Times are tough. Many families and individuals have struggled the past few years because home values have dropped and jobs are difficult to come by. Financial problems add to or are the cause of marital discord. Not surprisingly, when couples decide to divorce, many find the idea of hiring an attorney distasteful, if for… Read more »
Divorce can be a challenging process. After the initial difficult decision of whether to pursue a dissolution action, many parties wonder where to begin in sorting through the many pieces of the marital relationship. One helpful place to start is to realize that there are two main issues that apply to every divorce and two… Read more »
If a parent is ordered to pay child support, it is likely that the child support obligation will include a “basic” support obligation, coupled with child care support and medical support. Orthodontia costs are included as part of medical support. Basic support is based upon the income of both parents, based upon a statutory table… Read more »
Child support used to be calculated by taking the non-custodial parent’s net income, and basing child support on a certain percentage of net income, depending on the number of children being supported. Under the child support law that was passed a couple years ago, both parents’ incomes are factored in. The statute contains a table… Read more »
Under the Minnesota child support law that has been in effect since 2007, the amount of child support is based on both parents' incomes. There is a guideline table in the statute that provides a set amount of base support that a child or children are entitled to based upon the sum of mom's income… Read more »
If you appear in family court in Minnesota, or submit a matter to the family court for review or consideration, it will be handled by a family court judge, a family court referee or a child support magistrate. Most family court hearings are presided over by judges. The involvement of referees is limited to certain… Read more »
The current Minnesota child support law factors into its calculations the fact that the child support obligor incurs expenses when caring for the child(ren). The child support statute provides a parenting expense adjustment in which the basic support calculated based upon the income of the two parents is reduced by twelve percent (12%). The adjustment… Read more »
As a parent, you have the right to custody of, or parenting time with, your child; and the responsibility to financially support your child. Many divorced or separated parents believe that if a parent fails to pay child support, they are not entitled to see the child; or if they do not have the opportunity… Read more »
Obviously when one spouse or parent threatens to get the other spouse or parent sent to jail, things have gotten pretty ugly. The family court judges do not get any special thrill sending a family court litigant to jail. In fact, the family court system is set up to avoid jail time in most cases…. Read more »
The tax consequences of child support and alimony (spousal maintenance) are different. Child support has no tax consequences, which is to say that child support is not taxable to the recipient, and not deductible from the income of the payor. Typically, however, spousal maintenance is taxable to the recipient, and deductible from the taxable income… Read more »