Child support is money paid from one parent to the other parent to help provide for the financial needs of the child. In most cases, child support is automatically taken out of the payor's paycheck and disbursed through the Minnesota Department of Human Services Child Support Department to the receiving parent. It is also possible for the payor to submit the payments directly to the Department of Human Services if they are self-employed or do not receive a traditional paycheck.
What Is the Purpose of Child Support?
The purpose of child support is to ensure that the child maintains the same general standard of living they had before the parents' relationship ended. While the money is to help provide for the financial needs of the children, this does not mean that the money must go directly to the child or be spent only on items like clothes or school supplies. Child support is also meant to help cover necessary living expenses in raising a child, such as rent, utilities, child care, and food.
Why Is Child Support So Important?
Child support is important because it is much harder to make ends meet on a single income as a single parent. When one parent has the child the majority of the time, they are going to be incurring a larger percentage of household expenses. Child support helps cover some of that gap. It can also help equalize expenses between two parents who have a significant disparity in income.
How Can I Get Child Support Enforced?
If your ex is court-ordered to pay child support but is not fulfilling that obligation, you can start enforcement measures by contacting the Minnesota Child Support Enforcement Agency. A caseworker will determine if the payor has a job and if that income can be garnished. If the payor continues to fail to meet their child support obligation, enforcement measures can include fines, suspension of their driver's license, and even jail time.
If you have questions about how to get a child support order started or what to do if you are unable to fulfill your obligations, call our firm today at 651-571-8547 to schedule a consultation.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact TVA Law Office at 651-571-8547 to discuss your specific situation.
