 1,641 2,298 2,620 2,830 3,001 3,121
16,800-16,899 1,647 2,306 2,629 2,840 3,011 3,132
16,900-16,999 1,653 2,315 2,639 2,851 3,022 3,143
17,000-17,099 1,659 2,323 2,649 2,861 3,033 3,155
17,100-17,199 1,665 2,331 2,658 2,871 3,044 3,167
17,200-17,299 1,671 2,340 2,668 2,882 3,055 3,178
17,300-17,399 1,677 2,348 2,677 2,892 3,066 3,189
17,400-17,499 1,683 2,357 2,687 2,902 3,077 3,201
17,500-17,599 1,689 2,365 2,696 2,912 3,088 3,212
17,600-17,699 1,695 2,373 2,705 2,922 3,098 3,223
17,700-17,799 1,701 2,382 2,715 2,932 3,109 3,234
17,800-17,899 1,707 2,390 2,724 2,942 3,119 3,245
17,900-17,999 1,713 2,399 2,734 2,953 3,130 3,256
18,000-18,099 1,719 2,407 2,744 2,963 3,141 3,268
18,100-18,199 1,725 2,415 2,753 2,973 3,152 3,279
18,200-18,299 1,731 2,424 2,763 2,984 3,163 3,290
18,300-18,399 1,737 2,432 2,772 2,994 3,174 3,301
18,400-18,499 1,743 2,441 2,782 3,004 3,185 3,313
18,500-18,599 1,749 2,449 2,791 3,014 3,196 3,324
18,600-18,699 1,755 2,457 2,801 3,024 3,206 3,335
18,700-18,799 1,761 2,466 2,811 3,035 3,217 3,346
18,800-18,899 1,767 2,474 2,820 3,045 3,227 3,357
18,900-18,999 1,773 2,483 2,830 3,056 3,238 3,368
19,000-19,099 1,779 2,491 2,840 3,066 3,249 3,380
19,100-19,199 1,785 2,499 2,849 3,076 3,260 3,392
19,200-19,299 1,791 2,508 2,859 3,087 3,271 3,403
19,300-19,399 1,797 2,516 2,868 3,097 3,282 3,414
19,400-19,499 1,803 2,525 2,878 3,107 3,293 3,426
19,500-19,599 1,809 2,533 2,887 3,117 3,304 3,437
19,600-19,699 1,815 2,541 2,896 3,127 3,315 3,448
19,700-19,799 1,821 2,550 2,906 3,138 3,326 3,459
19,800-19,899 1,827 2,558 2,915 3,148 3,337 3,470
19,900-19,999 1,833 2,567 2,925 3,159 3,348 3,481
20,000 and over or the amount in effect under subdivision 4 1,839 2,575 2,935 3,170 3,359 3,492

Subd. 3.Income cap on determining basic support.

(a) The basic support obligation for parents with a combined parental income for determining child support in excess of the income limit under subdivision 2 must be the same dollar amount as provided for the parties with a combined parental income for determining child support equal to the income limit under subdivision 2.

(b) A court may order a basic support obligation in a child support order in an amount that exceeds the income limit in subdivision 2 if it finds that a child has a disability or other substantial, demonstrated need for the additional support for those reasons set forth in section 518A.43 and that the additional support will directly benefit the child.

Subd. 4.More than six children.

If a child support proceeding involves more than six children, the court may derive a support order without specifically following the guidelines. However, the court must consider the basic principles encompassed by the guidelines and must consider both parents' needs, resources, and circumstances.

518A.36 PARENTING EXPENSE ADJUSTMENT.

Subdivision 1.General.

(a) The parenting expense adjustment under this section reflects the presumption that while exercising parenting time, a parent is responsible for and incurs costs of caring for the child, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, transportation, recreation, and household expenses. Every child support order shall specify the percentage of parenting time granted to or presumed for each parent. For purposes of this section, the percentage of parenting time means the percentage of time a child is scheduled to spend with the parent during a calendar year according to a court order averaged over a two-year period. Parenting time includes time with the child whether it is designated as visitation, physical custody, or parenting time. The percentage of parenting time may be determined by calculating the number of overnights or overnight equivalents that a parent spends with a child pursuant to a court order. For purposes of this section, overnight equivalents are calculated by using a method other than overnights if the parent has significant time periods on separate days where the child is in the parent's physical custody and under the direct care of the parent but does not stay overnight. The court may consider the age of the child in determining whether a child is with a parent for a significant period of time.

(b) If there is not a court order awarding parenting time, the court shall determine the child support award without consideration of the parenting expense adjustment. If a parenting time order is subsequently issued or is issued in the same proceeding, then the child support order shall include application of the parenting expense adjustment.

Subd. 2.Calculation of parenting expense adjustment.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:

(1) "parent A" means the parent with whom the child or children will spend the least number of overnights under the court order; and

(2) "parent B" means the parent with whom the child or children will spend the greatest number of overnights under the court order.

(b) The court shall apply the following formula to determine which parent is the obligor and calculate the basic support obligation:

(1) raise to the power of three the approximate number of annual overnights the child or children will likely spend with parent A;

(2) raise to the power of three the approximate number of annual overnights the child or children will likely spend with parent B;

(3) multiply the result of clause (1) times parent B's share of the combined basic support obligation as determined in section 518A.34, paragraph (b), clause (5);

(4) multiply the result of clause (2) times parent A's share of the combined basic support obligation as determined in section 518A.34, paragraph (b), clause (5);

(5) subtract the result of clause (4) from the result of clause (3); and

(6) divide the result of clause (5) by the sum of clauses (1) and (2).

(c) If the result is a negative number, parent A is the obligor, the negative number becomes its positive equivalent, and the result is the basic support obligation. If the result is a positive number, parent B is the obligor and the result is the basic support obligation.

Subd. 3.Calculation of basic support when parenting time is equal.

If the parenting time is equal and the parental incomes for determining child support of the parents also are equal, no basic support shall be paid unless the court determines that the expenses for the child are not equally shared.

518A.37 WRITTEN FINDINGS.

Subdivision 1.No deviation.

If the court does not deviate from the presumptive child support obligation computed under section 518A.34, the court must make written findings that state:

(1) each parent's gross income;

(2) each parent's PICS; and

(3) any other significant evidentiary factors affecting the child support determination.

Subd. 2.Deviation.

If the court deviates from the presumptive child support obligation computed under section 518A.34, the court must make written findings that state:

(1) each parent's gross income;

(2) each parent's PICS;

(3) the amount of the child support obligation computed under section 518A.34;

(4) the reasons for the deviation; and

(5) how the deviation serves the best interests of the child.

Subd. 3.Written findings required in every case.

The provisions of this section apply whether or not the parties are each represented by independent counsel and have entered into a written agreement. The court must review stipulations presented to it for conformity with section 518A.34. The court is not required to conduct a hearing, but the parties must provide sufficient documentation to verify the child support determination and to justify any deviation.

518A.38 MINOR CHILDREN; SUPPORT.

Subdivision 1.Order.

Upon a decree of dissolution, legal separation, or annulment, the court shall make a further order which is just and proper concerning the maintenance of the minor children as provided by this chapter, and for the maintenance of any child of the parties as defined in section 518A.26, as support money. The court may make any child support order a lien or charge upon the property of the obligor, either at the time of the entry of the judgment or by subsequent order upon proper application.

Subd. 2.Seasonal income.

The court shall establish the annual support of an obligor with a seasonal income so that the obligor makes either the same monthly payments throughout the year or monthly payments that reflect variations in income.

Subd. 3.Satisfaction of child support obligation.

The court may conclude that an obligor has satisfied a child support obligation by providing a home, care, and support for the child while the child is living with the obligor, if the court finds that the child was integrated into the family of the obligor with the consent of the obligee and child support payments were not assigned to the public agency under section 256.741.

Subd. 4.Other custodians.

If a child resides with a person other than a parent and the court approves of the custody arrangement, the court may order child support payments to be made to the custodian regardless of whether the person has legal custody.

Subd. 5.Adjustment to support order.

A support order issued under this section may provide that during any period of time of 30 consecutive days or longer that the child is residing with the obligor, the amount of support otherwise due under the order may be reduced.

Subd. 6.Reopening support awards.

Section 518.145, subdivision 2, applies to awards of child support.

Subd. 7.Income tax dependency exemptions.

(a) The court may allocate income tax dependency exemptions for a child and require a party who has the child in the party's physical custody for more than one-half of the calendar year to provide a properly executed declaration that releases the party's claim to the child as a dependent under section 152(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to the other parent.

(b) In determining the allocation under paragraph (a), the court shall consider the following:

(1) the financial resources of each party;

(2) if not awarding the dependency exemption negatively impacts a parent's ability to provide for the needs of the child;

(3) if only one party or both parties would receive a tax benefit from the dependency exemption; and

(4) the impact of the dependent exemption on either party's ability to claim a premium tax credit or a premium subsidy under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148, as amended, including the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-152, and any amendments to, and any federal guidance or regulations issued under, these acts.

(c) The court may place reasonable conditions on a party's right to claim an exemption, including a requirement that the party remains in compliance with a child support obligation.

(d) A party with less than ten percent of court-ordered parenting time shall not be entitled to receive a dependency exemption except by agreement of the parties.

(e) The court may issue an order to modify a prior allocation of an income tax dependency exemption upon a showing of substantial change in the factors under paragraph (b).

(f) If allocation of an exemption is contested, the court must make findings supporting its decision on the allocation.

(g) When a party has claimed an income tax dependency exemption in violation of a court order or applicable law, or has failed or refused to provide a properly executed written declaration that releases the party's claim to a child as a dependent to the other party as required by a court order, the court may issue an order requiring compensation in the amount of the lost benefit and costs and reasonable attorney fees, to the party who was wrongfully deprived of the income tax dependency exemption. A motion for such relief must be brought within a reasonable time, but in no event later than three years from the date of the filing of the return in which the exemption was claimed or could have been claimed. A party who brings a meritless motion for such relief may be ordered to pay costs and reasonable attorney fees to the other party.

518A.39 MODIFICATION OF ORDERS OR DECREES.

Subdivision 1.Authority.

After an order under this chapter or chapter 518 for maintenance or support money, temporary or permanent, or for the appointment of trustees to receive property awarded as maintenance or support money, the court may from time to time, on motion of either of the parties, a copy of which is served on the public authority responsible for child support enforcement if payments are made through it, or on motion of the public authority responsible for support enforcement, modify the order respecting the amount of maintenance or support money or medical support, and the payment of it, and also respecting the appropriation and payment of the principal and income of property held in trust, and may make an order respecting these matters which it might have made in the original proceeding, except as herein otherwise provided. A party or the public authority also may bring a motion for contempt of court if the obligor is in arrears in support or maintenance payments.

Subd. 2.Modification.

(a) The terms of an order respecting maintenance or support may be modified upon a showing of one or more of the following, any of which makes the terms unreasonable and unfair: (1) substantially increased or decreased gross income of an obligor or obligee; (2) substantially increased or decreased need of an obligor or obligee or the child or children that are the subject of these proceedings; (3) receipt of assistance under the AFDC program formerly codified under sections 256.72 to 256.87 or 256B.01 to 256B.39, or chapter 256J or 256K; (4) a change in the cost of living for either party as measured by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics; (5) extraordinary medical expenses of the child not provided for under section 518A.41; (6) a change in the availability of appropriate health care coverage or a substantial increase or decrease in health care coverage costs; (7) the addition of work-related or education-related child care expenses of the obligee or a substantial increase or decrease in existing work-related or education-related child care expenses; or (8) upon the emancipation of the child, as provided in subdivision 5.

(b) It is presumed that there has been a substantial change in circumstances under paragraph (a) and the terms of a current support order shall be rebuttably presumed to be unreasonable and unfair if:

(1) the application of the child support guidelines in section 518A.35, to the current circumstances of the parties results in a calculated court order that is at least 20 percent and at least $75 per month higher or lower than the current support order or, if the current support order is less than $75, it results in a calculated court order that is at least 20 percent per month higher or lower;

(2) the medical support provisions of the order established under section 518A.41 are not enforceable by the public authority or the obligee;

(3) health coverage ordered under section 518A.41 is not available to the child for whom the order is established by the parent ordered to provide;

(4) the existing support obligation is in the form of a statement of percentage and not a specific dollar amount;

(5) the gross income of an obligor or obligee has decreased by at least 20 percent through no fault or choice of the party; or

(6) a deviation was granted based on the factor in section 518A.43, subdivision 1, clause (4), and the child no longer resides in a foreign country or the factor is otherwise no longer applicable.

(c) A child support order is not presumptively modifiable solely because an obligor or obligee becomes responsible for the support of an additional nonjoint child, which is born after an existing order. Section 518A.33 shall be considered if other grounds are alleged which allow a modification of support.

(d) If child support was established by applying a parenting expense adjustment or presumed equal parenting time calculation under previously existing child support guidelines and there is no parenting plan or order from which overnights or overnight equivalents can be determined, there is a rebuttable presumption that the established adjustment or calculation will continue after modification so long as the modification is not based on a change in parenting time. In determining an obligation under previously existing child support guidelines, it is presumed that the court shall:

(1) if a 12 percent parenting expense adjustment was applied, multiply the obligor's share of the combined basic support obligation calculated under section 518A.34, paragraph (b), clause (5), by 0.88; or

(2) if the parenting time was presumed equal but the parents' parental incomes for determining child support were not equal:

(i) multiply the combined basic support obligation under section 518A.34, paragraph (b), clause (5), by 0.75;

(ii) prorate the amount under item (i) between the parents based on each parent's proportionate share of the combined PICS; and

(iii) subtract the lower amount from the higher amount.

(e) On a motion for modification of maintenance, including a motion for the extension of the duration of a maintenance award, the court shall apply, in addition to all other relevant factors, the factors for an award of maintenance under section 518.552 that exist at the time of the motion. On a motion for modification of support, the court:

(1) shall apply section 518A.35, and shall not consider the financial circumstances of each party's spouse, if any; and

(2) shall not consider compensation received by a party for employment in excess of a 40-hour work week, provided that the party demonstrates, and the court finds, that:

(i) the excess employment began after entry of the existing support order;

(ii) the excess employment is voluntary and not a condition of employment;

(iii) the excess employment is in the nature of additional, part-time employment, or overtime employment compensable by the hour or fractions of an hour;

(iv) the party's compensation structure has not been changed for the purpose of affecting a support or maintenance obligation;

(v) in the case of an obligor, current child support payments are at least equal to the guidelines amount based on income not excluded under this clause; and

(vi) in the case of an obligor who is in arrears in child support payments to the obligee, any net income from excess employment must be used to pay the arrearages until the arrearages are paid in full.

(f) A modification of support or maintenance, including interest that accrued pursuant to section 548.091, may be made retroactive only with respect to any period during which the petitioning party has pending a motion for modification but only from the date of service of notice of the motion on the responding party and on the public authority if public assistance is being furnished or the county attorney is the attorney of record, unless the court adopts an alternative effective date under paragraph (l). The court's adoption of an alternative effective date under paragraph (l) shall not be considered a retroactive modification of maintenance or support.

(g) Except for an award of the right of occupancy of the homestead, provided in section 518.63, all divisions of real and personal property provided by section 518.58 shall be final, and may be revoked or modified only where the court finds the existence of conditions that justify reopening a judgment under the laws of this state, including motions under section 518.145, subdivision 2. The court may impose a lien or charge on the divided property at any time while the property, or subsequently acquired property, is owned by the parties or either of them, for the payment of maintenance or support money, or may sequester the property as is provided by section 518A.71.

(h) The court need not hold an evidentiary hearing on a motion for modification of maintenance or support.

(i) Sections 518.14 and 518A.735 shall govern the award of attorney fees for motions brought under this subdivision.

(j) An enactment, amendment, or repeal of law constitutes a substantial change in the circumstances for purposes of modifying a child support order when it meets the standards for modification in this section.

(k) On the first modification following implementation of amended child support guidelines, the modification of basic support may be limited if the amount of the full variance would create hardship for either the obligor or the obligee. Hardship includes, but is not limited to, eligibility for assistance under chapter 256J.

(l) The court may select an alternative effective date for a maintenance or support order if the parties enter into a binding agreement for an alternative effective date.

Subd. 3.Maintenance on death or remarriage.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the decree, the obligation to pay future maintenance is terminated upon the death of either party or the remarriage of the party receiving maintenance.

Subd. 4.Child support on death of obligor.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the order, provisions for the support of a child are not terminated by the death of a parent obligated to support the child. When a parent obligated to pay support dies, the amount of support may be modified, revoked, or commuted to a lump-sum payment, to the extent just and appropriate in the circumstances.

Subd. 5.Automatic termination of support.

(a) Unless a court order provides otherwise, a child support obligation in a specific amount per child terminates automatically and without any action by the obligor to reduce, modify, or terminate the order upon the emancipation of the child as provided under section 518A.26, subdivision 5.

(b) A child support obligation for two or more children that is not a support obligation in a specific amount per child continues in the full amount until the emancipation of the last child for whose benefit the order was made, or until further order of the court.

(c) The obligor may request a modification of the obligor's child support order upon the emancipation of a child if there are still minor children under the order. The child support obligation shall be determined based on the income of the parties at the time the modification is sought.

Subd. 6.Form.

The state court administrator's office shall prepare and make available to court administrators, obligors, and persons to whom child support is owed a form to be submitted by the obligor or the person to whom child support is owed in support of a motion for a modification of an order for support or maintenance or for contempt of court.

Subd. 7.Child care exception.

Child care support must be based on the actual child care expenses. The court may provide that a decrease in the amount of the child care based on a decrease in the actual child care expenses is effective as of the date the expense is decreased. Under section 518A.40, subdivision 4, paragraph (d), a decrease in the amount of child care support shall be effective as of the date the expenses terminated unless otherwise found by the court.

Subd. 8.Medical support-only modification.

(a) The medical support terms of a support order and determination of the child dependency tax credit may be modified without modification of the full order for support or maintenance, if the order has been established or modified in its entirety within three years from the date of the motion, and upon a showing of one or more of the following:

(1) a change in the availability of appropriate health care coverage or a substantial increase or decrease in health care coverage costs;

(2) a change in the eligibility for medical assistance under chapter 256B;

(3) a party's failure to carry court-ordered coverage, or to provide other medical support as ordered;

(4) the federal child dependency tax credit is not ordered for the same parent who is ordered to carry health care coverage; or

(5) the federal child dependency tax credit is not addressed in the order and the noncustodial parent is ordered to carry health care coverage.

(b) For a motion brought under this subdivision, a modification of the medical support terms of an order may be made retroactive only with respect to any period during which the petitioning party has pending a motion for modification, but only from the date of service of notice of the motion on the responding party and on the public authority if public assistance is being furnished or the county attorney is the attorney of record.

(c) The court need not hold an evidentiary hearing on a motion brought under this subdivision for modification of medical support only.

(d) Sections 518.14 and 518A.735 shall govern the award of attorney fees for motions brought under this subdivision.

(e) The PICS originally stated in the order being modified shall be used to determine the modified medical support order under section 518A.41 for motions brought under this subdivision.

CHILD CARE SUPPORT

518A.40 CHILD CARE SUPPORT.

Subdivision 1.Child care costs.

Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties and approved by the court, the court must order that work-related or education-related child care costs of joint children be divided between the obligor and obligee based on their proportionate share of the parties' combined monthly PICS. The amount of work-related or education-related child care costs required by this subdivision to be divided between the obligor and obligee is the total amount received by the child care provider from the obligee and any public agency for the joint child or children. Child care costs shall be adjusted by the amount of the estimated federal and state child care credit payable on behalf of a joint child. The Department of Human Services shall develop tables to calculate the applicable credit based upon the custodial parent's PICS.

Subd. 2.Low-income obligor.

(a) If the obligor's PICS meets the income eligibility requirements for child care assistance under the basic sliding fee program under chapter 119B, the court must order the obligor to pay the lesser of the following amounts:

(1) the amount of the obligor's monthly co-payment for child care assistance under the basic sliding fee schedule established by the commissioner of education under chapter 119B, based on an obligor's monthly PICS and the size of the obligor's household provided that the obligee is actually receiving child care assistance under the basic sliding fee program. For purposes of this subdivision, the obligor's household includes the obligor and the number of joint children for whom child support is being ordered; or

(2) the amount of the obligor's child care obligation under subdivision 1.

(b) The commissioner of human services must publish a table with the child care assistance basic sliding fee amounts and update the table for changes to the basic sliding fee schedule by July 1 of each year.

Subd. 3.Determining costs.

(a) The court must require verification of employment or school attendance and documentation of child care expenses from the obligee and the public authority, if applicable.

(b) If child care expenses fluctuate during the year because of the obligee's seasonal employment or school attendance or extended periods of parenting time with the obligor, the court must determine child care expenses based on an average monthly cost.

(c) The amount allocated for child care expenses is considered child support but is not subject to a cost-of-living adjustment under section 518A.75.

(d) The court may allow the parent with whom the joint child does not reside to care for the joint child while the parent with whom the joint child resides is working or attending school, as provided in section 518.175, subdivision 8. Allowing the parent with whom the joint child does not reside to care for the joint child under section 518.175, subdivision 8, is not a reason to deviate from the guidelines.

Subd. 3a.Child care cost information.

(a) Upon the request of the obligor when child care support is ordered to be paid, unless there is a protective or restraining order issued by the court regarding one of the parties or on behalf of a joint child, or the obligee is a participant in the Safe at Home program:

(1) the obligee must give the child care provider the name and address of the obligor and must give the obligor the name, address, and telephone number of the child care provider;

(2) by February 1 of each year, the obligee must provide the obligor with verification from the child care provider that indicates the total child care expenses paid for the previous year; and

(3) when there is a change in the child care provider, the type of child care provider, or the age group of the child, the obligee must provide updated information to the obligor within 30 calendar days. If the obligee fails to provide the annual verification from the provider or updated information, the obligor may request the verification from the provider.

(b) When the obligee is no longer incurring child care expenses, the obligee must notify the obligor, and the public authority if it provides child support services, that the child care expenses ended and on which date. If the public authority is providing services, the public authority must follow the procedure outlined in subdivision 4.

Subd. 4.Change in child care.

(a) When a court order provides for child care expenses, and child care support is not assigned under section 256.741, the public authority, if the public authority provides child support enforcement services, may suspend collecting the amount allocated for child care expenses when either party informs the public authority that no child care expenses are being incurred and:

(1) the public authority verifies the accuracy of the information with the obligee; or

(2) the obligee fails to respond within 30 days of the date of a written request from the public authority for information regarding child care costs. A written or oral response from the obligee that child care costs are being incurred is sufficient for the public authority to continue collecting child care expenses.

The suspension is effective as of the first day of the month following the date that the public authority either verified the information with the obligee or the obligee failed to respond.

The public authority will resume collecting child care expenses when either party provides information that child care costs are incurred, or when a child care support assignment takes effect under section 256.741, subdivision 4. The resumption is effective as of the first day of the month after the date that the public authority received the information.

(b) If the parties provide conflicting information to the public authority regarding whether child care expenses are being incurred, the public authority will continue or resume collecting child care expenses. Either party, by motion to the court, may challenge the suspension, continuation, or resumption of the collection of child care expenses under this subdivision. If the public authority suspends collection activities for the amount allocated for child care expenses, all other provisions of the court order remain in effect.

(c) In cases where there is a substantial increase or decrease in child care expenses, the parties may modify the order under section 518A.39.

(d) In cases where child care expenses have terminated, the parties may modify the order under section 518A.39.

(e) When the public authority is providing child support services, the parties may contact the public authority about the option of a stipulation to modify or terminate the child care support amount.

MEDICAL SUPPORT

518A.41 MEDICAL SUPPORT.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

The definitions in this subdivision apply to this chapter and chapter 518.

(a) "Health care coverage" means private health care coverage, including fee for service, health maintenance organization, preferred provider organization, and other types of private health care coverage. Health care coverage also means public health care coverage under which medical or dental services could be provided to a dependent child.

(b) "Private health care coverage" means a health plan that provides medical, dental, or other health care benefits and is:

(1) provided on an individual or group basis;

(2) provided by an employer or union;

(3) purchased in the private market;

(4) provided through MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L; or

(5) available to a person eligible to carry insurance for the joint child, including a party's spouse or parent.

Private health care coverage includes, but is not limited to, a health plan meeting the definition under section 62A.011, subdivision 3, except that the exclusion of coverage designed solely to provide dental or vision care under section 62A.011, subdivision 3, clause (6), does not apply to the definition of private health care coverage under this section; a group health plan governed under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA); a self-insured plan under sections 43A.23 to 43A.317 and 471.617; and a policy, contract, or certificate issued by a community-integrated service network licensed under chapter 62N.

(c) "Public health care coverage" means health care benefits provided by any form of medical assistance under chapter 256B. Public health care coverage does not include MinnesotaCare or health plans subsidized by federal premium tax credits or federal cost-sharing reductions.

(d) "Medical support" means providing health care coverage for a joint child by contributing to the cost of health care coverage, unreimbursed health-related expenses, and uninsured health-related expenses of the joint child.

(e) "National medical support notice" means an administrative notice issued by the public authority to enforce health insurance provisions of a support order in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 303.32, in cases where the public authority provides support enforcement services.

(f) "Uninsured health-related expenses" means a joint child's reasonable and necessary medical and dental expenses if the joint child is not covered by private health insurance care when the expenses are incurred.

(g) "Unreimbursed health-related expenses" means a joint child's reasonable and necessary medical and dental expenses if a joint child is covered by health care coverage and health care coverage does not pay for the total cost of the expenses when the expenses are incurred. Unreimbursed health-related expenses do not include the cost of premiums. Unreimbursed health-related expenses include, but are not limited to, deductibles, co-payments, and expenses for orthodontia, and prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses, but not over-the-counter medications if provided through health care coverage.

Subd. 2.Order.

(a) A completed national medical support notice issued by the public authority or a court order that complies with this section is a qualified medical child support order under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), United States Code, title 29, section 1169(a).

(b) Every order addressing child support must state:

(1) the names, last known addresses, and Social Security numbers of the parents and the joint child that is a subject of the order unless the court prohibits the inclusion of an address or Social Security number and orders the parents to provide the address and Social Security number to the administrator of the health plan;

(2) whether appropriate health care coverage for the joint child is available and, if so, state:

(i) the parents' responsibilities for carrying health care coverage;

(ii) the cost of premiums and how the cost is allocated between the parents;

(iii) the circumstances, if any, under which an obligation to provide private health care coverage for the joint child will shift from one parent to the other; and

(iv) whether a contribution for public health care coverage is required; and

(3) how unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses will be allocated between the parents.

Subd. 3.Determining appropriate health care coverage.

Public health care coverage is presumed appropriate. In determining whether a parent has appropriate private health care coverage for the joint child, the court must consider the following factors:

(1) comprehensiveness of private health care coverage providing medical benefits. Dependent private health care coverage providing medical benefits is presumed comprehensive if it includes medical and hospital coverage and provides for preventive, emergency, acute, and chronic care; or if it meets the minimum essential coverage definition in United States Code, title 26, section 5000A(f). If both parents have private health care coverage providing medical benefits that is presumed comprehensive under this paragraph, the court must determine which parent's private health care coverage is more comprehensive by considering what other benefits are included in the private health care coverage;

(2) accessibility. Dependent private health care coverage is accessible if the covered joint child can obtain services from a health plan provider with reasonable effort by the parent with whom the joint child resides. Private health care coverage is presumed accessible if:

(i) primary care is available within 30 minutes or 30 miles of the joint child's residence and specialty care is available within 60 minutes or 60 miles of the joint child's residence;

(ii) the private health care coverage is available through an employer and the employee can be expected to remain employed for a reasonable amount of time; and

(iii) no preexisting conditions exist to unduly delay enrollment in private health care coverage;

(3) the joint child's special medical needs, if any; and

(4) affordability. Dependent private health care coverage is presumed affordable if the premium to cover the marginal cost of the joint child does not exceed five percent of the parents' combined monthly PICS. A court may additionally consider high deductibles and the cost to enroll the parent if the parent must enroll themselves in private health care coverage to access private health care coverage for the child.

Subd. 4.Ordering health care coverage.

(a) If a joint child is presently enrolled in health care coverage, the court shall order that the parent who currently has the joint child enrolled in health care coverage continue that enrollment if the health care coverage is appropriate as defined under subdivision 3.

(b) If only one parent has appropriate health care coverage providing medical benefits available, the court must order that parent to carry the coverage for the joint child.

(c) If both parents have appropriate health care coverage providing medical benefits available, the court must order the parent with whom the joint child resides to carry the health care coverage for the joint child, unless:

(1) a party expresses a preference for private health care coverage providing medical benefits available through the parent with whom the joint child does not reside;

(2) the parent with whom the joint child does not reside is already carrying dependent private health care coverage providing medical benefits for other children and the cost of contributing to the premiums of the other parent's health care coverage would cause the parent with whom the joint child does not reside extreme hardship; or

(3) the parties agree as to which parent will carry health care coverage providing medical benefits and agree on the allocation of costs.

(d) If the exception in paragraph (c), clause (1) or (2), applies, the court must determine which parent has the most appropriate health care coverage providing medical benefits available and order that parent to carry health care coverage for the joint child.

(e) If neither parent has appropriate health care coverage available, the court must order the parents to contribute toward the actual health care costs of the joint children based on a pro rata share.

(f) If neither parent has appropriate health care coverage available, the court may order the parent with whom the child resides to apply for public health care coverage for the child.

(g) If a joint child is not presently enrolled in private health care coverage providing dental benefits, upon motion of a parent or the public authority, the court must determine whether one or both parents have appropriate private health care coverage providing dental benefits for the joint child, and the court may order a parent with appropriate private health care coverage providing dental benefits available to carry the health care coverage for the joint child.

(h) If a joint child is not presently enrolled in available private health care coverage providing benefits other than medical benefits or dental benefits, upon motion of a parent or the public authority, the court may determine whether private health care coverage providing other health benefits for the joint child is appropriate, and the court may order a parent with that appropriate private health care coverage available to carry the coverage for the joint child.

Subd. 5.Medical support costs; unreimbursed and uninsured health-related expenses.

(a) Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties and approved by the court, the court must order that the cost of private health care coverage and all unreimbursed and uninsured health-related expenses be divided between the obligor and obligee based on their proportionate share of the parties' combined monthly PICS. The amount allocated for medical support is considered child support but is not subject to a cost-of-living adjustment under section 518A.75.

(b) If a party owes a basic support obligation for a joint child and is ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child, and the other party is ordered to contribute to the carrying party's cost for coverage, the carrying party's basic support payment must be reduced by the amount of the contributing party's contribution.

(c) If a party owes a basic support obligation for a joint child and is ordered to contribute to the other party's cost for carrying private health care coverage for the joint child, the contributing party's child support payment must be increased by the amount of the contribution. The contribution toward private health care coverage must not be charged in any month in which the party ordered to carry private health care coverage fails to maintain private coverage.

(d) If the party ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child already carries dependent private health care coverage for other dependents and would incur no additional premium costs to add the joint child to the existing health care coverage, the court must not order the other party to contribute to the premium costs for health care coverage of the joint child.

(e) If a party ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child does not already carry dependent private health care coverage but has other dependents who may be added to the ordered health care coverage, the full premium costs of the dependent private health care coverage must be allocated between the parties in proportion to the party's share of the parties' combined monthly PICS, unless the parties agree otherwise.

(f) If a party ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child is required to enroll in a health plan so that the joint child can be enrolled in dependent private health care coverage under the plan, the court must allocate the costs of the dependent private health care coverage between the parties. The costs of the private health care coverage for the party ordered to carry the health care coverage for the joint child must not be allocated between the parties.

(g) If the joint child is receiving any form of public health care coverage:

(1) the parent with whom the joint child does not reside shall contribute a monthly amount toward the actual cost of public health care coverage. The amount of the noncustodial parent's contribution is determined by applying the noncustodial parent's PICS to the premium scale for MinnesotaCare under section 256L.15, subdivision 2, paragraph (d). If the noncustodial parent's PICS meets the eligibility requirements for MinnesotaCare, the contribution is the amount that the noncustodial parent would pay for the child's premium;

(2) if the noncustodial parent's PICS exceeds the eligibility requirements, the contribution is the amount of the premium for the highest eligible income on the premium scale for MinnesotaCare under section 256L.15, subdivision 2, paragraph (d). For purposes of determining the premium amount, the noncustodial parent's household size is equal to one parent plus the child or children who are the subject of the order;

(3) the custodial parent's obligation is determined under the requirements for public health care coverage in chapter 256B; or

(4) if the noncustodial parent's PICS is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for one person or the noncustodial parent receives public assistance, the noncustodial parent must not be ordered to contribute toward the cost of public health care coverage.

(h) The commissioner of human services must publish a table for section 256L.15, subdivision 2, paragraph (d), and update the table with changes to the schedule by July 1 of each year.

Subd. 6.Notice or court order sent to party's employer, union, or health carrier.

(a) The public authority must forward a copy of the national medical support notice or court order for private health care coverage to the party's employer within two business days after the date the party is entered into the work reporting system under section 256.998.

(b) The public authority or a party seeking to enforce an order for private health care coverage must forward a copy of the national medical support notice or court order to the obligor's employer or union, or to the health carrier under the following circumstances:

(1) the party ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child fails to provide written proof to the other party or the public authority, within 30 days of the effective date of the court order, that the party has applied for private health care coverage for the joint child;

(2) the party seeking to enforce the order or the public authority gives written notice to the party ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child of its intent to enforce medical support. The party seeking to enforce the order or public authority must mail the written notice to the last known address of the party ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child; and

(3) the party ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child fails, within 15 days after the date on which the written notice under clause (2) was mailed, to provide written proof to the other party or the public authority that the party has applied for private health care coverage for the joint child.

(c) The public authority is not required to forward a copy of the national medical support notice or court order to the obligor's employer or union, or to the health carrier, if the court orders private health care coverage for the joint child that is not employer-based or union-based coverage.

Subd. 7.Employer or union requirements.

(a) An employer or union must forward the national medical support notice or court order to its health plan within 20 business days after the date on the national medical support notice or after receipt of the court order.

(b) Upon determination by an employer's or union's health plan administrator that a joint child is eligible to be covered under the health plan, the employer or union and health plan must enroll the joint child as a beneficiary in the health plan, and the employer must withhold any required premiums from the income or wages of the party ordered to carry health care coverage for the joint child.

(c) If enrollment of the party ordered to carry private health care coverage for a joint child is necessary to obtain dependent private health care coverage under the plan, and the party is not enrolled in the health plan, the employer or union must enroll the party in the plan.

(d) Enrollment of dependents and, if necessary, the party ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child must be immediate and not dependent upon open enrollment periods. Enrollment is not subject to the underwriting policies under section 62A.048.

(e) Failure of the party ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child to execute any documents necessary to enroll the dependent in the health plan does not affect the obligation of the employer or union and health plan to enroll the dependent in a plan. Information and authorization provided by the public authority, or by a party or guardian, is valid for the purposes of meeting enrollment requirements of the health plan.

(f) An employer or union that is included under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), United States Code, title 29, section 1169(a), may not deny enrollment to the joint child or to the parent if necessary to enroll the joint child based on exclusionary clauses described in section 62A.048.

(g) A new employer or union of a party who is ordered to provide private health care coverage for a joint child must enroll the joint child in the party's health plan as required by a national medical support notice or court order.

Subd. 8.Health plan requirements.

(a) If a health plan administrator receives a completed national medical support notice or court order, the plan administrator must notify the parties, and the public authority if the public authority provides support enforcement services, within 40 business days after the date of the notice or after receipt of the court order, of the following:

(1) whether health care coverage is available to the joint child under the terms of the health plan and, if not, the reason why health care coverage is not available;

(2) whether the joint child is covered under the health plan;

(3) the effective date of the joint child's coverage under the health plan; and

(4) what steps, if any, are required to effectuate the joint child's coverage under the health plan.

(b) If the employer or union offers more than one plan and the national medical support notice or court order does not specify the plan to be carried, the plan administrator must notify the parents and the public authority if the public authority provides support enforcement services. When there is more than one option available under the plan, the public authority, in consultation with the parent with whom the joint child resides, must promptly select from available plan options.

(c) The plan administrator must provide the parents and public authority, if the public authority provides support enforcement services, with a notice of the joint child's enrollment, description of the health care coverage, and any documents necessary to effectuate coverage.

(d) The health plan must send copies of all correspondence regarding the private health care coverage to the parents.

(e) An insured joint child's parent's signature is a valid authorization to a health plan for purposes of processing an insurance reimbursement payment to the medical services provider or to the parent, if medical services have been prepaid by that parent.

Subd. 9.Employer or union liability.

(a) An employer or union that willfully fails to comply with the order or notice is liable for any uninsured health-related expenses incurred by the dependents while the dependents were eligible to be enrolled in the health plan and for any other premium costs incurred because the employer or union willfully failed to comply with the order or notice.

(b) An employer or union that fails to comply with the order or notice is subject to a contempt finding, a $250 civil penalty under section 518A.73, and is subject to a civil penalty of $500 to be paid to the party entitled to reimbursement or the public authority. Penalties paid to the public authority are designated for child support enforcement services.

Subd. 10.Contesting enrollment.

(a) A party may contest a joint child's enrollment in a health plan on the limited grounds that the enrollment is improper due to mistake of fact or that the enrollment meets the requirements of section 518.145.

(b) If the party chooses to contest the enrollment, the party must do so no later than 15 days after the employer notifies the party of the enrollment by doing the following:

(1) filing a motion in district court or according to section 484.702 and the expedited child support process rules if the public authority provides support enforcement services;

(2) serving the motion on the other party and public authority if the public authority provides support enforcement services; and

(3) securing a date for the matter to be heard no later than 45 days after the notice of enrollment.

(c) The enrollment must remain in place while the party contests the enrollment.

Subd. 11.Disenrollment; continuation of coverage; coverage options.

(a) Unless a court order provides otherwise, a child for whom a party is required to provide private health care coverage under this section must be covered as a dependent of the party until the child is emancipated, until further order of the court, or as consistent with the terms of the health care coverage.

(b) The health carrier, employer, or union may not disenroll or eliminate health care coverage for the child unless:

(1) the health carrier, employer, or union is provided satisfactory written evidence that the court order is no longer in effect;

(2) the joint child is or will be enrolled in comparable private health care coverage through another health plan that will take effect no later than the effective date of the disenrollment;

(3) the employee is no longer eligible for dependent health care coverage; or

(4) the required premium has not been paid by or on behalf of the joint child.

(c) The health plan must provide 30 days' written notice to the joint child's parents, and the public authority if the public authority provides support enforcement services, before the health plan disenrolls or eliminates the joint child's health care coverage.

(d) A joint child enrolled in private health care coverage under a qualified medical child support order, including a national medical support notice, under this section is a dependent and a qualified beneficiary under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), Public Law 99-272. Upon expiration of the order, the joint child is entitled to the opportunity to elect continued health care coverage that is available under the health plan. The employer or union must provide notice to the parties and the public authority, if it provides support services, within ten days of the termination date.

(e) If the public authority provides support enforcement services and a plan administrator reports to the public authority that there is more than one coverage option available under the health plan, the public authority, in consultation with the parent with whom the joint child resides, must promptly select health care coverage from the available options.

Subd. 12.Spousal or former spousal coverage.

The court must require the parent with whom the joint child does not reside to provide dependent private health care coverage for the benefit of the parent with whom the joint child resides if the parent with whom the child does not reside is ordered to provide dependent private health care coverage for the parties' joint child and adding the other parent to the health care coverage results in no additional premium cost.

Subd. 13.Disclosure of information.

(a) If the public authority provides support enforcement services, the parties must provide the public authority with the following information:

(1) information relating to dependent health care coverage available for the benefit of the joint child for whom support is sought, including all information required to be included in a medical support order under this section;

(2) verification that application for court-ordered health care coverage was made within 30 days of the court's order; and

(3) the reason that a joint child is not enrolled in court-ordered health care coverage, if a joint child is not enrolled in health care coverage or subsequently loses health care coverage.

(b) Upon request from the public authority under section 256.978, an employer, union, or plan administrator, including an employer subject to the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), United States Code, title 29, section 1169(a), must provide the public authority the following information:

(1) information relating to dependent private health care coverage available to a party for the benefit of the joint child for whom support is sought, including all information required to be included in a medical support order under this section; and

(2) information that will enable the public authority to determine whether a health plan is appropriate for a joint child, including, but not limited to, all available plan options, any geographic service restrictions, and the location of service providers.

(c) The employer, union, or plan administrator must not release information regarding one party to the other party. The employer, union, or plan administrator must provide both parties with insurance identification cards and all necessary written information to enable the parties to utilize the insurance benefits for the covered dependent.

(d) The public authority is authorized to release to a party's employer, union, or health plan information necessary to verify availability of dependent private health care coverage, or to establish, modify, or enforce medical support.

(e) An employee must disclose to an employer if medical support is required to be withheld under this section and the employer must begin withholding according to the terms of the order and under section 518A.53. If an employee discloses an obligation to obtain private health care coverage and health care coverage is available through the employer, the employer must make all application processes known to the individual and enroll the employee and dependent in the plan.

Subd. 14.Child support enforcement services.

The public authority must take necessary steps to establish, enforce, and modify an order for medical support if the joint child receives public assistance or a party completes an application for services from the public authority under section 518A.51.

Subd. 15.Enforcement.

(a) Remedies available for collecting and enforcing child support apply to medical support.

(b) For the purpose of enforcement, the following are additional support:

(1) the costs of individual or group health or hospitalization coverage;

(2) dental coverage;

(3) medical costs ordered by the court to be paid by either party, including health care coverage premiums paid by the obligee because of the obligor's failure to obtain health care coverage as ordered; and

(4) liabilities established under this subdivision.

(c) A party who fails to carry court-ordered dependent private health care coverage is liable for the joint child's uninsured health-related expenses unless a court order provides otherwise. A party's failure to carry court-ordered health care coverage, or to provide other medical support as ordered, is a basis for modification of medical support under section 518A.39, subdivision 8, unless it meets the presumption in section 518A.39, subdivision 2.

(d) Payments by the health carrier or employer for services rendered to the dependents that are directed to a party not owed reimbursement must be endorsed over to and forwarded to the vendor or appropriate party or the public authority. A party retaining insurance reimbursement not owed to the party is liable for the amount of the reimbursement.

Subd. 16.Offset.

(a) If a party is the parent with primary physical custody as defined in section 518A.26, subdivision 17, and is an obligor ordered to contribute to the other party's cost for carrying health care coverage for the joint child, the other party's child support and spousal maintenance obligations are subject to an offset under subdivision 5.

(b) The public authority, if the public authority provides child support enforcement services, may remove the offset to a party's child support obligation when:

(1) the party's court-ordered private health care coverage for the joint child terminates;

(2) the party does not enroll the joint child in other private health care coverage; and

(3) a modification motion is not pending.

The public authority must provide notice to the parties of the action. If neither party requests a hearing, the public authority must remove the offset effective the first day of the month following termination of the joint child's private health care coverage.

(c) The public authority, if the public authority provides child support enforcement services, may resume the offset when the party ordered to provide private health care coverage for the joint child has resumed the court-ordered private health care coverage or enrolled the joint child in other private health care coverage. The public authority must provide notice to the parties of the action. If neither party requests a hearing, the public authority must resume the offset effective the first day of the month following certification that private health care coverage is in place for the joint child.

(d) A party may contest the public authority's action to remove or resume the offset to the child support obligation if the party makes a written request for a hearing within 30 days after receiving written notice. If a party makes a timely request for a hearing, the public authority must schedule a hearing and send written notice of the hearing to the parties by mail to the parties' last known addresses at least 14 days before the hearing. The hearing must be conducted in district court or in the expedited child support process if section 484.702 applies. The district court or child support magistrate must determine whether removing or resuming the offset is appropriate and, if appropriate, the effective date for the removal or resumption.

Subd. 16a.Suspension or reinstatement of medical support contribution.

(a) If a party is the parent with primary physical custody, as defined in section 518A.26, subdivision 17, and is ordered to carry private health care coverage for the joint child but fails to carry the court-ordered private health care coverage, the public authority may suspend the medical support obligation of the other party if that party has been court-ordered to contribute to the cost of the private health care coverage carried by the parent with primary physical custody of the joint child.

(b) If the public authority provides child support enforcement services, the public authority may suspend the other party's medical support contribution toward private health care coverage when:

(1) the party's court-ordered private health care coverage for the joint child terminates;

(2) the party does not enroll the joint child in other private health care coverage; and

(3) a modification motion is not pending.

The public authority must provide notice to the parties of the action. If neither party requests a hearing, the public authority must remove the medical support contribution effective the first day of the month following the termination of the joint child's private health care coverage.

(c) If the public authority provides child support enforcement services, the public authority may reinstate the medical support contribution when the party ordered to provide private health care coverage for the joint child has resumed the joint child's court-ordered private health care coverage or has enrolled the joint child in other private health care coverage. The public authority must provide notice to the parties of the action. If neither party requests a hearing, the public authority must resume the medical support contribution effective the first day of the month following certification that the joint child is enrolled in private health care coverage.

(d) A party may contest the public authority's action to suspend or reinstate the medical support contribution if the party makes a written request for a hearing within 30 days after receiving written notice. If a party makes a timely request for a hearing, the public authority must schedule a hearing and send written notice of the hearing to the parties by mail to the parties' last known addresses at least 14 days before the hearing. The hearing must be conducted in district court or in the expedited child support process if section 484.702 applies. The district court or child support magistrate must determine whether suspending or reinstating the medical support contribution is appropriate and, if appropriate, the effective date of the removal or reinstatement of the medical support contribution.

Subd. 17.Collecting unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses.

(a) This subdivision and subdivision 18 apply when a court order has determined and ordered the parties' proportionate share and responsibility to contribute to unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses.

(b) A party requesting reimbursement of unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses must initiate a request to the other party within two years of the date that the requesting party incurred the unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses. If a court order has been signed ordering the contribution toward unreimbursed or uninsured expenses, a two-year limitations provision must be applied to any requests made on or after January 1, 2007. The provisions of this section apply retroactively to court orders signed before January 1, 2007. Requests for unreimbursed or uninsured expenses made on or after January 1, 2007, may include expenses incurred before January 1, 2007, and on or after January 1, 2005.

(c) A requesting party must mail a written notice of intent to collect the unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses and a copy of an affidavit of health care expenses to the other party at the other party's last known address.

(d) The written notice must include a statement that the other party has 30 days from the date the notice was mailed to (1) pay in full; (2) agree to a payment schedule; or (3) file a motion requesting a hearing to contest the amount due or to set a court-ordered monthly payment amount. If the public authority provides services, the written notice also must include a statement that, if the other party does not respond within the 30 days, the requesting party may submit the amount due to the public authority for collection.

(e) The affidavit of health care expenses must itemize and document the joint child's unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses and include copies of all bills, receipts, and insurance company explanations of benefits.

(f) If the other party does not respond to the request for reimbursement within 30 days, the requesting party may commence enforcement against the other party under subdivision 18; file a motion for a court-ordered monthly payment amount under paragraph (i); or notify the public authority, if the public authority provides services, that the other party has not responded.

(g) The notice to the public authority must include: a copy of the written notice, a copy of the affidavit of health care expenses, and copies of all bills, receipts, and insurance company explanations of benefits.

(h) If noticed under paragraph (f), the public authority must serve the other party with a notice of intent to enforce unreimbursed and uninsured health-related expenses and file an affidavit of service by mail with the district court administrator. The notice must state that the other party has 14 days to (1) pay in full; or (2) file a motion to contest the amount due or to set a court-ordered monthly payment amount. The notice must also state that if there is no response within 14 days, the public authority will commence enforcement of the expenses as arrears under subdivision 18.

(i) To contest the amount due or set a court-ordered monthly payment amount, a party must file a timely motion and schedule a hearing in district court or in the expedited child support process if section 484.702 applies. The moving party must provide the other party and the public authority, if the public authority provides services, with written notice at least 14 days before the hearing by mailing notice of the hearing to the public authority and to the requesting party at the requesting party's last known address. The moving party must file the affidavit of health care expenses with the court at least five days before the hearing. The district court or child support magistrate must determine liability for the expenses and order that the liable party is subject to enforcement of the expenses as arrears under subdivision 18 or set a court-ordered monthly payment amount.

Subd. 18.Enforcing unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses as arrears.

(a) Unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses enforced under this subdivision are collected as arrears.

(b) If the liable party is the parent with primary physical custody as defined in section 518A.26, subdivision 17, the unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses must be deducted from any arrears the requesting party owes the liable party. If unreimbursed or uninsured expenses remain after the deduction, the expenses must be collected as follows:

(1) If the requesting party owes a current child support obligation to the liable party, 20 percent of each payment received from the requesting party must be returned to the requesting party. The total amount returned to the requesting party each month must not exceed 20 percent of the current monthly support obligation.

(2) If the requesting party does not owe current child support or arrears, a payment agreement under section 518A.69 is required. If the liable party fails to enter into or comply with a payment agreement, the requesting party or the public authority, if the public authority provides services, may schedule a hearing to set a court-ordered payment. The requesting party or the public authority must provide the liable party with written notice of the hearing at least 14 days before the hearing.

(c) If the liable party is not the parent with primary physical custody as defined in section 518A.26, subdivision 17, the unreimbursed or uninsured health-related expenses must be deducted from any arrears the requesting party owes the liable party. If unreimbursed or uninsured expenses remain after the deduction, the expenses must be added and collected as arrears owed by the liable party.

NOTE: The amendment to this section by Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, section 31, is effective January 1, 2025. Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, section 31, the effective date.

ABILITY TO PAY AND SELF-SUPPORT RESERVE

518A.42 ABILITY TO PAY; SELF-SUPPORT ADJUSTMENT.

Subdivision 1.Ability to pay.

(a) It is a rebuttable presumption that a child support order should not exceed the obligor's ability to pay. To determine the amount of child support the obligor has the ability to pay, the court shall follow the procedure set out in this section.

(b) The court shall calculate the obligor's income available for support by subtracting a monthly self-support reserve equal to 120 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for one person from the obligor's parental income for determining child support (PICS). If benefits under section 518A.31 are received by the obligee as a representative payee for a joint child or are received by the child attending school, based on the other parent's eligibility, the court shall subtract the amount of benefits from the obligor's PICS before subtracting the self-support reserve. If the obligor's income available for support calculated under this paragraph is equal to or greater than the obligor's support obligation calculated under section 518A.34, the court shall order child support under section 518A.34.

(c) If the obligor's income available for support calculated under paragraph (b) is more than the minimum support amount under subdivision 2, but less than the guideline amount under section 518A.34, then the court shall apply a reduction to the child support obligation in the following order, until the support order is equal to the obligor's income available for support:

(1) medical support obligation;

(2) child care support obligation; and

(3) basic support obligation.

(d) If the obligor's income available for support calculated under paragraph (b) is equal to or less than the minimum support amount under subdivision 2 or if the obligor's gross income is less than 120 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for one person, the minimum support amount under subdivision 2 applies.

[See Note.]

Subd. 2.Minimum basic support amount.

(a) If the basic support amount applies, the court must order the following amount as the minimum basic support obligation:

(1) for one child, the obligor's basic support obligation is $50 per month;

(2) for two children, the obligor's basic support obligation is $60 per month;

(3) for three children, the obligor's basic support obligation is $70 per month;

(4) for four children, the obligor's basic support obligation is $80 per month;

(5) for five children, the obligor's basic support obligation is $90 per month; and

(6) for six or more children, the obligor's basic support obligation is $100 per month.

(b) If the court orders the obligor to pay the minimum basic support amount under this subdivision, the obligor is presumed unable to pay child care support and medical support.

Subd. 3.Exception.

(a) This section does not apply to an obligor who is incarcerated or is a recipient of a general assistance grant, Supplemental Security Income, temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) grant, or comparable state-funded Minnesota family investment program (MFIP) benefits.

(b) If the court finds the obligor receives no income and completely lacks the ability to earn income, the minimum basic support amount under this subdivision does not apply.

(c) If the obligor's basic support amount is reduced below the minimum basic support amount due to the application of the parenting expense adjustment, the minimum basic support amount under this subdivision does not apply and the lesser amount is the guideline basic support.

[See Note.]

NOTE: The amendments to subdivisions 1 and 3 by Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, sections 32 and 33, are effective January 1, 2025. Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 14, sections 32 and 33, the effective dates.

DEVIATION FACTORS

518A.43 DEVIATIONS FROM CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES.

Subdivision 1.General factors.

Among other reasons, deviation from the presumptive child support obligation computed under section 518A.34 is intended to encourage prompt and regular payments of child support and to prevent either parent or the joint children from living in poverty. In addition to the child support guidelines and other factors used to calculate the child support obligation under section 518A.34, the court must take into consideration the following factors in setting or modifying child support or in determining whether to deviate upward or downward from the presumptive child support obligation:

(1) all earnings, income, circumstances, and resources of each parent, including real and personal property, but excluding income from excess employment of the obligor or obligee that meets the criteria of section 518A.29, paragraph (b);

(2) the extraordinary financial needs and resources, physical and emotional condition, and educational needs of the child to be supported;

(3) the standard of living the child would enjoy if the parents were currently living together, but recognizing that the parents now have separate households;

(4) whether the child resides in a foreign country for more than one year that has a substantially higher or lower cost of living than this country;

(5) which parent receives the income taxation dependency exemption and the financial benefit the parent receives from it;

(6) the parents' debts as provided in subdivision 2;

(7) the obligor's total payments for court-ordered child support exceed the limitations set forth in section 571.922; and

(8) in cases involving court-ordered out-of-home placement, whether ordering and redirecting a child support obligation to reimburse the county for the cost of care, examination, or treatment would compromise the parent's ability to meet the requirements of a reunification plan or the parent's ability to meet the child's needs after reunification.

Subd. 1a.Income disparity between parties.

The court may deviate from the presumptive child support obligation under section 518A.34 and elect not to order a party who has between ten and 45 percent parenting time to pay basic support where such a significant disparity of income exists between the parties that an order directing payment of basic support would be detrimental to the parties' joint child.

Subd. 1b.Increase in income of custodial parent.

In a modification of support under section 518A.39, the court may deviate from the presumptive child support obligation under section 518A.34 when the only change in circumstances is an increase to the custodial parent's income and the basic support increases.

Subd. 2.Debt owed to private creditors.

(a) In establishing or modifying a support obligation, the court may consider debts owed to private creditors, but only if:

(1) the right to support has not been assigned under section 256.741;

(2) the court determines that the debt was reasonably incurred for necessary support of the child or parent or for the necessary generation of income. If the debt was incurred for the necessary generation of income, the court may consider only the amount of debt that is essential to the continuing generation of income; and

(3) the party requesting a departure produces a sworn schedule of the debts, with supporting documentation, showing goods or services purchased, the recipient of them, the original debt amount, the outstanding balance, the monthly payment, and the number of months until the debt will be fully paid.

(b) A schedule prepared under paragraph (a), clause (3), must contain a statement that the debt will be fully paid after the number of months shown in the schedule, barring emergencies beyond the party's control.

(c) Any further departure below the guidelines that is based on a consideration of debts owed to private creditors must not exceed 18 months in duration. After 18 months the support must increase automatically to the level ordered by the court. This section does not prohibit one or more step increases in support to reflect debt retirement during the 18-month period.

(d) If payment of debt is ordered pursuant to this section, the payment must be ordered to be in the nature of child support.

Subd. 3.Evidence.

The court may receive evidence on the factors in this section to determine if the guidelines should be exceeded or modified in a particular case.

Subd. 4.Payments assigned to public authority.

If the child support payments are assigned to the public authority under section 256.741, the court may not deviate downward from the child support guidelines unless the court specifically finds that the failure to deviate downward would impose an extreme hardship on the obligor.

Subd. 5.Joint legal custody.

An award of joint legal custody is not a reason for deviation from the guidelines.

Subd. 6.Self-support limitation.

If, after payment of income and payroll taxes, the obligor can establish that they do not have enough for the self-support reserve, a downward deviation may be allowed.

PUBLIC AUTHORITY

518A.44 NOTICE TO PUBLIC AUTHORITY.

The petitioner shall notify the public authority of all proceedings for dissolution, legal separation, determination of parentage, or for the custody of a child, if either party is receiving public assistance or applies for it subsequent to the commencement of the proceeding. The notice must contain the full names of the parties to the proceeding, their Social Security account numbers, and their birth dates. After receipt of the notice, the court shall set child support as provided in section 518A.35. The court may order either or both parents owing a duty of support to a child of the marriage to pay an amount reasonable or necessary for the child's support, without regard to marital misconduct. The court shall approve a child support stipulation of the parties if each party is represented by independent counsel, unless the stipulation does not meet the conditions of section 518A.35. In other cases the court shall determine and order child support in a specific dollar amount in accordance with the guidelines and the other factors set forth in section 518A.43 and any departure therefrom. The court may also order the obligor to pay child support in the form of a percentage share of the obligor's net bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation, in addition to, or if the obligor receives no base pay, in lieu of, an order for a specific dollar amount.

518A.45 FAILURE OF NOTICE.

If the court in a dissolution, legal separation, or determination of parentage proceeding finds before issuing the order for judgment and decree, that notification has not been given to the public authority, the court shall set child support as provided in section 518A.35. In those proceedings in which no notification has been made pursuant to section 518A.44 and in which the public authority determines that the judgment is lower than the child support required by the guidelines in section 518A.35, it shall move the court for a redetermination of the support payments ordered so that the support payments comply with the guidelines.

518A.46 PROCEDURES FOR CHILD AND MEDICAL SUPPORT ORDERS AND PARENTAGE ORDERS IN THE EXPEDITED PROCESS.

Subdivision 1.General.

This section applies in cases in which support rights are assigned under section 256.741, subdivision 2, or where the public authority is providing services under an application for child support services.

Subd. 2.Role of nonattorney employees; general provisions.

(a) The county attorney shall review and approve as to form and content all pleadings and other legal documents prepared by nonattorney employees of the county agency for use in the expedited child support process.

(b) Under the direction of, and in consultation with, the county attorney, nonattorney employees of the county agency shall have authority to perform the following legal duties:

(1) meet and confer with parties by mail, telephone, electronic, or other means regarding legal issues;

(2) explain to parties the purpose, procedure, and function of the expedited child support process and the role and authority of nonattorney employees of the county agency regarding legal issues;

(3) prepare pleadings, including, but not limited to, summonses and complaints, notices, motions, subpoenas, orders to show cause, proposed orders, administrative orders, and stipulations and agreements;

(4) issue administrative subpoenas;

(5) prepare judicial notices;

(6) negotiate settlement agreements;

(7) attend and participate as a witness in hearings and other proceedings and, if requested by the child support magistrate, present evidence, agreements and stipulations of the parties, and any other information deemed appropriate by the magistrate;

(8) participate in such other activities and perform such other duties as delegated by the county attorney; and

(9) exercise other powers and perform other duties as permitted by statute or court rule.

(c) Nonattorney employees of the county agency may perform the following duties without direction from the county attorney:

(1) gather information on behalf of the public authority;

(2) prepare financial worksheets;

(3) obtain income information from the Department of Employment and Economic Development and other sources;

(4) serve documents on parties;

(5) file documents with the court;

(6) meet and confer with parties by mail, telephone, electronic, or other means regarding nonlegal issues;

(7) explain to parties the purpose, procedure, and function of the expedited child support process and the role and authority of nonattorney employees of the county agency regarding nonlegal issues; and

(8) perform such other routine nonlegal duties as assigned.

(d) Performance of the duties prescribed in paragraphs (b) and (c) by nonattorney employees of the county agency does not constitute the unauthorized practice of law for purposes of section 481.02.

Subd. 3.Contents of pleadings.

(a) In cases involving establishment or modification of a child support order, the initiating party shall include the following information, if known, in the pleadings:

(1) names, addresses, and dates of birth of the parties;

(2) Social Security numbers of the parties and the minor children of the parties, which information shall be considered private information and shall be available only to the parties, the court, and the public authority;

(3) other support obligations of the obligor;

(4) names and addresses of the parties' employers;

(5) gross income of the parties as calculated in section 518A.29;

(6) amounts and sources of any other earnings and income of the parties;

(7) health insurance coverage of parties;

(8) types and amounts of public assistance received by the parties, including Minnesota family investment plan, child care assistance, medical assistance, title IV-E foster care, or other form of assistance as defined in section 256.741, subdivision 1; and

(9) any other information relevant to the computation of the child support obligation under section 518A.34.

(b) For all matters scheduled in the expedited process, whether or not initiated by the public authority, the nonattorney employee of the public authority shall file with the court and serve on the parties the following information:

(1) information pertaining to the income of the parties available to the public authority from the Department of Employment and Economic Development;

(2) a statement of the monthly amount of child support, medical support, child care, and arrears currently being charged the obligor on Minnesota IV-D cases;

(3) a statement of the types and amount of any public assistance, as defined in section 256.741, subdivision 1, received by the parties; and

(4) any other information relevant to the determination of support that is known to the public authority and that has not been otherwise provided by the parties.

The information must be filed with the court or child support magistrate at least five days before any hearing involving child support, medical support, or child care reimbursement issues.

Subd. 3a.Contents of pleadings for medical support modifications.

(a) In cases involving modification of only the medical support portion of a child support order under section 518A.39, subdivision 8, the initiating party shall include the following information, if known, in the pleadings:

(1) names, addresses, and dates of birth of the parties;

(2) Social Security numbers of the parties and the minor children of the parties, which shall be considered private information and shall be available only to the parties, the court, and the public authority;

(3) names and addresses of the parties' employers;

(4) gross income of the parties as stated in the order being modified;

(5) health insurance coverage of the parties; and

(6) any other information relevant to the determination of the medical support obligation under section 518A.41.

(b) For all matters scheduled in the expedited process, whether or not initiated by the public authority, the nonattorney employee of the public authority shall file with the court and serve on the parties the following information:

(1) a statement of the monthly amount of child support, medical support, child care, and arrears currently being charged the obligor on Minnesota IV-D cases;

(2) a statement of the amount of medical assistance received by the parties; and

(3) any other information relevant to the determination of medical support that is known to the public authority and that has not been otherwise provided by the parties.

The information must be filed with the court or child support magistrate at least five days before the hearing on the motion to modify medical support.

Subd. 4.Noncontested matters.

Under the direction of the county attorney and based on agreement of the parties, nonattorney employees may prepare a stipulation, findings of fact, conclusions of law, and proposed order. The documents must be approved and signed by the county attorney as to form and content before submission to the court or child support magistrate for approval.

Subd. 5.Administrative authority.

(a) The public authority may take the following actions relating to establishment of paternity or to establishment, modification, or enforcement of support orders, without the necessity of obtaining an order from any judicial or administrative tribunal:

(1) recognize and enforce orders of child support agencies of other states;

(2) upon request for genetic testing by a child, parent, or any alleged parent, and using the procedure in paragraph (b), order the child, parent, or alleged parent to submit to blood or genetic testing for the purpose of establishing paternity;

(3) subpoena financial or other information needed to establish, modify, or enforce a child support order and sanction a party for failure to respond to a subpoena;

(4) upon notice to the obligor, obligee, and the appropriate court, direct the obligor or other payor to change the payee to the central collections unit under sections 518A.54 to 518A.56;

(5) order income withholding of child support under section 518A.53 and sanction an employer or payor of funds pursuant to section 393.07, subdivision 9a, for failing to comply with an income withholding notice;

(6) secure assets to satisfy the debt or arrearage in cases in which there is a support debt or arrearage by:

(i) intercepting or seizing periodic or lump-sum payments from state or local agencies, including unemployment benefits, workers' compensation payments, judgments, settlements, lotteries, and other lump-sum payments;

(ii) attaching and seizing assets of the obligor held in financial institutions or public or private retirement funds; and

(iii) imposing liens in accordance with section 548.091 and, in appropriate cases, forcing the sale of property and the distribution of proceeds;

(7) for the purpose of securing overdue support, increase the amount of the monthly support payments by an additional amount equal to 20 percent of the monthly support payment to include amounts for debts or arrearages;

(8) subpoena an employer or payor of funds to provide promptly information on the employment, compensation, and benefits of an individual employed by that employer as an employee or contractor, and sanction an employer or payor of funds pursuant to section 393.07, subdivision 9a, for failure to respond to the subpoena; and

(9) redirect basic support, medical support, and child care support to a caregiver using the procedures in subdivision 7. As used in this clause, "caregiver" means a person or entity now caring for the child:

(i) as a result of a voluntary placement agreement under section 260C.227 that does not address redirection of child support;

(ii) as a result of a court-ordered placement that does not address redirection of child support; or

(iii) receiving public assistance as defined in section 256.741, subdivision 1, for the child.

(b) A request for genetic testing by a child, parent, or alleged parent must be supported by a sworn statement by the person requesting genetic testing alleging paternity, which sets forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility of the requisite sexual contact between the parties, or denying paternity, and setting forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility of the nonexistence of sexual contact between the alleged parties. The order for genetic tests may be served anywhere within the state and served outside the state in the same manner as prescribed by law for service of subpoenas issued by the district court of this state. If the child, parent, or alleged parent fails to comply with the genetic testing order, the public authority may seek to enforce that order in district court through a motion to compel testing. No results obtained through genetic testing done in response to an order issued under this section may be used in any criminal proceeding.

(c) Subpoenas may be served anywhere within the state and served outside the state in the same manner as prescribed by law for service of process of subpoenas issued by the district court of this state. When a subpoena under this subdivision is served on a third-party record keeper, written notice of the subpoena shall be mailed to the person who is the subject of the subpoenaed material at the person's last known address within three days of the day the subpoena is served. This notice provision does not apply if there is reasonable cause to believe the giving of the notice may lead to interference with the production of the subpoenaed documents.

(d) A person served with a subpoena may make a written objection to the public authority or court before the time specified in the subpoena for compliance. The public authority or the court shall cancel or modify the subpoena, if appropriate. The public authority shall pay the reasonable costs of producing the documents, if requested.

(e) Subpoenas are enforceable in the same manner as subpoenas of the district court. Upon motion of the county attorney, the court may issue an order directing the production of the records. Failure to comply with the court order may subject the person who fails to comply to civil or criminal contempt of court.

(f) The administrative actions under this subdivision are subject to due process safeguards, including requirements for notice, opportunity to contest the action, and opportunity to appeal the order to the judge, judicial officer, or child support magistrate.

Subd. 6.Sharing of information.

The public authority may share available and relevant information on the parties in order to perform its duties under this section or under supreme court rules governing the expedited child support hearing process under section 484.702, subject to the limitations of sections 256.87, subdivision 8; 257.70; and 518.005, subdivision 5.

Subd. 7.Administrative redirection of support.

(a) The public authority must provide written notice of redirection to the obligee, the obligor, and the caregiver. The notice must be mailed to the obligor, obligee, and caregiver at the obligee's, the obligor's, and the caregiver's respective last known address. The notice must state the name of the child or children for whom support will be redirected, to whom the support will be redirected, the date the support will be redirected, and the amount of the support that will be redirected. The notice must also inform the parties of the right to contest the redirection of support according to paragraph (c).

(b) If fewer than all of the children for whom the support is ordered reside with the caregiver, the public authority must redirect the proportional share of the support for the number of children residing with the caregiver.

(c) The obligee or obligor may contest the redirection of support on the limited grounds that:

(1) the child or children do not reside or no longer reside with the caregiver;

(2) under an out-of-home placement plan under section 260C.212, subdivision 1, that includes a plan for reunification, all or part of the support is needed to maintain the obligee's home; or

(3) the redirection of support is not in the best interests of the child.

(d) To contest the redirection, the obligee or obligor must make a written request for a hearing to the public authority within 30 calendar days of the date of the written notice of redirection. The hearing must be held at the earliest practicable time, but no later than 30 calendar days from the date the public authority receives the written request for a hearing. If the public authority receives a timely written request for a hearing, the public authority must schedule a hearing and serve the obligee and the obligor with a notice of hearing at least 14 days before the date of the hearing. The notice must be served personally or by mail at the obligee's and the obligor's respective last known address. The public authority must file with the court the notice of hearing along with the notice of redirection at least five days before the scheduled hearing. The court administrator must schedule these hearings to be heard in the expedited process before a child support magistrate, but may schedule these hearings in district court if the availability of a child support magistrate does not permit a hearing to occur within the time frames of this subdivision.

(e) If neither the obligee nor the obligor contests the redirection of support under this subdivision, support must be redirected to the caregiver effective the first day of the month following the expiration of the time period to contest under paragraph (d). If the obligee or the obligor contests the redirection of support under paragraph (d), the public authority must not redirect support to the caregiver pending the outcome of the hearing.

(f) The redirection of the basic support, medical support, and child care support terminates and the public authority must direct support to the obligee if the public authority determines that:

(1) the caregiver for the child no longer receives public assistance for the child;

(2) the voluntary placement agreement expires; or

(3) the court order placing the child is no longer in effect.

(g) The public authority must notify the obligee, obligor, and caregiver of a termination of the redirection of support by mailing a written notice to each of them at their last known address. The termination is effective the first day of the month that occurs at least 14 calendar days after the date the notice is mailed.

518A.47 PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES BY THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY.

Subdivision 1.General.

(a) The provision of services under the child support enforcement program that includes services by an attorney or an attorney's representative employed by, under contract to, or representing the public authority does not create an attorney-client relationship with any party other than the public authority. Attorneys employed by or under contract with the public authority have an affirmative duty to inform applicants and recipients of services under the child support enforcement program that no attorney-client relationship exists between the attorney and the applicant or recipient. This section applies to all legal services provided by the child support enforcement program.

(b) The written notice must inform the individual applicant or recipient of services that no attorney-client relationship exists between the attorney and the applicant or recipient; the rights of the individual as a subject of data under section 13.04, subdivision 2; and that the individual has a right to have an attorney represent the individual.

(c) Data disclosed by an applicant for, or recipient of, child support services to an attorney employed by, or under contract with, the public authority is private data on an individual. However, the data may be disclosed under section 13.46, subdivision 2, clauses (1) to (3) and (6) to (19), under subdivision 2, and in order to obtain, modify or enforce child support, medical support, and parentage determinations.

(d) An attorney employed by, or under contract with, the public authority may disclose additional information received from an applicant for, or recipient of, services for other purposes with the consent of the individual applicant for, or recipient of, child support services.

Subd. 2.Access to address for service of process.

(a) If there is an IV-D case as defined in section 518A.26, a party may obtain an ex parte order under this subdivision. The party may obtain an ex parte order requiring the public authority to serve legal documents on the other party by mail if the party submits a sworn affidavit to the court stating that:

(1) the party needs to serve legal process in a support proceeding and does not have access to the address of the other party;

(2) the party has made reasonable efforts to locate the other party; and

(3) the other party is not represented by counsel.

(b) The public authority shall serve legal documents provided by the moving party at the last known address of the other party upon receipt of a court order under paragraph (a). The public authority shall provide for appropriate service and shall certify to all parties the date of service by mail. The public authority's proof of service must not include the place or address of service.

(c) The state court administrator shall prepare and make available forms for use in seeking access to an address under this subdivision.

518A.48 SUFFICIENCY OF NOTICE.

Automated child support notices sent by the public authority which do not require service are sufficient notice when issued and mailed by first class mail to the person's last known address.

518A.49 ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS; JUDGMENT.

(a) The public agency responsible for child support enforcement is joined as a party in each case in which rights are assigned under section 256.741, subdivision 2. The court administrator shall enter and docket a judgment obtained by operation of law under section 548.091, subdivision 1, in the name of the public agency to the extent that the obligation has been assigned. When arrearages are reduced to judgment under circumstances in which section 548.091 is not applicable, the court shall grant judgment in favor of, and in the name of, the public agency to the extent that the arrearages are assigned. After filing notice of an assignment with the court administrator, who shall enter the notice in the docket, the public agency may enforce a judgment entered before the assignment of rights as if the judgment were granted to it, and in its name, to the extent that the arrearages in that judgment are assigned.

(b) The public authority is a real party in interest in any IV-D case where there has been an assignment of support. In all other IV-D cases, the public authority has a pecuniary interest, as well as an interest in the welfare of the children involved in those cases. The public authority may intervene as a matter of right in those cases to ensure that child support orders are obtained and enforced which provide for an appropriate and accurate level of child, medical, and child care support. If the public authority participates in an IV-D case where the action taken by the public authority requires the use of an attorney's services, the public authority shall be represented by an attorney consistent with the provisions in section 518A.47.

518A.50 PAYMENT TO PUBLIC AGENCY.

(a) This section applies to all proceedings involving a support order, including, but not limited to, a support order establishing an order for past support or reimbursement of public assistance.

(b) The court shall direct that all payments ordered for maintenance or support be made to the public authority responsible for child support enforcement so long as the obligee is receiving or has applied for public assistance, or has applied for child support or maintenance collection services. Public authorities responsible for child support enforcement may act on behalf of other public authorities responsible for child support enforcement, including the authority to represent the legal interests of or execute documents on behalf of the other public authority in connection with the establishment, enforcement, and collection of child support, maintenance, or medical support, and collection on judgments.

(c) Payments made to the public authority must be credited as of the date the payment is received by the central collections unit, except that payments made under section 518A.53 may be considered to have been paid as of the date the obligor received the remainder of the income.

(d) Monthly amounts received by the public agency responsible for child support enforcement from the obligor that are greater than the monthly amount of public assistance granted to the obligee must be remitted to the obligee.

518A.51 FEES FOR IV-D SERVICES.

(a) When a recipient of IV-D services is no longer receiving assistance under the state's title IV-A, IV-E foster care, or medical assistance programs, the public authority responsible for child support enforcement must notify the recipient, within five working days of the notification of ineligibility, that IV-D services will be continued unless the public authority is notified to the contrary by the recipient. The notice must include the implications of continuing to receive IV-D services, including the available services and fees, cost recovery fees, and distribution policies relating to fees.

(b) In the case of an individual who has never received assistance under a state program funded under title IV-A of the Social Security Act and for whom the public authority has collected at least $550 of support, the public authority must impose an annual federal collections fee of $35 for each case in which services are furnished. This fee must be retained by the public authority from support collected on behalf of the individual, but not from the first $550 collected.

(c) When the public authority provides full IV-D services to an obligee who has applied for those services, upon written notice to the obligee, the public authority must charge a cost recovery fee of two percent of the amount collected. This fee must be deducted from the amount of the child support and maintenance collected and not assigned under section 256.741 before disbursement to the obligee. This fee does not apply to an obligee who:

(1) is currently receiving assistance under the state's title IV-A, IV-E foster care, or medical assistance programs; or

(2) has received assistance under the state's title IV-A or IV-E foster care programs, until the person has not received this assistance for 24 consecutive months.

(d) When the public authority provides full IV-D services to an obligor who has applied for such services, upon written notice to the obligor, the public authority must charge a cost recovery fee of two percent of the monthly court-ordered child support and maintenance obligation. The fee may be collected through income withholding, as well as by any other enforcement remedy available to the public authority responsible for child support enforcement.

(e) Fees assessed by state and federal tax agencies for collection of overdue support owed to or on behalf of a person not receiving public assistance must be imposed on the person for whom these services are provided. The public authority upon written notice to the obligee shall assess a fee of $25 to the person not receiving public assistance for each successful federal tax interception. The fee must be withheld prior to the release of the funds received from each interception and deposited in the general fund.

(f) Federal collections fees collected under paragraph (b) and cost recovery fees collected under paragraphs (c) and (d) retained by the commissioner of human services shall be considered child support program income according to Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 304.50, and shall be deposited in the special revenue fund account established under paragraph (h). The commissioner of human services must elect to recover costs based on either actual or standardized costs.

(g) The limitations of this section on the assessment of fees shall not apply to the extent inconsistent with the requirements of federal law for receiving funds for the programs under title IV-A and title IV-D of the Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 601 to 613 and United States Code, title 42, sections 651 to 662.

(h) The commissioner of human services is authorized to establish a special revenue fund account to receive the federal collections fees collected under paragraph (b) and cost recovery fees collected under paragraphs (c) and (d).

(i) The nonfederal share of the cost recovery fee revenue must be retained by the commissioner and distributed as follows:

(1) one-half of the revenue must be transferred to the child support system special revenue account to support the state's administration of the child support enforcement program and its federally mandated automated system;

(2) an additional portion of the revenue must be transferred to the child support system special revenue account for expenditures necessary to administer the fees; and

(3) the remaining portion of the revenue must be distributed to the counties to aid the counties in funding their child support enforcement programs.

(j) The nonfederal share of the federal collections fees must be distributed to the counties to aid them in funding their child support enforcement programs.

(k) The commissioner of human services shall distribute quarterly any of the funds dedicated to the counties under paragraphs (i) and (j) using the methodology specified in section 256.979, subdivision 11. The funds received by the counties must be reinvested in the child support enforcement program and the counties must not reduce the funding of their child support programs by the amount of the funding distributed.

518A.52 OVERPAYMENTS.

If child support or maintenance is not assigned under section 256.741, and an obligor has overpaid a child support or maintenance obligation because of a modification or error in the amount owed, the public authority shall:

(1) apply the amount of the overpayment to reduce the amount of any child support or maintenance-related arrearages or debts owed to the obligee; and

(2) if an overpayment exists after the reduction of any arrearage or debt, reduce the amount of the child support remitted to the obligee by an amount no greater than 20 percent of the current monthly support or maintenance obligation and remit this amount to the obligor until the overpayment is reduced to zero.

PAYMENT AND COLLECTIONS

518A.53 INCOME WITHHOLDING.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

(a) For the purpose of this section, the following terms have the meanings provided in this subdivision unless otherwise stated.

(b) "Payor of funds" means any person or entity that provides funds to an obligor, including an employer as defined under chapter 24 of the Internal Revenue Code, section 3401(d), an independent contractor, payor of worker's compensation benefits or unemployment benefits, or a financial institution as defined in section 13B.06.

(c) "Business day" means a day on which state offices are open for regular business.

(d) "Arrears" has the meaning given in section 518A.26, subdivision 3.

Subd. 2.Application.

This section applies to all support orders issued by a court or an administrative tribunal and orders for or notices of withholding issued by the public authority.

Subd. 3.Order.

Every support order must address income withholding. Whenever a support order is initially entered or modified, the full amount of the support order must be subject to income withholding from the income of the obligor. If the obligee or obligor applies for either full IV-D services or for income withholding only services from the public authority responsible for child support enforcement, the full amount of the support order must be withheld from the income of the obligor and forwarded to the public authority. Every order for support or maintenance shall provide for a conspicuous notice of the provisions of this section that complies with section 518.68, subdivision 2. An order without this notice remains subject to this section. This section applies regardless of the source of income of the person obligated to pay the support or maintenance.

A payor of funds shall implement income withholding according to this section upon receipt of an order for or notice of withholding. The notice of withholding shall be on a form provided by the commissioner of human services.

Subd. 4.Collection services.

(a) The commissioner of human services shall prepare and make available to the courts a notice of services that explains child support and maintenance collection services available through the public authority, including income withholding, and the fees for such services. Upon receiving a petition for dissolution of marriage or legal separation, the court administrator shall promptly send the notice of services to the petitioner and respondent at the addresses stated in the petition.

(b) Either the obligee or obligor may at any time apply to the public authority for either full IV-D services or for income withholding only services.

(c) For those persons applying for income withholding only services, a monthly service fee of $15 must be charged to the obligor. This fee is in addition to the amount of the support order and shall be withheld through income withholding. The public authority shall explain the service options in this section to the affected parties and encourage the application for full child support collection services.

(d) If the obligee is not a current recipient of public assistance as defined in section 256.741, the person who applied for services may at any time choose to terminate either full IV-D services or income withholding only services regardless of whether income withholding is currently in place. The obligee or obligor may reapply for either full IV-D services or income withholding only services at any time.

(e) When a person terminates IV-D services, if an arrearage for public assistance as defined in section 256.741 exists, the public authority may continue income withholding, as well as use any other enforcement remedy for the collection of child support, until all public assistance arrears are paid in full. Income withholding shall be in an amount equal to 20 percent of the support order in effect at the time the services terminated, unless the court has ordered a specific monthly payback amount to be applied toward the arrears. If a support order includes a specific monthly payback amount, income withholding shall be for the specific monthly payback amount ordered.

Subd. 5.Payor of funds responsibilities.

(a) An order for or notice of withholding is binding on a payor of funds upon receipt. Withholding must begin no later than the first pay period that occurs after 14 days following the date of receipt of the order for or notice of withholding. In the case of a financial institution, preauthorized transfers must occur in accordance with a court-ordered payment schedule.

(b) A payor of funds shall withhold from the income payable to the obligor the amount specified in the order or notice of withholding and amounts specified under subdivisions 6 and 9 and shall remit the amounts withheld to the public authority within seven business days of the date the obligor is paid the remainder of the income. The payor of funds shall include with the remittance the Social Security number of the obligor, the case type indicator as provided by the public authority and the date the obligor is paid the remainder of the income. A payor of funds may combine all amounts withheld from one pay period into one payment to each public authority, but shall separately identify each obligor making payment.

(c) A payor of funds shall not discharge, or refuse to hire, or otherwise discipline an employee as a result of wage or salary withholding authorized by this section. A payor of funds shall be liable to the obligee for any amounts required to be withheld. A payor of funds that fails to withhold or transfer funds in accordance with this section is also liable to the obligee for interest on the funds at the rate applicable to judgments under section 549.09, computed from the date the funds were required to be withheld or transferred. A payor of funds is liable for reasonable attorney fees of the obligee or public authority incurred in enforcing the liability under this paragraph. A payor of funds that has failed to comply with the requirements of this section is subject to contempt sanctions under section 518A.73. If the payor of funds is an employer or independent contractor and violates this subdivision, a court may award the obligor twice the wages lost as a result of this violation. If a court finds a payor of funds violated this subdivision, the court shall impose a civil fine of not less than $500. The liabilities in this paragraph apply to intentional noncompliance with this section.

(d) If a single employee is subject to multiple withholding orders or multiple notices of withholding for the support of more than one child, the payor of funds shall comply with all of the orders or notices to the extent that the total amount withheld from the obligor's income does not exceed the limits imposed under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, United States Code, title 15, section 1673(b), giving priority to amounts designated in each order or notice as current support as follows:

(1) if the total of the amounts designated in the orders for or notices of withholding as current support exceeds the amount available for income withholding, the payor of funds shall allocate to each order or notice an amount for current support equal to the amount designated in that order or notice as current support, divided by the total of the amounts designated in the orders or notices as current support, multiplied by the amount of the income available for income withholding; and

(2) if the total of the amounts designated in the orders for or notices of withholding as current support does not exceed the amount available for income withholding, the payor of funds shall pay the amounts designated as current support, and shall allocate to each order or notice an amount for past due support, equal to the amount designated in that order or notice as past due support, divided by the total of the amounts designated in the orders or notices as past due support, multiplied by the amount of income remaining available for income withholding after the payment of current support.

(e) When an order for or notice of withholding is in effect and the obligor's employment is terminated, the obligor and the payor of funds shall notify the public authority of the termination within ten days of the termination date. The termination notice shall include the obligor's home address and the name and address of the obligor's new payor of funds, if known.

(f) A payor of funds may deduct one dollar from the obligor's remaining salary for each payment made pursuant to an order for or notice of withholding under this section to cover the expenses of withholding.

Subd. 6.Financial institutions.

(a) If income withholding is ineffective due to the obligor's method of obtaining income, the court shall order the obligor to identify a child support deposit account owned solely by the obligor, or to establish an account, in a financial institution located in this state for the purpose of depositing court-ordered child support payments. The court shall order the obligor to execute an agreement with the appropriate public authority for preauthorized transfers from the obligor's child support account payable to an account of the public authority. The court shall order the obligor to disclose to the court all deposit accounts owned by the obligor in whole or in part in any financial institution. The court may order the obligor to disclose to the court the opening or closing of any deposit account owned in whole or in part by the obligor within 30 days of the opening or closing. The court may order the obligor to execute an agreement with the appropriate public authority for preauthorized transfers from any deposit account owned in whole or in part by the obligor to the obligor's child support deposit account if necessary to satisfy court-ordered child support payments. The court may order a financial institution to disclose to the court the account number and any other information regarding accounts owned in whole or in part by the obligor. An obligor who fails to comply with this subdivision, fails to deposit funds in at least one deposit account sufficient to pay court-ordered child support, or stops payment or revokes authorization of any preauthorized transfer is subject to contempt of court procedures under chapter 588.

(b) A financial institution shall execute preauthorized transfers for the deposit accounts of the obligor in the amount specified in the order and amounts required under this section as directed by the public authority. A financial institution is liable to the obligee if funds in any of the obligor's deposit accounts identified in the court order equal the amount stated in the preauthorization agreement but are not transferred by the financial institution in accordance with the agreement.

Subd. 7.Subsequent income withholding.

(a) This subdivision applies to support orders that do not contain provisions for income withholding.

(b) For cases in which the public authority is providing child support enforcement services to the parties, the income withholding under this subdivision shall take effect without prior judicial notice to the obligor and without the need for judicial or administrative hearing. Withholding shall result when:

(1) the obligor requests it in writing to the public authority;

(2) the obligee or obligor serves on the public authority a copy of the notice of income withholding, a copy of the court's order, an application, and the fee to use the public authority's collection services; or

(3) the public authority commences withholding according to section 518A.46, subdivision 5, paragraph (a), clause (5).

(c) For cases in which the public authority is not providing child support services to the parties, income withholding under this subdivision shall take effect when an obligee requests it by making a written motion to the court and the court finds that previous support has not been paid on a timely consistent basis or that the obligor has threatened expressly or otherwise to stop or reduce payments.

(d) Within two days after the public authority commences withholding under this subdivision, the public authority shall send to the obligor at the obligor's last known address, notice that withholding has commenced. The notice shall include the information provided to the payor of funds in the notice of withholding.

Subd. 8.Contest.

(a) The obligor may contest withholding under subdivision 7 on the limited grounds that the withholding or the amount withheld is improper due to mistake of fact. If the obligor chooses to contest the withholding, the obligor must do so no later than 15 days after the employer commences withholding, upon proper motion pursuant to section 484.702 and the rules of the expedited child support process.

(b) The income withholding must remain in place while the obligor contests the withholding.

(c) If the court finds a mistake in the amount of the arrearage to be withheld, the court shall continue the income withholding, but it shall correct the amount of the arrearage to be withheld.

Subd. 9.Priority.

(a) An order for or notice of withholding under this section or execution or garnishment upon a judgment for child support arrearage or preadjudicated expenses shall have priority over an attachment, execution, garnishment, or wage assignment and shall not be subject to the statutory limitations on amounts levied against the income of the obligor. Amounts withheld from an employee's income must not exceed the maximum permitted under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, title 15 of the United States Code, section 1673(b).

(b) If more than one order for or notice of withholding exists involving the same obligor and child, the public authority shall enforce the most recent order or notice. An order for or notice of withholding that was previously implemented according to this section shall end as of the date of the most recent order. The public authority shall notify the payor of funds to withhold under the most recent withholding order or notice.

Subd. 10.Arrearage order.

(a) This section does not prevent the court from ordering the payor of funds to withhold amounts to satisfy the obligor's previous arrearage in support order payments. This remedy shall not operate to exclude availability of other remedies to enforce judgments. The employer or payor of funds shall withhold from the obligor's income an additional amount equal to 20 percent of the monthly child support or maintenance obligation until the arrearage is paid, unless the court has ordered a specific monthly payback amount toward the arrears. If a support order includes a specific monthly payback amount, the employer or payor of funds shall withhold from the obligor's income an additional amount equal to the specific monthly payback amount ordered until all arrearages are paid.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, funds from income sources included in section 518A.26, subdivision 8, whether periodic or lump sum, are not exempt from attachment or execution upon a judgment for child support arrearage.

(c) Absent an order to the contrary, if an arrearage exists at the time a support order would otherwise terminate, income withholding shall continue in effect or may be implemented in an amount equal to the support order plus an additional 20 percent of the monthly child support obligation, until all arrears have been paid in full.

Subd. 11.Lump-sum payments.

Before transmittal to the obligor of a lump-sum payment of $500 or more including, but not limited to, severance pay, accumulated sick pay, vacation pay, bonuses, commissions, or other pay or benefits, a payor of funds:

(1) who has been served with an order for or notice of income withholding under this section shall:

(i) notify the public authority of the lump-sum payment that is to be paid to the obligor;

(ii) hold the lump-sum payment for 30 days after the date on which the lump-sum payment would otherwise have been paid to the obligor, notwithstanding sections 176.221, 176.225, 176.521, 181.08, 181.101, 181.11, 181.13, and 181.145; and

(iii) upon order of the court, and after a showing of past willful nonpayment of support, pay any specified amount of the lump-sum payment to the public authority for future support; or

(2) shall pay the lessor of the amount of the lump-sum payment or the total amount of the judgment and arrearages upon service by United States mail of a sworn affidavit from the public authority or a court order that includes the following information:

(i) that a judgment entered pursuant to section 548.091, subdivision 1a, exists against the obligor, or that other support arrearages exist;

(ii) the current balance of the judgment or arrearage; and

(iii) that a portion of the judgment or arrearage remains unpaid.

Subd. 12.Interstate income withholding.

(a) Upon receipt of an order for support entered in another state and the specified documentation from an authorized agency, the public authority shall implement income withholding. A payor of funds in this state shall withhold income under court orders for withholding issued by other states or territories.

(b) An employer receiving an income withholding notice from another state shall withhold and distribute the funds as directed in the withholding notice and shall apply the law of the obligor's principal place of employment when determining:

(1) the employer's fee for processing an income withholding notice;

(2) the maximum amount permitted to be withheld from the obligor's income; and

(3) deadlines for implementing and forwarding the child support payment.

(c) An obligor may contest withholding under this subdivision pursuant to section 518C.506.

Subd. 13.Order terminating income withholding.

An order terminating income withholding must specify the effective date of the order and reference the initial order or decree that establishes the support obligation and shall be entered once the following conditions have been met:

(1) the obligor serves written notice of the application for termination of income withholding by mail upon the obligee at the obligee's last known mailing address, and a duplicate copy of the application is served on the public authority;

(2) the application for termination of income withholding specifies the event that terminates the support obligation, the effective date of the termination of the support obligation, and the applicable provisions of the order or decree that established the support obligation;

(3) the application includes the complete name of the obligor's payor of funds, the business mailing address, the court action and court file number, and the support and collections file number, if known; and

(4) after receipt of the application for termination of income withholding, the obligee or the public authority fails within 20 days to request a contested hearing on the issue of whether income withholding of support should continue clearly specifying the basis for the continued support obligation and, ex parte, to stay the service of the order terminating income withholding upon the obligor's payor of funds, pending the outcome of the contested hearing.

Subd. 14.Termination by public authority.

If the public authority determines that income withholding is no longer applicable, the public authority shall notify the obligee and the obligor of intent to terminate income withholding.

Five days following notification to the obligee and obligor, the public authority shall issue a notice to the payor of funds terminating income withholding, without a requirement for a court order unless the obligee has requested an expedited child support hearing under section 484.702.

Subd. 15.Contract for service.

To carry out the provisions of this section, the public authority responsible for child support enforcement may contract for services, including the use of electronic funds transfer.

Subd. 16.Waiver.

(a) If the public authority is providing child support and maintenance enforcement services and child support or maintenance is not assigned under section 256.741, the court may waive the requirements of this section if:

(1) one party demonstrates and the court determines there is good cause to waive the requirements of this section or to terminate an order for or notice of income withholding previously entered under this section. The court must make written findings to include the reasons income withholding would not be in the best interests of the child. In cases involving a modification of support, the court must also make a finding that support payments have been timely made; or

(2) the obligee and obligor sign a written agreement providing for an alternative payment arrangement which is reviewed and entered in the record by the court.

(b) If the public authority is not providing child support and maintenance enforcement services and child support or maintenance is not assigned under section 256.741, the court may waive the requirements of this section if the parties sign a written agreement.

(c) If the court waives income withholding, the obligee or obligor may at any time request income withholding under subdivision 7.

Subd. 17.Nonliability; payor of funds.

A payor of funds who complies with an income withholding order or notice of withholding according to this chapter or chapter 518C, that appears regular on its face shall not be subject to civil liability to any individual or agency for taking action in compliance with the order or notice.

Subd. 18.Electronic transmission.

Orders or notices for withholding under this section may be transmitted for enforcement purposes by electronic means.

Subd. 19.Timing of automated enforcement remedies.

The public authority shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that automated enforcement remedies take into consideration the time periods allowed under this section.

518A.54 CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT CENTER; DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Scope.

For the purposes of the child support center established under sections 518A.54 to 518A.56, the following terms have the meanings given.

Subd. 2.Central collections unit.

"Central collections unit" means the unit created under section 518A.55.

Subd. 3.Local child support agency.

"Local child support agency" means the entity at the county level that is responsible for providing child support enforcement services.

Subd. 4.Payment.

"Payment" means the payment of child support, medical support, maintenance, and related payments required by order of a tribunal, voluntary support, or statutory fees.

Subd. 5.Tribunal.

"Tribunal" has the meaning given in section 518C.101.

Subd. 6.Creditor collections.

The central collections unit under this section is not a third party under chapters 550, 552, and 571 for purposes of creditor collection efforts against child support and maintenance order obligors or obligees, and shall not be subject to creditor levy, attachment, or garnishment.

Subd. 7.Unclaimed support funds.

"Unclaimed support funds" means any support payments collected by the public authority from the obligor, which have not been disbursed to the obligee or public authority.

518A.55 CENTRAL COLLECTIONS UNIT.

The commissioner of human services shall create and maintain a central collections unit for the purpose of receiving, processing, and disbursing payments, and for maintaining a record of payments, in all cases in which:

(1) the state or county is a party;

(2) the state or county provides child support enforcement services to a party; or

(3) payment is collected through income withholding.

The commissioner may contract for services to carry out these provisions, provided that the commissioner first meets and negotiates with the affected exclusive representatives.

518A.56 MANDATORY PAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS TO CENTRAL COLLECTIONS UNIT.

Subdivision 1.Location of payment.

All payments described in section 518A.55 must be made to the central collections unit.

Subd. 2.Agency designation of location.

Each local child support agency shall provide a location within the agency to receive payments. A local agency receiving a payment shall transmit the funds to the central collections unit within one working day of receipt of the payment.

Subd. 3.Incentives.

Notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, incentives must be paid to the county providing services and maintaining the case to which the payment is applied. Incentive payments awarded for the collection of child support must be based solely upon payments processed by the central collections unit. Incentive payments received by the county under this subdivision shall be used for county child support collection efforts.

Subd. 4.Electronic transfer of funds.

The central collections unit is authorized to engage in the electronic transfer of funds for the receipt and disbursement of funds.

Subd. 5.Required content of order.

A tribunal issuing an order that establishes or modifies a payment shall issue an income withholding order in conformity with section 518A.53. The automatic income withholding order must include the name of the obligor, the obligor's Social Security number, the obligor's date of birth, and the name and address of the obligor's employer. The street mailing address and the electronic mail address for the central collections unit must be included in each automatic income withholding order issued by a tribunal.

Subd. 6.Transmittal of order to local agency by tribunal.

The tribunal shall transmit a copy of the order establishing or modifying the payment, and a copy of the automatic income withholding order, to the local child support agency within two working days of the approval of the order by the judge or child support magistrate or other person or entity authorized to sign the automatic withholding order.

Subd. 7.Transmittal of funds from obligor or payor of funds to central collections unit.

The obligor or other payor of funds shall identify the obligor on the check or remittance by name, payor number, and Social Security number, and shall comply with section 518A.53.

Subd. 8.Sanction for checks drawn on insufficient funds.

A notice may be directed to any person or entity submitting a check drawn on insufficient funds stating that future payment must be paid by cash or certified funds. The central collections unit and the local child support agency may refuse a check from a person or entity that has been given notice that payments must be in cash or certified funds.

Subd. 9.Admissibility of payment records.

A copy of the record of payments maintained by the central collections unit in section 518A.55 is admissible evidence in all tribunals as proof of payments made through the central collections unit without the need of testimony to prove authenticity.

Subd. 10.Transition provisions.

(a) The commissioner of human services shall develop a plan for the implementation of the central collections unit. The plan must require that payments be redirected to the central collections unit. Payments may be redirected in groups according to county of origin, county of payment, method of payment, type of case, or any other distinguishing factor designated by the commissioner.

(b) Notice that payments must be made to the central collections unit must be provided to the obligor and to the payor of funds within 30 days prior to the redirection of payments to the central collections unit. After the notice has been provided to the obligor or payor of funds, mailed payments received by a local child support agency must be forwarded to the central collections unit. A notice must be sent to the obligor or payor of funds stating that payment application may be delayed and provide directions to submit future payment to the central collections unit.

Subd. 11.Collections unit recoupment account.

The commissioner of human services may establish a revolving account to cover funds issued in error due to insufficient funds or other reasons. Appropriations for this purpose and all recoupments against payments from the account shall be deposited in the collections unit's recoupment account and are appropriated to the commissioner. Any unexpended balance in the account does not cancel, but is available until expended.

Subd. 12.Unclaimed support funds.

(a) If support payments have not been disbursed to an obligee because the obligee is not located, the public authority shall continue locate efforts for one year from the date the public authority determines that the obligee is not located.

(b) If the public authority is unable to locate the obligee after one year, the public authority shall mail a written notice to the obligee at the obligee's last known address. The notice shall give the obligee 60 days to contact the public authority. If the obligee does not contact the public authority within 60 days from the date of notice, the public authority shall:

(1) close the nonpublic assistance portion of the case;

(2) disburse unclaimed support funds to pay public assistance arrears. If public assistance arrears remain after disbursing the unclaimed support funds, the public authority may continue enforcement and collection of child support until all public assistance arrears have been paid. If there are no public assistance arrears, or unclaimed support funds remain after paying public assistance arrears, remaining unclaimed support funds shall be returned to the obligor; and

(3) mail, when all public assistance arrears have been paid the public authority, to the obligor at the obligor's last known address a written notice of termination of income withholding and case closure due to the public authority's inability to locate the obligee. The notice must indicate that the obligor's support or maintenance obligation will remain in effect until further order of the court and must inform the obligor that the obligor can contact the public authority for assistance to modify the order. A copy of the form prepared by the state court administrator's office under section 518A.39, subdivision 6, must be included with the notice.

(c) If the obligor is not located when attempting to return unclaimed support funds, the public authority shall continue locate efforts for one year from the date the public authority determines that the obligor is not located. If the public authority is unable to locate the obligor after one year, the funds shall be treated as unclaimed property according to federal law and chapter 345.

Subd. 13.Child support payment center.

Payments to the commissioner from other governmental units, private enterprises, and individuals for services performed by the child support payment center must be deposited in the state systems account authorized under section 256.014. These payments are appropriated to the commissioner for the operation of the child support payment center or system, according to section 256.014.

518A.57 NOTICE OF ORDER.

Whenever these laws require service of a court's order on an employer, union, or payor of funds, service of a verified notice of order may be made in lieu thereof. The verified notice shall contain the title of the action, the name of the court, the court file number, the date of the court order, and shall recite the operative provisions of the order.

518A.58 ESCROW ACCOUNT; CHILD SUPPORT; MAINTENANCE OBLIGATION.

Subdivision 1.Stay of service.

If the court finds there is no arrearage in child support or maintenance as of the date of the court hearing, the court shall stay service of the order under section 518A.53 if the obligor establishes a savings account for a sum equal to two months of the monthly child support or maintenance obligation and provides proof of the establishment to the court and the public authority on or before the day of the court hearing determining the obligation. This sum must be held in a financial institution in an interest-bearing account with only the public authority authorized as drawer of funds. Proof of the establishment must include the financial institution name and address, account number, and the amount of deposit.

Subd. 2.Release of stay.

Within three working days of receipt of notice of default, the public authority shall direct the financial institution to release to the public authority the sum held under this subdivision when the following conditions are met:

(1) the obligor fails to pay the support amount to the obligee or the public authority within ten days of the date it is ordered to be paid;

(2) the obligee transmits a notice of default to the public authority and makes application to the public authority for child support and maintenance collection services. The notice must be verified by the obligee and must contain the title of the action, the court file number, the full name and address of the obligee, the name and last known address of the obligor, the obligor's last known employer or other payor of funds, the date of the first unpaid amount, the date of the last unpaid amount, and the total amount unpaid; and

(3) within three working days of receipt of notice from the obligee, the public authority sends a copy of the notice of default and a notice of intent to implement income withholding by mail to the obligor at the address given. The notice of intent shall state that the order establishing the support or maintenance obligation will be served on the obligor's employer or payor of funds unless within 15 days after the mailing of the notice the obligor requests a hearing on the issue of whether payment was in default as of the date of the notice of default and serves notice of the request for hearing on the public authority and the obligee.

Subd. 3.Duties of public authority.

Within three working days of receipt of sums released under subdivision 2, the public authority shall remit to the obligee all amounts not assigned under section 256.741 as current support or maintenance. The public authority shall also serve a copy of the court's order and the provisions of section 518A.53 and this section on the obligor's employer or other payor of funds unless within 15 days after mailing of the notice of intent to implement income withholding the obligor makes a proper motion pursuant to section 484.702 and the rules of the expedited child support process. The public authority shall instruct the employer or payor of funds pursuant to section 518A.53 as to the effective date on which the next support or maintenance payment is due. The withholding process must begin on said date and shall reflect the total credits of principal and interest amounts received from the escrow account.

Subd. 4.Hearing.

Within 30 days of the date of the notice of default under subdivision 2, clause (2), the court must hold a hearing if a motion is brought by the obligor as set forth in subdivision 2. If the court finds that there was a default, the court shall order the immediate withholding of support or maintenance from the obligor's income. If the court finds that there was no default, the court shall order the reestablishment of the escrow account by either the obligee or obligor and continue the stay of income withholding.

Subd. 5.Termination of stay.

When the obligation for support of a child or for spousal maintenance ends under the terms of the order or decree establishing the obligation and the sum held under this section has not otherwise been released, the public authority shall release the sum and interest to the obligor when the following conditions are met:

(1) the obligor transmits a notice of termination to the public authority. The notice shall be verified by the obligor and contain the title of the action, the court file number, the full name and address of the obligee, specify the event that ends the support or maintenance obligation, the effective date of the termination of support or maintenance obligation, and the applicable provisions of the order or decree that established the support or maintenance obligation;

(2) the public authority sends a copy of the notice of termination to the obligee; and

(3) the obligee fails within 20 days after mailing of the notice under clause (2) to request a hearing on the issue of whether the support or maintenance obligation continues and serve notice of the request for hearing on the obligor and the public authority.

518A.59 MS 2022 [Repealed, 2023 c 70 art 14 s 43]

518A.60 COLLECTION; ARREARS ONLY.

(a) Remedies available for the collection and enforcement of support in this chapter and chapters 256, 257, 518, and 518C also apply to cases in which the child or children for whom support is owed are emancipated and the obligor owes past support or has an accumulated arrearage as of the date of the youngest child's emancipation. Child support arrearages under this section include arrearages for child support, medical support, child care, pregnancy and birth expenses, and unreimbursed medical expenses as defined in section 518A.41, subdivision 1, paragraph (h).

(b) This section applies retroactively to any support arrearage that accrued on or before June 3, 1997, and to all arrearages accruing after June 3, 1997.

(c) Past support or pregnancy and confinement expenses ordered for which the obligor has specific court ordered terms for repayment may not be enforced using drivers' and occupational or professional license suspension and credit bureau reporting, unless the obligor fails to comply with the terms of the court order for repayment.

(d) If an arrearage exists at the time a support order would otherwise terminate and section 518A.53, subdivision 10, paragraph (c), does not apply to this section, the arrearage shall be repaid in an amount equal to the current support order until all arrears have been paid in full, absent a court order to the contrary.

(e) If an arrearage exists according to a support order which fails to establish a monthly support obligation in a specific dollar amount, the public authority, if it provides child support services, or the obligee, may establish a payment agreement which shall equal what the obligor would pay for current support after application of section 518A.34, plus an additional 20 percent of the current support obligation, until all arrears have been paid in full. If the obligor fails to enter into or comply with a payment agreement, the public authority, if it provides child support services, or the obligee, may move the district court or child support magistrate, if section 484.702 applies, for an order establishing repayment terms.

(f) If there is no longer a current support order because all of the children of the order are emancipated, the public authority may discontinue child support services and close its case under title IV-D of the Social Security Act if:

(1) the arrearage is under $500; or

(2) the arrearage is considered unenforceable by the public authority because there have been no collections for three years, and all administrative and legal remedies have been attempted or are determined by the public authority to be ineffective because the obligor is unable to pay, the obligor has no known income or assets, and there is no reasonable prospect that the obligor will be able to pay in the foreseeable future.

(g) At least 60 calendar days before the discontinuation of services under paragraph (f), the public authority must mail a written notice to the obligee and obligor at the obligee's and obligor's last known addresses that the public authority intends to close the child support enforcement case and explaining each party's rights. Seven calendar days after the first notice is mailed, the public authority must mail a second notice under this paragraph to the obligee.

(h) The case must be kept open if the obligee responds before case closure and provides information that could reasonably lead to collection of arrears. If the case is closed, the obligee may later request that the case be reopened by completing a new application for services, if there is a change in circumstances that could reasonably lead to the collection of arrears.

518A.61 COLLECTION; REVENUE RECAPTURE.

The public authority may submit debt under chapter 270A only if the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments, or both, in an amount greater than the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments or if the debt has been entered and docketed as a judgment.

518A.62 CHILD SUPPORT DEBT AND ARREARAGE MANAGEMENT.

In order to reduce and otherwise manage support debts and arrearages, the parties, including the public authority where arrearages have been assigned to the public authority, may compromise unpaid support debts or arrearages owed by one party to another, whether or not docketed as a judgment. A party may agree or disagree to compromise only those debts or arrearages owed to that party.

518A.63 TRUSTEE.

(a) Upon its own motion or upon motion of either party, the court may appoint a trustee, when it is deemed expedient, to receive any money ordered to be paid as maintenance or support money for remittance to the person entitled to receive the payments. The trustee may also receive property which is part of an award under section 518.58, upon trust to invest the same, and pay over the income in the manner the court directs, or to pay over the principal sum in the proportions and at the times the court orders. The court shall have regard in all cases to the situation and circumstances of the recipient, and the children, if there are any. The trustee shall give a bond, as the court requires, for the faithful performance of the trust. If it appears that the recipient of money ordered to be paid as support will receive public assistance, the court shall appoint as trustee the public authority responsible for support enforcement.

(b) The trustee shall maintain records listing the amount of payments, the date when payments are required to be made, and the names and addresses of the parties affected by the order.

(c) The parties affected by the order shall inform the trustee of a change of address or of other conditions that may affect the administration of the order.

(d) If a required payment of support or of maintenance and support combined is not made within ten days after the due date, the trustee shall send by first class mail notice of the arrearage to the obligor. If payment of the sum due is not received by the trustee within ten days after sending notice, the trustee shall certify the amount due to the public authority responsible for support enforcement, whenever that authority is not the trustee. If the public authority responsible for support enforcement refers the arrearage to the county attorney, the county attorney may initiate enforcement proceedings against the obligor for support or for maintenance and support combined.

(e) The public authority responsible for support enforcement may represent a person entitled to receive support or maintenance or both in court proceedings initiated under this section to enforce compliance with a support order or combined maintenance and support orders.

(f) If the person obligated to pay support or maintenance is beyond the jurisdiction of the court, the county attorney may institute any proceeding available under state or federal law for the enforcement of duties of support or maintenance.

ENFORCEMENT

518A.64 ADMINISTRATIVE SEEK EMPLOYMENT ORDERS.

Subdivision 1.Court order.

For any support order being enforced by the public authority, the public authority may seek a court order requiring the obligor to seek employment if:

(1) employment of the obligor cannot be verified;

(2) the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments; and

(3) the obligor is not in compliance with a written payment plan.

Upon proper notice being given to the obligor, the court may enter a seek employment order if it finds that the obligor has not provided proof of gainful employment and has not consented to an order for income withholding under section 518A.53 or entered into a written payment plan approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority.

Subd. 2.Contents of order.

The order to seek employment shall:

(1) order that the obligor seek employment within a determinate amount of time;

(2) order that the obligor file with the public authority on a weekly basis a report of at least five new attempts to find employment or of having found employment, which report must include the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any employers or businesses with whom the obligor attempted to seek employment and the name of the individual contact to whom the obligor made application for employment or to whom an inquiry was directed;

(3) notify the obligor that failure to comply with the order is evidence of a willful failure to pay support under section 518A.72;

(4) order that the obligor provide the public authority with verification of any reason for noncompliance with the order; and

(5) specify the duration of the order, not to exceed three months.

518A.65 DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION.

(a) Upon motion of an obligee, which has been properly served on the obligor and upon which there has been an opportunity for hearing, if a court finds that the obligor has been or may be issued a driver's license by the commissioner of public safety and the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments, or both, in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments and is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority, the court may order the commissioner of public safety to suspend the obligor's driver's license. The court may consider the circumstances in paragraph (i) to determine whether driver's license suspension is an appropriate remedy that is likely to induce the payment of child support. The court may consider whether driver's license suspension would have a direct harmful effect on the obligor or joint children that would make driver's license suspension an inappropriate remedy. The public authority may not administratively reinstate a driver's license suspended by the court unless specifically authorized to do so in the court order. This paragraph expires December 31, 2025.

(b) This paragraph is effective January 1, 2026. Upon the motion of an obligee that has been properly served on the obligor and for which there has been an opportunity for a hearing, if a court finds that the obligor has a valid driver's license issued by the commissioner of public safety and the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments, or both, in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments and is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority, the court may order the commissioner of public safety to suspend the obligor's driver's license. The court may consider the circumstances in paragraph (i) to determine whether driver's license suspension is an appropriate remedy that is likely to induce the payment of child support. The court may consider whether driver's license suspension would have a direct harmful effect on the obligor or joint children that would make driver's license suspension an inappropriate remedy. The public authority may not administratively reinstate a driver's license suspended by the court unless specifically authorized to do so in the court order.

(c) The court's order must be stayed for 90 days in order to allow the obligor to execute a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69. The payment agreement must be approved by either the court or the public authority responsible for child support enforcement. If the obligor has not executed or is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 after the 90 days expires, the court's order becomes effective and the commissioner of public safety shall suspend the obligor's driver's license. The remedy under this section is in addition to any other enforcement remedy available to the court. An obligee may not bring a motion under this paragraph within 12 months of a denial of a previous motion under this paragraph.

(d) If a public authority responsible for child support enforcement determines that the obligor has been or may be issued a driver's license by the commissioner of public safety; the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments and not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority, the public authority shall direct the commissioner of public safety to suspend the obligor's driver's license unless exercising administrative discretion under paragraph (i). The remedy under this section is in addition to any other enforcement remedy available to the public authority. This paragraph expires December 31, 2025.

(e) This paragraph is effective January 1, 2026. If a public authority responsible for child support enforcement determines that:

(1) the obligor has a valid driver's license issued by the commissioner of public safety;

(2) the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments;

(3) the obligor is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority; and

(4) the obligor's mailing address is known to the public authority;

then the public authority shall direct the commissioner of public safety to suspend the obligor's driver's license unless exercising administrative discretion under paragraph (i). The remedy under this section is in addition to any other enforcement remedy available to the public authority.

(f) At least 90 days prior to notifying the commissioner of public safety according to paragraph (d), the public authority must mail a written notice to the obligor at the obligor's last known address, that it intends to seek suspension of the obligor's driver's license and that the obligor must request a hearing within 30 days in order to contest the suspension. If the obligor makes a written request for a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice, a court hearing must be held. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the obligor must be served with 14 days' notice in writing specifying the time and place of the hearing and the allegations against the obligor. The notice must include information that apprises the obligor of the requirement to develop a written payment agreement that is approved by a court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority responsible for child support enforcement regarding child support, maintenance, and any arrearages in order to avoid license suspension. The notice may be served personally or by mail. If the public authority does not receive a request for a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice, and the obligor does not execute a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the public authority within 90 days of the date of the notice, the public authority shall direct the commissioner of public safety to suspend the obligor's driver's license under paragraph (d).

(g) At a hearing requested by the obligor under paragraph (f), and on finding that the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments, the district court or child support magistrate shall order the commissioner of public safety to suspend the obligor's driver's license or operating privileges unless:

(1) the court or child support magistrate determines that the obligor has executed and is in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority; or

(2) the court, in its discretion, determines that driver's license suspension is unlikely to induce the payment of child support or would have direct harmful effects on the obligor or joint child that make driver's license suspension an inappropriate remedy. The court may consider the circumstances in paragraph (i) in exercising the court's discretion.

(h) An obligor whose driver's license or operating privileges are suspended may:

(1) provide proof to the public authority responsible for child support enforcement that the obligor is in compliance with all written payment agreements pursuant to section 518A.69;

(2) bring a motion for reinstatement of the driver's license. At the hearing, if the court or child support magistrate orders reinstatement of the driver's license, the court or child support magistrate must establish a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69; or

(3) seek a limited license under section 171.30. A limited license issued to an obligor under section 171.30 expires 90 days after the date it is issued.

Within 15 days of the receipt of that proof or a court order, the public authority shall inform the commissioner of public safety that the obligor's driver's license or operating privileges should no longer be suspended.

(i) Prior to notifying the commissioner of public safety that an obligor's driver's license should be suspended or after an obligor's driving privileges have been suspended, the public authority responsible for child support enforcement may use administrative authority to end the suspension process or inform the commissioner of public safety that the obligor's driving privileges should no longer be suspended under any of the following circumstances:

(1) the full amount of court-ordered payments have been received for at least one month;

(2) an income withholding notice has been sent to an employer or payor of money;

(3) payments less than the full court-ordered amount have been received and the circumstances of the obligor demonstrate the obligor's substantial intent to comply with the order;

(4) the obligor receives public assistance;

(5) the case is being reviewed by the public authority for downward modification due to changes in the obligor's financial circumstances or a party has filed a motion to modify the child support order;

(6) the obligor no longer lives in the state and the child support case is in the process of interstate enforcement;

(7) the obligor is currently incarcerated for one week or more or is receiving in-patient treatment for physical health, mental health, chemical dependency, or other treatment. This clause applies for six months after the obligor is no longer incarcerated or receiving in-patient treatment;

(8) the obligor is temporarily or permanently disabled and unable to pay child support;

(9) the obligor has presented evidence to the public authority that the obligor needs driving privileges to maintain or obtain the obligor's employment;

(10) the obligor has not had a meaningful opportunity to pay toward arrears; or

(11) other circumstances of the obligor indicate that a temporary condition exists for which the suspension of the obligor's driver's license for the nonpayment of child support is not appropriate. When considering whether the suspension of the obligor's driver's license is appropriate, the public authority must assess: (i) whether the suspension of the obligor's driver's license is likely to induce the payment of child support; and (ii) whether the suspension of the obligor's driver's license would have direct harmful effects on the obligor or joint children that make driver's license suspension an inappropriate remedy.

The presence of circumstances in this paragraph does not prevent the public authority from proceeding with a suspension of the obligor's driver's license.

(j) In addition to the criteria established under this section for the suspension of an obligor's driver's license, a court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority may direct the commissioner of public safety to suspend the license of a party who has failed, after receiving notice, to comply with a subpoena relating to a paternity or child support proceeding. Notice to an obligor of intent to suspend must be served by first class mail at the obligor's last known address. The notice must inform the obligor of the right to request a hearing. If the obligor makes a written request within ten days of the date of the hearing, a hearing must be held. At the hearing, the only issues to be considered are mistake of fact and whether the obligor received the subpoena.

(k) The license of an obligor who fails to remain in compliance with an approved written payment agreement may be suspended. Prior to suspending a license for noncompliance with an approved written payment agreement, the public authority must mail to the obligor's last known address a written notice that (1) the public authority intends to seek suspension of the obligor's driver's license under this paragraph, and (2) the obligor must request a hearing, within 30 days of the date of the notice, to contest the suspension. If, within 30 days of the date of the notice, the public authority does not receive a written request for a hearing and the obligor does not comply with an approved written payment agreement, the public authority must direct the Department of Public Safety to suspend the obligor's license under paragraph (d). If the obligor makes a written request for a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice, a court hearing must be held. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the obligor must be served with 14 days' notice in writing specifying the time and place of the hearing and the allegations against the obligor. The notice may be served personally or by mail at the obligor's last known address. If the obligor appears at the hearing and the court determines that the obligor has failed to comply with an approved written payment agreement, the court or public authority shall notify the Department of Public Safety to suspend the obligor's license under paragraph (d). If the obligor fails to appear at the hearing, the court or public authority must notify the Department of Public Safety to suspend the obligor's license under paragraph (d).

518A.66 OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE SUSPENSION.

(a) Upon motion of an obligee, if the court finds that the obligor is or may be licensed by a licensing board listed in section 214.01 or other state, county, or municipal agency or board that issues an occupational license and the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments and is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority, the court shall direct the licensing board or other licensing agency to suspend the license under section 214.101. The court's order must be stayed for 90 days in order to allow the obligor to execute a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69. The payment agreement must be approved by either the court or the public authority responsible for child support enforcement. If the obligor has not executed or is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 after the 90 days expires, the court's order becomes effective. If the obligor is a licensed attorney, the court shall report the matter to the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board for appropriate action in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct. The remedy under this section is in addition to any other enforcement remedy available to the court.

(b) If a public authority responsible for child support enforcement finds that the obligor is or may be licensed by a licensing board listed in section 214.01 or other state, county, or municipal agency or board that issues an occupational license and the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments and is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority, the court or the public authority shall direct the licensing board or other licensing agency to suspend the license under section 214.101. If the obligor is a licensed attorney, the public authority may report the matter to the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board for appropriate action in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct. The remedy under this section is in addition to any other enforcement remedy available to the public authority.

(c) At least 90 days before notifying a licensing authority or the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board under paragraph (b), the public authority shall mail a written notice to the license holder addressed to the license holder's last known address that the public authority intends to seek license suspension under this section and that the license holder must request a hearing within 30 days in order to contest the suspension. If the license holder makes a written request for a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice, a court hearing or a hearing under section 484.702 must be held. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the license holder must be served with 14 days' notice in writing specifying the time and place of the hearing and the allegations against the license holder. The notice may be served personally or by mail. If the public authority does not receive a request for a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice, and the obligor does not execute a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the public authority within 90 days of the date of the notice, the public authority shall direct the licensing board or other licensing agency to suspend the obligor's license under paragraph (b), or shall report the matter to the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board.

(d) The public authority or the court shall notify the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board for appropriate action in accordance with the Rules of Professional Responsibility Conduct or order the licensing board or licensing agency to suspend the license if the judge finds that:

(1) the person is licensed by a licensing board or other state agency that issues an occupational license;

(2) the person has not made full payment of arrearages found to be due by the public authority; and

(3) the person has not executed or is not in compliance with a payment plan approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority.

(e) Within 15 days of the date on which the obligor either makes full payment of arrearages found to be due by the court or public authority or executes and initiates good faith compliance with a written payment plan approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority, the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority responsible for child support enforcement shall notify the licensing board or licensing agency or the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board that the obligor is no longer ineligible for license issuance, reinstatement, or renewal under this section.

(f) In addition to the criteria established under this section for the suspension of an obligor's occupational license, a court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority may direct the licensing board or other licensing agency to suspend the license of a party who has failed, after receiving notice, to comply with a subpoena relating to a paternity or child support proceeding. Notice to an obligor of intent to suspend must be served by first class mail at the obligor's last known address. The notice must inform the obligor of the right to request a hearing. If the obligor makes a written request within ten days of the date of the hearing, a hearing must be held. At the hearing, the only issues to be considered are mistake of fact and whether the obligor received the subpoena.

(g) The license of an obligor who fails to remain in compliance with an approved written payment agreement may be suspended. Prior to suspending a license for noncompliance with an approved written payment agreement, the public authority must mail to the obligor's last known address a written notice that (1) the public authority intends to seek suspension of the obligor's occupational license under this paragraph, and (2) the obligor must request a hearing, within 30 days of the date of the notice, to contest the suspension. If, within 30 days of the date of the notice, the public authority does not receive a written request for a hearing and the obligor does not comply with an approved written payment agreement, the public authority must direct the licensing board or other licensing agency to suspend the obligor's license under paragraph (b), and, if the obligor is a licensed attorney, must report the matter to the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board. If the obligor makes a written request for a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice, a court hearing must be held. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the obligor must be served with 14 days' notice in writing specifying the time and place of the hearing and the allegations against the obligor. The notice may be served personally or by mail to the obligor's last known address. If the obligor appears at the hearing and the court determines that the obligor has failed to comply with an approved written payment agreement, the court or public authority must notify the occupational licensing board or other licensing agency to suspend the obligor's license under paragraph (b) and, if the obligor is a licensed attorney, must report the matter to the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board. If the obligor fails to appear at the hearing, the court or public authority must notify the occupational licensing board or other licensing agency to suspend the obligor's license under paragraph (b), and if the obligor is a licensed attorney, must report the matter to the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board.

518A.67 MOTOR VEHICLE LIEN.

(a) Upon motion of an obligee, if a court finds that the obligor is a debtor for a judgment debt resulting from nonpayment of court-ordered child support or maintenance payments, or both, in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments, the court shall order the commissioner of public safety to enter a lien in the name of the obligee or in the name of the state of Minnesota, as appropriate, in accordance with section 168A.05, subdivision 8, unless the court finds that the obligor is in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority. The court's order must be stayed for 90 days in order to allow the obligor to execute a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69, which shall be approved by either the court or the public authority responsible for child support enforcement. If the obligor has not executed or is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority within the 90-day period, the court's order becomes effective and the commissioner of public safety shall record the lien on any motor vehicle certificate of title subsequently issued in the name of the obligor. The remedy under this section is in addition to any other enforcement remedy available to the court.

(b) If a public authority responsible for child support enforcement determines that the obligor is a debtor for judgment debt resulting from nonpayment of court-ordered child support or maintenance payments, or both, in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments, the public authority shall direct the commissioner of public safety to enter a lien in the name of the obligee or in the name of the state of Minnesota, as appropriate, under section 168A.05, subdivision 8, on any motor vehicle certificate of title subsequently issued in the name of the obligor unless the public authority determines that the obligor is in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority. The remedy under this section is in addition to any other enforcement remedy available to the public agency.

(c) At least 90 days prior to notifying the commissioner of public safety pursuant to paragraph (b), the public authority must mail a written notice to the obligor at the obligor's last known address, that it intends to record a lien on any motor vehicle certificate of title subsequently issued in the name of the obligor and that the obligor must request a hearing within 30 days in order to contest the action. If the obligor makes a written request for a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice, a court hearing must be held. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the obligor must be served with 14 days' notice in writing specifying the time and place of the hearing and the allegations against the obligor. The notice may be served personally or by mail. If the public authority does not receive a request for a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice and the obligor does not execute or is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by the public authority within 90 days of the date of the notice, the public authority shall direct the commissioner of public safety to record the lien under paragraph (b).

(d) At a hearing requested by the obligor under paragraph (c), and on finding that the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments, the district court or child support magistrate shall order the commissioner of public safety to record the lien unless the court or child support magistrate determines that the obligor has executed and is in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is determined to be acceptable by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority.

(e) An obligor may provide proof to the court or the public authority responsible for child support enforcement that the obligor is in compliance with all written payment agreements pursuant to section 518A.69 or that the value of the motor vehicle is less than the exemption provided under section 550.37. Within 15 days of the receipt of that proof, the court or public authority shall either execute a release of security interest under section 168A.20, subdivision 4, and mail or deliver the release to the owner or other authorized person or shall direct the commissioner of public safety not to enter a lien on any motor vehicle certificate of title subsequently issued in the name of the obligor in instances where a lien has not yet been entered.

(f) Any lien recorded against a motor vehicle certificate of title under this section and section 168A.05, subdivision 8, attaches only to the nonexempt value of the motor vehicle as determined in accordance with section 550.37. The value of a motor vehicle must be determined in accordance with the retail value described in the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, Midwest Edition, for the current year, or in accordance with the purchase price as defined in section 297B.01, subdivision 14.

518A.68 RECREATIONAL LICENSE SUSPENSION.

(a) Upon motion of an obligee or the public authority, and if the court finds that (1) the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments, or both, in an amount equal to or greater than six times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments and is not in compliance with a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69, or (2) has failed, after receiving notice, to comply with a subpoena relating to a paternity or child support proceeding, the court may direct the commissioner of natural resources to suspend or bar receipt of the obligor's recreational license or licenses. Prior to utilizing this section, the court must find that other substantial enforcement mechanisms have been attempted but have not resulted in compliance.

(b) For purposes of this section, a recreational license includes all licenses, permits, and stamps issued centrally by the commissioner of natural resources under sections 97B.301, 97B.401, 97B.501, 97B.515, 97B.601, 97B.715, 97B.721, 97B.801, 97C.301, and 97C.305.

(c) A motion to reinstate a recreational license by the obligor, obligee, or public authority may be granted if the court finds:

(1) the reason for the suspension was accrual of arrears and the obligor is in compliance with all written payment agreements pursuant to section 518A.69 or has paid the arrears in full;

(2) the reason for the suspension was failure to comply with a subpoena and the obligor has complied with the subpoena; or

(3) the original motion to suspend was brought by the public authority and the public authority attests that the IV-D case is eligible for closure.

Within 15 days of issuance of an order to reinstate the recreational license, the court shall notify the commissioner of natural resources that the obligor's recreational license or licenses should no longer be suspended nor should receipt be barred.

518A.685 CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY; REPORTING ARREARS.

(a) If a public authority determines that an obligor has not paid the current monthly support obligation plus any required arrearage payment for three months, the public authority may report this information to a consumer reporting agency.

(b) Before reporting that an obligor is in arrears for court-ordered child support, the public authority must:

(1) provide written notice to the obligor that the public authority intends to report the arrears to a consumer reporting agency; and

(2) mail the written notice to the obligor's last known mailing address at least 30 days before the public authority reports the arrears to a consumer reporting agency.

(c) The obligor may, within 21 days of receipt of the notice, do the following to prevent the public authority from reporting the arrears to a consumer reporting agency:

(1) pay the arrears in full;

(2) request an administrative review. An administrative review is limited to issues of mistaken identity, a pending legal action involving the arrears, or an incorrect arrears balance; or

(3) enter into a written payment agreement pursuant to section 518A.69 that is approved by a court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority responsible for child support enforcement.

(d) A public authority that reports arrearage information under this section must make monthly reports to a consumer reporting agency. The monthly report must be consistent with credit reporting industry standards for child support.

(e) For purposes of this section, "consumer reporting agency" has the meaning given in section 13C.001, subdivision 4, and United States Code, title 15, section 1681a(f).

518A.69 PAYMENT AGREEMENTS.

In proposing or approving proposed written payment agreements for purposes of this chapter, the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority shall take into consideration the amount of the arrearages, the amount of the current support order, any pending request for modification, and the earnings of the obligor. The court, child support magistrate, or public authority shall consider the individual financial circumstances of each obligor in evaluating the obligor's ability to pay any proposed payment agreement and shall propose a reasonable payment agreement tailored to the individual financial circumstances of each obligor. The court, child support magistrate, or public authority also shall consider a graduated payment plan tailored to the individual financial circumstances of each obligor.

518A.70 DATA ON SUSPENSIONS FOR SUPPORT ARREARS.

Notwithstanding section 13.03, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), data on an occupational license suspension under section 518A.66 or a driver's license suspension under section 518A.65 that are transferred by the Department of Human Services to respectively the Department of Public Safety or any state, county, or municipal occupational licensing agency must have the same classification at the Department of Public Safety or other receiving agency under section 13.02 as other license suspension data held by the receiving agency. The transfer of the data does not affect the classification of the data in the hands of the Department of Human Services.

518A.71 SECURITY; SEQUESTRATION; CONTEMPT.

In all cases when maintenance or support payments are ordered, the court may require sufficient security to be given for the payment of them according to the terms of the order. Upon neglect or refusal to give security, or upon failure to pay the maintenance or support, the court may sequester the obligor's personal estate and the rents and profits of real estate of the obligor, and appoint a receiver of them. The court may cause the personal estate and the rents and profits of the real estate to be applied according to the terms of the order. The obligor is presumed to have an income from a source sufficient to pay the maintenance or support order. A child support or maintenance order constitutes prima facie evidence that the obligor has the ability to pay the award. If the obligor disobeys the order, it is prima facie evidence of contempt. The court may cite the obligor for contempt under this section, section 518A.72, or chapter 588.

518A.72 CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS FOR NONPAYMENT OF SUPPORT.

Subdivision 1.Grounds.

If a person against whom an order or decree for support has been entered under this chapter, chapter 256, chapter 518, or a comparable law from another jurisdiction, is in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance payments in an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance payments and is not in compliance with a written payment plan approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority, the person may be cited and punished by the court for contempt under section 518A.39, chapter 588, or this section. Failure to comply with a seek employment order entered under section 518A.64 is evidence of willful failure to pay support.

Subd. 2.Court options.

(a) If a court cites a person for contempt under this section, and the obligor lives in a county that contracts with the commissioner of human services under section 256.997, the court may order the performance of community service work up to 32 hours per week for six weeks for each finding of contempt if the obligor:

(1) is able to work full time;

(2) works an average of less than 32 hours per week; and

(3) has actual weekly gross income averaging less than 40 times the federal minimum hourly wage under United States Code, title 29, section 206(a)(1), or is voluntarily earning less than the obligor has the ability to earn, as determined by the court.

An obligor is presumed to be able to work full time. The obligor has the burden of proving inability to work full time.

(b) A person ordered to do community service work under paragraph (a) may, during the six-week period, apply to the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority to be released from the community service work requirement if the person:

(1) provides proof to the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority that the person is gainfully employed and submits to an order for income withholding under section 518A.53;

(2) enters into a written payment plan regarding both current support and arrearages approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority; or

(3) provides proof to the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority that, subsequent to entry of the order, the person's circumstances have so changed that the person is no longer able to fulfill the terms of the community service order.

Subd. 3.Continuing obligations.

The performance of community service work does not relieve a child support obligor of any unpaid accrued or accruing support obligation.

518A.73 EMPLOYER CONTEMPT.

Subdivision 1.Orders binding.

Notices or orders for income withholding or medical support issued pursuant to sections 518A.41 and 518A.53 are binding on the employer, trustee, or other payor of funds after the order or notice for income withholding or enforcement of medical support has been transmitted pursuant to section 518A.53 to the employer, trustee, or payor of funds.

Subd. 2.Contempt action.

An obligee or the public agency responsible for child support enforcement may initiate a contempt action against an employer, trustee, or payor of funds, within the action that created the support obligation, by serving an order to show cause upon the employer, trustee, or payor of funds.

The employer, trustee, or payor of funds is presumed to be in contempt:

(1) if the employer, trustee, or payor of funds has intentionally failed to withhold support after receiving the order or notice for income withholding or notice of enforcement of medical support; or

(2) upon presentation of pay stubs or similar documentation showing the employer, trustee, or payor of funds withheld support and demonstration that the employer, trustee, or payor of funds intentionally failed to remit support to the agency responsible for child support enforcement.

Subd. 3.Liability.

The employer, trustee, or payor of funds is liable to the obligee or the agency responsible for child support enforcement for any amounts required to be withheld that were not paid. The court may enter judgment against the employer, trustee, or payor of funds for support not withheld or remitted. An employer, trustee, or payor of funds found guilty of contempt shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250 as provided in chapter 588. The court may also impose other contempt sanctions authorized under chapter 588.

518A.735 ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT.

(a) A child support obligee is entitled to recover from the obligor reasonable attorney fees and other collection costs incurred to enforce a child support judgment, as provided in this section. In order to recover collection costs under this section, the arrearages must be at least $500 and must be at least 90 days past due. In addition, the arrearages must be a docketed judgment under sections 548.09 and 548.091. If the obligor pays in full the judgment rendered under section 548.091 within 20 days of receipt of notice of entry of judgment, the obligee is not entitled to recover attorney fees or collection costs under this section.

(b) Written notice must be provided by any obligee contracting with an attorney or collection entity to enforce a child support judgment to the public authority responsible for child support enforcement, if the public authority is a party or provides services to a party, within five days of signing a contract for services and within five days of receipting any payments received on a child support judgment. Attorney fees and collection costs obtained under this section are considered child support and entitled to the applicable remedies for collection and enforcement of child support.

(c) The obligee shall serve notice of the obligee's intent to recover attorney fees and collections costs by certified or registered mail on the obligor at the obligor's last known address. The notice must include an itemization of the attorney fees and collection costs being sought by the obligee and inform the obligor that the fees and costs will become an additional judgment for child support unless the obligor requests a hearing on the reasonableness of the fees and costs or to contest the child support judgment on grounds limited to mistake of fact within 20 days of mailing of the notice.

(d) If the obligor requests a hearing, the only issues to be determined by the court are whether the attorney fees or collection costs were reasonably incurred by the obligee for the enforcement of a child support judgment against the obligor or the validity of the child support judgment on grounds limited to mistake of fact. The fees and costs may not exceed 30 percent of the arrearages. The court may modify the amount of attorney fees and costs as appropriate and shall enter judgment accordingly.

(e) If the obligor fails to request a hearing within 20 days of mailing of the notice under paragraph (a), the amount of the attorney fees or collection costs requested by the obligee in the notice automatically becomes an additional judgment for child support.

(f) The commissioner of human services shall prepare and make available to the court and the parties forms for use in providing for notice and requesting a hearing under this section.

518A.74 PUBLICATION OF NAMES OF DELINQUENT CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGORS.

Subdivision 1.Making names public.

At least once each year, the commissioner of human services, in consultation with the attorney general, may publish a list of the names and other identifying information of no more than 25 persons who (1) are child support obligors, (2) are at least $10,000 in arrears, (3) are not in compliance with a written payment agreement regarding both current support and arrearages approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority, (4) cannot currently be located by the public authority for the purposes of enforcing a support order, and (5) have not made a support payment except tax intercept payments, in the preceding 12 months.

Identifying information may include the obligor's name, last known address, amount owed, date of birth, photograph, the number of children for whom support is owed, and any additional information about the obligor that would assist in identifying or locating the obligor. The commissioner and attorney general may use posters, media presentations, electronic technology, and other means that the commissioner and attorney general determine are appropriate for dissemination of the information, including publication on the Internet. The commissioner and attorney general may make any or all of the identifying information regarding these persons public. Information regarding an obligor who meets the criteria in this subdivision will only be made public subsequent to that person's selection by the commissioner and attorney general.

Before making public the name of the obligor, the Department of Human Services shall send a notice to the obligor's last known address which states the department's intention to make public information on the obligor. The notice must also provide an opportunity to have the obligor's name removed from the list by paying the arrearage or by entering into an agreement to pay the arrearage, or by providing information to the public authority that there is good cause not to make the information public. The notice must include the final date when the payment or agreement can be accepted.

The Department of Human Services shall obtain the written consent of the obligee to make the name of the obligor public.

Subd. 2.Names published in error.

If the commissioner makes public a name under subdivision 1 which is in error, the commissioner must also offer to publish a printed retraction and a public apology acknowledging that the name was made public in error. If the person whose name was made public in error elects the public retraction and apology, the retraction and apology must appear in the same medium and the same format as the original notice with the name listed in error. In addition to the right of a public retraction and apology, a person whose name was made public in error has a civil action for damages caused by the error.

518A.75 COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS IN MAINTENANCE OR CHILD SUPPORT ORDER.

Subdivision 1.Requirement.

(a) An order establishing, modifying, or enforcing maintenance or child support shall provide for a biennial adjustment in the amount to be paid based on a change in the cost of living. An order that provides for a cost-of-living adjustment shall specify the cost-of-living index to be applied and the date on which the cost-of-living adjustment shall become effective. The court may use the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, Minneapolis-St. Paul (CPI-U), the Consumer Price Index for wage earners and clerical, Minneapolis-St. Paul (CPI-W), or another cost-of-living index published by the Department of Labor which it specifically finds is more appropriate. Cost-of-living increases under this section shall be compounded. The court may also increase the amount by more than the cost-of-living adjustment by agreement of the parties or by making further findings.

(b) The adjustment becomes effective on the first of May of the year in which it is made, for cases in which payment is made to the public authority. For cases in which payment is not made to the public authority, application for an adjustment may be made in any month but no application for an adjustment may be made sooner than two years after the date of the dissolution decree. A court may waive the requirement of the cost-of-living clause if it expressly finds that the obligor's occupation or income, or both, does not provide for cost-of-living adjustment or that the order for maintenance or child support has a provision such as a step increase that has the effect of a cost-of-living clause. The court may waive a cost-of-living adjustment in a maintenance order if the parties so agree in writing. The commissioner of human services may promulgate rules for child support adjustments under this section in accordance with the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14. Notice of this statute must comply with section 518.68, subdivision 2.

Subd. 2.Notice.

No adjustment under this section may be made unless the order provides for it and the public authority or the obligee, if the obligee is requesting the cost-of-living adjustment, sends notice of the intended adjustment to the obligor at the obligor's last known address at least 20 days before the effective date of the adjustment. The notice shall inform the obligor of the date on which the adjustment will become effective and the procedures for contesting the adjustment.

Subd. 2a.Procedures for contesting adjustment.

(a) To contest cost-of-living adjustments initiated by the public authority or an obligee who has applied for or is receiving child support and maintenance collection services from the public authority, other than income withholding only services, the obligor, before the effective date of the adjustment, must:

(1) file a motion contesting the cost-of-living adjustment with the court administrator; and

(2) serve the motion by first-class mail on the public authority and the obligee.

The hearing shall take place in the expedited child support process as governed by section 484.702.

(b) To contest cost-of-living adjustments initiated by an obligee who is not receiving child support and maintenance collection services from the public authority, or for an obligee who receives income withholding only services from the public authority, the obligor must, before the effective date of the adjustment:

(1) file a motion contesting the cost-of-living adjustment with the court administrator; and

(2) serve the motion by first-class mail on the obligee.

The hearing shall take place in district court.

(c) Upon receipt of a motion contesting the cost-of-living adjustment, the cost-of-living adjustment shall be stayed pending further order of the court.

(d) The court administrator shall make available pro se motion forms for contesting a cost-of-living adjustment under this subdivision.

Subd. 3.Result of hearing.

If, at a hearing pursuant to this section, the obligor establishes an insufficient cost of living or other increase in income that prevents fulfillment of the adjusted maintenance or basic support obligation, the court or child support magistrate may direct that all or part of the adjustment not take effect. If, at the hearing, the obligor does not establish this insufficient increase in income, the adjustment shall take effect as of the date it would have become effective had no hearing been requested.

ADMINISTRATION

518A.76 CASE REVIEWER.

The commissioner shall make a case reviewer available to obligors and obligees. The reviewer must be available to answer questions concerning the collection process and to review the collection activity taken. A reviewer who reasonably believes that a particular action being taken is unreasonable or unfair may make recommendations to the commissioner and the applicable county in regard to the collection action.

518A.77 GUIDELINES REVIEW.

No later than 2006 and every four years after that, the Department of Human Services must conduct a review of the child support guidelines as required under Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 302.56 (h).

518A.78 WORKSHEET.

The commissioner of human services must create and publish a worksheet to assist in calculating child support under this chapter. The worksheet must not impose substantive requirements other than requirements contained in this chapter. The commissioner must update the worksheet by July 1 of each year. The commissioner must make an interactive version of the worksheet available on the Department of Human Services website.

518A.79 MS 2018 [Expired, 2016 c 189 art 15 s 22]

518A.80 MOTION TO TRANSFER TO TRIBAL COURT.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given.

(b) "Case participant" means a person who is a party to the case.

(c) "District court" means a district court of the state of Minnesota.

(d) "Party" means a person or entity named or admitted as a party or seeking to be admitted as a party in the district court action, including the county IV-D agency, regardless of whether the person or entity is named in the caption.

(e) "Tribal court" means a tribal court of a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Minnesota that is receiving funding from the federal government to operate a child support program under United States Code, title 42, chapter 7, subchapter IV, part D, sections 654 to 669b.

(f) "Tribal IV-D agency" has the meaning given in Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, part 309.05.

(g) "Title IV-D child support case" has the meaning given in section 518A.26, subdivision 10.

Subd. 2.Actions eligible for transfer.

Under this section, a postjudgment child support, custody, or parenting time action is eligible for transfer to a Tribal court. This section does not apply to a child protection action or a dissolution action involving a child.

Subd. 3.Motion to transfer.

(a) A party's or Tribal IV-D agency's motion to transfer a child support, custody, or parenting time action to a Tribal court shall include:

(1) the address of each case participant;

(2) the Tribal affiliation of each case participant, if applicable;

(3) the name, Tribal affiliation if applicable, and date of birth of each living minor or dependent child of a case participant who is subject to the action; and

(4) the legal and factual basis for the court to find that the district court and a Tribal court have concurrent jurisdiction in the case.

(b) A party or Tribal IV-D agency bringing a motion to transfer a child support, custody, or parenting time action to a Tribal court must file the motion with the district court and serve the required documents on each party and the Tribal IV-D agency, regardless of whether the Tribal IV-D agency is a party to the action.

(c) A party's or Tribal IV-D agency's motion to transfer a child support, custody, or parenting time action to a Tribal court must be accompanied by an affidavit setting forth facts in support of the motion.

(d) When a party other than the Tribal IV-D agency has filed a motion to transfer a child support, custody, or parenting time action to a Tribal court, an affidavit of the Tribal IV-D agency stating whether the Tribal IV-D agency provides services to a party must be filed and served on each party within 15 days from the date of service of the motion to transfer the action.

Subd. 4.Order to transfer to Tribal court.

(a) Unless a district court holds a hearing under subdivision 6, upon motion of a party or a Tribal IV-D agency, a district court must transfer a postjudgment child support, custody, or parenting time action to a Tribal court when the district court finds that:

(1) the district court and Tribal court have concurrent jurisdiction of the action;

(2) a case participant in the action is receiving services from the Tribal IV-D agency; and

(3) no party or Tribal IV-D agency files and serves a timely objection to transferring the action to a Tribal court.

(b) When the district court finds that each requirement of this subdivision is satisfied, the district court is not required to hold a hearing on the motion to transfer the action to a Tribal court. The district court's order transferring the action to a Tribal court must include written findings that describe how each requirement of this subdivision is met.

Subd. 5.Objection to motion to transfer.

(a) To object to a motion to transfer a child support, custody, or parenting time action to a Tribal court, a party or Tribal IV-D agency must file with the court and serve on each party and the Tribal IV-D agency a responsive motion objecting to the motion to transfer within 30 days of the motion to transfer's date of service.

(b) If a party or Tribal IV-D agency files with the district court and properly serves a timely objection to the motion to transfer a child support, custody, or parenting time action to a Tribal court, the district court must hold a hearing on the motion.

Subd. 6.Hearing.

If a district court holds a hearing under this section, the district court must evaluate and make written findings about all relevant factors, including:

(1) whether an issue requires interpretation of Tribal law, including the Tribal constitution, statutes, bylaws, ordinances, resolutions, treaties, or case law;

(2) whether the action involves Tribal traditional or cultural matters;

(3) whether the tribe is a party to the action;

(4) whether Tribal sovereignty, jurisdiction, or territory is an issue in the action;

(5) the Tribal membership status of each case participant in the action;

(6) where the claim arises that forms the basis of the action;

(7) the location of the residence of each case participant in the action and each child who is a subject of the action;

(8) whether the parties have by contract chosen a forum or the law to be applied in the event of a dispute;

(9) the timing of any motion to transfer the action to a Tribal court, each party's expenditure of time and resources, the court's expenditure of time and resources, and the district court's scheduling order;

(10) which court will hear and decide the action more expeditiously;

(11) the burden on each party if the court transfers the action to a Tribal court, including costs, access to and admissibility of evidence, and matters of procedure; and

(12) any other factor that the court determines to be relevant.

Subd. 7.Future exercise of jurisdiction.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the district court's exercise of jurisdiction when the Tribal court waives jurisdiction, transfers the action back to district court, or otherwise declines to exercise jurisdiction over the action.

Subd. 8.Transfer to Red Lake Nation Tribal Court.

When a party or Tribal IV-D agency brings a motion to transfer a child support, custody, or parenting time action to the Red Lake Nation Tribal Court, the court must transfer the action to the Red Lake Nation Tribal Court if the case participants and child resided within the boundaries of the Red Lake Reservation for six months preceding the motion to transfer the action to the Red Lake Nation Tribal Court.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes