Minnesota Statutes 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.
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 518A.42
- children: includes children by birth or adoption;
(9) "day" comprises the time from midnight to the next midnight;
(10) "fiscal year" means the year by or for which accounts are reckoned;
(11) "hereafter" means a reference to the time after the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(12) "heretofore" means a reference to the time previous to the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(13) "judicial sale" means a sale conducted by an officer or person authorized for the purpose by some competent tribunal;
(14) "minor" means an individual under the age of 18 years;
(15) "money" means lawful money of the United States;
(16) "night time" means the time from sunset to sunrise;
(17) "non compos mentis" refers to an individual of unsound mind;
(18) "notary" means a notary public;
(19) "now" in any provision of a law referring to other laws in force, or to persons in office, or to any facts or circumstances as existing, relates to the laws in force, or to the persons in office, or to the facts or circumstances existing, respectively, on the effective date of such provision;
(20) "verified" when used in reference to writings, means supported by oath or affirmation. See Minnesota Statutes 645.45
- Month: means a calendar month and "year" means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed; and "year" is equivalent to the expression "year of our Lord. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
- Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
- Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
(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.]