Many states, including Minnesota, are encouraging the idea of shared parenting. It is a different structure from the traditional custody arrangement where one parent has the kids most of the time with the other parent only getting visitations. Shared parenting allows parents to have more time in their children’s lives and to parent together. However, such an arrangement may have an effect on child support.
According to the Minnesota Judicial Branch, child support is calculated using the incomes of each parent along with the parenting time awarded to each parent. If you have shared parenting, this can make a huge impact on the amount you must pay or that you receive. The basic idea is child support is to be used to pay for the expenses related to raising and caring for your child. If you have the child part of the time in your care, then you should not have to pay support for that time.
The court uses a general formula based on the percentage of time you have your children. If you are not in a shared parenting situation and have them less than 10 percent of the time, then there is no adjustment. Adjustments begin when you have the children for at least 10 percent of the time. From 10 to 45 percent, you get a 12 percent reduction in your child support.
It is important to note that a reduction in support based on parenting time is only for basic support payments. It does not affect child care or medical expenses. This information is for education and is not legal advice.