Child Support Enforcement Services
Every child needs financial and emotional support. And every child has the right to
this support from both parents. Minnesota state and county child support offices work with
both parents to help children receive the financial support they deserve.
Child support services include:
- Locating parents
- Establishing parentage
- Establishing and enforcing court orders for child support, medical support and child
care support
- Reviewing and modifying court orders for support
- Adjusting court orders based on the cost-of-living index
- Working with other states to enforce support when one parent does not live in Minnesota
- Collecting and processing payments.
Either parent, may get certain child support services.
- Parents who do not receive public assistance can apply for services at their county
child support office. They are charged a one-time $25 fee.
- Parents who receive public assistance for a child whose other parent does not live with
them, are automatically referred for services. They do not pay any fee.
Most support is collected by withholding income from parents
’ paychecks.
- With income withholding, employers collect child support from employees' pay and send
the funds to the Minnesota Child Support Payment Center.
- When child support is not withheld from income, parents send payments to the payment
center.
- The state processes the payments and sends support, either by check or electronic
transfer, due to custodial parents.
Child support offices use these tools to enforce support orders:
- Intercepting federal and state income and property tax refunds and lottery winnings
- Reporting unpaid child support to credit bureaus
- Requiring employers to report new hires to a state office to match with child support
obligations
- Suspending driver’s and occupational licenses
- Denying passports
- Obtaining contempt of court orders.
Call the statewide child support general information line at (800) 657-3954 which is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for more child support information, including:
- General information about services
- How and where to apply for services
- Telephone number and address of the local child support office
- Information on other state and community services
Additional information is also available online at the State of Minnesota, Department
of Humans Services
Child
Support Enforcement Division
Or contact Big Stone County Family Service Center at 320-839-2555 and ask to speak with
the Child Support worker.