How Are Most Support Payments Made?

In Minnesota, about 70 percent of all support payments are made through income withholding.

Income withholding
As of January 1, 1994, all new and modified child support orders must address income withholding. This means that if a noncustodial parent has been ordered to pay child support and is employed, the noncustodial parent`s employer must withhold the child support amount from the noncustodial parent`s paycheck. The employer can either mail that amount to the Child Support Payment Center in St. Paul or electronically transfer the funds to the state. The payment center`s mailing address is:

Minnesota Child Support Payment Center
P.O. Box 64306
St Paul, MN 551640306

Based on the number of times per month the employer withholds money, the custodial parent may receive child support weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

The court may waive income withholding only if:

There is no past due support
The court finds a reason for waiving it
Both parents agree
The court finds payments are likely to be regular and timely
The court finds that income withholding would not be in the best interests of the child

These payments can be paid by cash, check, money order, or electronic funds transfer. Employers and other state child support agencies may choose to use electronic funds transfer as a method of paying support.

Other Minnesota Family Law FAQs

Q: How Can I Apply For Child Support Services?
A: If you are not receiving public assistance, you can apply for child support services through your county child support office. You will have to pay a onetime $25 … More
Q: After I Apply, What Else Must I Do?
A: You must take an active role in your case. Cooperating with the child support office improves your chances of successful support establishment and collection. The … More
Q: If I Am Receiving Public Assistance, Are There Other Things I Must Do?
A: If you are the custodial parent who is receiving public assistance, you must assign some or all of your child support to the state. Your county child support office … More
Q: What Happens When A Parent Doesn't Pay Child Support?
A: When a parent does not meet the child support obligation, child support offices work to enforce the support order. Below is a list of some enforcement methods. … More
Q: What Other Ways Can Be Used To Pay Support?
A: A noncustodial parent who does not pay child support through income withholding may set up automatic recurring withdrawal with a bank. Once the withdrawal is set up, … More
Q: Where Are Support Payments Sent?
A: The court may order that support payments are to be sent to the child support office. When this happens, payments should be sent to the Child Support Payment Center in … More
Q: How Quickly Does The Payment Center Process Support Payments?
A: Staff at the payment center receipt payments Sunday through Friday. Within 24 hours of the time they receipt payments, they record the payments to the child support … More
Q: What If The Noncustodial Parent Owes Support To A Number Of Custodial Parents?
A: If a noncustodial parent owes current child support to more than one custodial parent, the Child Support Payment Center sends a portion of each payment it receives to … More
Q: How Does The Payment Center Send Out The Support?
A: When the payment center sends money to a person or agency, it issues a state of Minnesota warrant (check) or transfers the money by electronic funds transfer. … More
Q: How Can I Get Payment Information?
A: Call the Child Support Enforcement Division`s Payment Line at (651) 2155630 (metro) or (800) 6573512. Parents must use their personal identification number … More