Written by: Ben Olson A Recognition of Parentage is a free form, usually provided by hospital staff when a child is born to unmarried parents. The decision whether to sign a Recognition of Parentage is an important one. Here are five things you should know about the effect of signing a Recognition of Parentage: […]
Q&A Blog #74: Rights of Unmarried Parents
Written by: Ben Olson Question: What rights do unmarried parents have in Minnesota? Answer: The rights of unmarried mothers and fathers are different depending on the specific circumstances of each case. Read the discussion below to learn more. Discussion: In Minnesota, unmarried mothers are automatically given sole legal and sole physical custody of their children. […]
Q&A Blog #73: When Child Support Ends
Written by: Ben Olson Question: Does child support automatically stop when my child turns eighteen? Answer: Unfortunately, there is no “one size fits all” answer to this question. In most cases, child support automatically ends when the youngest child in the family has (1) turned eighteen, and (2) graduated from high school. Read the discussion […]
Q&A Blog #72: College Students and Child Support
Written by: Ben Olson Question: I am a college student with little or no income. Can I be ordered to pay child support? Answer: The short answer is, “Yes.” But the outcome of your case will depend heavily on your specific situation. Read the discussion below to learn more. Discussion: In Minnesota, Courts assume that […]
Q&A Blog #71: Child Support and Overtime Income
Written by: Ben Olson Question: Can child support be based on overtime income? Answer: Minnesota law allows the Court to consider overtime income when calculating child support, but only in limited circumstances. Read the discussion below to learn more. Discussion: In Minnesota, child support is based on both parents’ gross income. Gross income is what […]
Q&A Blog #66: I have a special needs child who requires extra care. Is there a way I can get more child support because of his special needs?
Q: I have a special needs child who requires extra care. Is there a way I can get more child support because of his special needs? A: Minnesota law allows for upward deviations of child support in a few circumstances. One factor the Court considers is the extraordinary financial needs and resources, physical and emotional […]
Q&A Blog #65: I have a lot of credit card debt. Will the Court allow me to pay less in child support because of my debt?
By: Letty Van Ert Q: I have a lot of credit card debt. Will the Court allow me to pay less in child support because of my debt? A: It depends. Minnesota law allows for the Court to lower a child support obligation for a few limited reasons, including debt. However, the law only allows […]
Q&A Blog #63: Is a Child Support Recipient Required to Provide Proof of Child Expenses?
By: Letty M-S Van Ert Q: I pay child support to my child’s mother. Is she required to provide proof to me that she is using the child support to pay for expenses for our child? A: There is no legal requirement that a child support recipient (the “obligee”) provide proof to the other […]
