Minnesota Child Support Office

Minnesota's child support program is administered locally by county and Tribal child support agencies, with the state Child Support Division providing policy and oversight rather than handling casework directly.

The division and local agencies together locate noncustodial parents, establish paternity, set support orders, and collect and enforce payments once a case is active.

A parent or caretaker of a child applies for Minnesota child support services through their county or Tribal child support agency, found through the state's county directory. Families already receiving MFIP (Minnesota's TANF program) or Medicaid are typically referred for services automatically.

The application requires identifying information for both parents and the child, along with any existing custody or support paperwork. The local agency then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.

Minnesota collects most support through income withholding once an order is active, disbursed to the receiving parent by direct deposit or debit card.

Payments can be tracked online through Minnesota Child Support Online, and mailed payments go through a centralized P.O. Box in St. Paul regardless of which county is managing the case.

Minnesota's county and Tribal agencies can intercept tax refunds, suspend licenses, and report arrears to credit bureaus when a parent falls behind on payments.

As in every state, federal law allows a passport to be denied or revoked once past-due support exceeds $2,500.