Every child needs financial and emotional support and every child has the right to support from both parents.  Minnesota’s child support program benefits children by enforcing parental responsibility for their support.  

The Child Support Enforcement Division supervises the child support program.  County child support offices administer it by working with both parents to establish and enforce support orders.  

The Child Support Office does not assist with:

  • Legal Separation or Divorce
  • Parenting time and custody
  • Spousal maintenance (alimony) establishment
  • Legal advice or counsel.

County Child Support agencies do not represent either parent in child support actions.

St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services offers State and Federally mandated child support and collection services.  
These services are designed to help families work toward or remain self-sufficient.  By working with both parents to establish and enforce support orders, the child support program helps children receive basic support, medical support and child care support.  

Applying for Child Support

Applications for child support services can be found online at https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/children-and-families/services/child-support/programs-services/applying-for-services.jsp , in person at any county child support office, or by contacting St. Louis County Child Support Services.


See All Child Support FAQs

Child support programs include the following services:

Child Support Paternity

Paternity services are designed to help individuals who have a child born outside of marriage to establish a legal parent and child relationship.  Services include:

  • Locate alleged fathers
  • Coordinate genetic testing
  • Complete and/or file a Recognition of Parentage document with the Minnesota Department of Health
  • Adjudicate paternity through court proceedings
  • Establish child support obligations

Child Support Establishment / Modification

The purpose of this portion of the child support program is to establish court orders for basic support, medical support and child care support, and to modify existing obligations.  Services include: 

  • Locate non-custodial parents
  • Identify and verify sources of income
  • Establish child support obligations
  • Modify / Change child support obligations based on significant changes in circumstances

Child Support Enforcement

The focus of this portion of the child support program is to enforce court ordered child support obligations, and to collect current and past due support payments.  Services include:

  • Locate non-custodial parents
  • Enforce court ordered obligations for basic support, medical support, and child care support.  
  • Work with other states to enforce support when one parent does not reside in Minnesota. 

Contact

Child Support
Duluth
Phone: 218-726-2016

Virginia
Phone: 218-471-7126

All contacts