Child Support

Overview

Our agency administers the child support program by working with parents to establish and enforce support orders. Child support helps families become and remain self-sufficient through improved child support collections.

Services We Can Provide

• Locating parents
• Establishing paternity
• Establishing and modifying basic, medical, and child care support
• Enforcing court orders for basic child support, medical and dental support, and child care support
• Collecting current and past due support
• Reviewing and modifying court orders for basic child support, medical support, and child care support

Services We Cannot Provide

• Collection of non-child support debts
• Divorce action
• Establishment or modification of spousal maintenance (alimony) orders
• Help in getting or changing custody and/or parenting time
• Legal advice or counsel

New video details options for mothers, fathers for establishing parentage

Many parents don't know their options or understand the benefits of determining parentage when their child is born. The Minnesota Department of Human Services created a new video, "Establishing Parentage — What Every Mother and Father Should Know," to help new, unmarried parents decide how they want to establish parentage and understand the benefits. The video focuses on two ways to establish parents, signing the Recognition of Parentage form or genetic testing. The video also covers related subjects, such as child support, custody and parenting time. DHS translated the eight-minute video into four languages. If you have questions about establishing paternity, contact your local child support office.

Video on establishing paternity.