A tool exists within the state of Minnesota designed to estimate the financial obligation one parent may have to another for the care of their child or children. This instrument takes into account factors such as parental income, parenting time, and child care expenses to provide a preliminary support figure. For instance, if two parents share a child, and one parent earns significantly more than the other while also having less parenting time, this tool would estimate the amount the higher-earning parent might contribute to the child’s care.
The availability of this estimation resource offers several advantages. It allows parents to gain a basic understanding of potential support obligations early in legal proceedings. This can assist in settlement negotiations, promoting efficiency within the court system. Historically, calculating these obligations required manual calculations and expertise. The advent of this online resource streamlines the process, making it accessible to a broader audience and reducing reliance on specialized knowledge for initial estimations. This resource should be considered as a guide, not a definitive legal determination.