Minnesota · Custody and support · Updated Oct 2026
Child custody and support in Minnesota
The Minnesota rules for parents who divorce, from official sources: the legal term for custody, the parenting class, the official support calculator and the child support agency.
Quick answer
In Minnesota, custody is called “legal and physical custody and parenting time”. Parenting class: Yes, if parents haven't agreed on custody or a parenting time schedule: the court must order at least 8 hours of parent education (in person or online); otherwise the court may order it (Minn. Stat. 518.157). Minnesota publishes an official child support calculator or guidelines.
- Custody term
- Legal and physical custody and parenting time
- Parenting class
- Required (with conditions)
- Child support calculator
- Official child support calculator or guidelines
- Child support agency
- Minnesota Child Support Division (DCYF)
Custody terms in Minnesota
Legal and physical custody and parenting time
Parenting class in Minnesota
Yes, if parents haven't agreed on custody or a parenting time schedule: the court must order at least 8 hours of parent education (in person or online); otherwise the court may order it (Minn. Stat. 518.157).
Child support in Minnesota
- Child support calculator: Official child support calculator or guidelines
- Child support agency: Minnesota Child Support Division (DCYF)
Children in a Minnesota divorce: what the process includes
Custody
The court's orders use Minnesota's term for custody: legal and physical custody and parenting time.
Parenting class
Yes, if parents haven't agreed on custody or a parenting time schedule: the court must order at least 8 hours of parent education (in person or online); otherwise the court may order it (Minn. Stat. 518.157).
Child support
The official calculator or guidelines: Official child support calculator or guidelines
The child support agency
Minnesota's child support agency: Minnesota Child Support Division (DCYF)
Questions about custody and child support in Minnesota
What is child custody called in Minnesota?
Minnesota uses the term “legal and physical custody and parenting time”.
Do parents have to take a class in a Minnesota divorce?
Yes, if parents haven't agreed on custody or a parenting time schedule: the court must order at least 8 hours of parent education (in person or online); otherwise the court may order it (Minn. Stat. 518.157).
Is there an official child support calculator for Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota's official calculator or guidelines: Official child support calculator or guidelines
Which agency handles child support in Minnesota?
More about divorce in Minnesota
- All Minnesota divorce laws
- Uncontested divorce in Minnesota
- Minnesota divorce forms and filing fees
- Alimony in Minnesota
- Serving divorce papers in Minnesota
- Divorce timeline estimator for Minnesota
- Divorce checklist for Minnesota
- How to file for divorce without a lawyer
- Served with divorce papers: what to do
Custody and support in nearby states
- Official child support calculator or guidelines
- Minnesota Child Support Division (DCYF)
- Minn. Stat. 518.06 Grounds
- Minn. Stat. 518.13 Failure to answer; findings
- Minn. Stat. 518.157 Parent education
- Minn. Stat. 518.195 Summary dissolution
- Minn. Stat. 518.552 Spousal maintenance
- Minn. Stat. 518.27 Name
- Minn. Stat. 357.021 Court fees
- Minn. Stat. 518.12 Time to answer
- Minn. Stat. 518.07
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.