In 2021, Minnesota passed new legislation aimed at updating child support statutes to meet the changing needs found in the state. This was done to modernize the law to better relate to trends more common in family units today. Most of these changes took effect on January 1, 2023, and will benefit many Minnesotans moving forward, particularly those with non-joint children.
By legal definition, a non-joint child is a dependent child of one parent but not both. Stepchildren are not included. Until the start of this year, there were limits of support in place, which created hardships for caring parents and a lack of resources dedicated to non-joint children.
Prior to the statute taking effect, no more than two children could be claimed in the calculation of child support. That number has been raised to six. Families with non-joint children will benefit from these changes, as additional children can now be claimed in calculating child support.
The deduction for non-joint children was increased, as well. It increased from 50% of the guideline amount to 75%. Parents can now claim more non-joint children and receive greater deductions. This will provide some relief for the parents supporting non-joint children. The tax deduction will aid in their ability to consistently make child support payments, creating great stability for all parties.
The changes recently enacted in Minnesota are a positive step in recognizing the evolution of family units today. By increasing both the number of non-joint children claimed and the deductions allowed by supporting parents, children will be able to get the needed financial support necessary to give them the best possible start in life.
If you have any questions about how these statutes might affect your child support payments, please call your Minnesota child support lawyer at Heimerl & Lammers at (612) 294-2200. With over 20 years of experience, our attorneys will help you determine how these statutes might affect you and your family.
