Is there a fee for these services?
If you receive public assistance, you are automatically referred for child support services. If you are not receiving public assistance, you can apply through the county's child support office. There is a 2% fee that is deducted from the amount of child support collected.
Where is my Child Support Payment?
The local child support office does not give out payment information over the telephone. Recipients should first check with the Child Support payment line at 1-800-657-3512. You will need your participant number, and PIN number. If you do not have these please contact the local child support office and they will send out the participant number and PIN number to you in the mail. Payment information can also be obtained by sending your request in writing to the local child support office by mail.
How do I get my drivers license back?
The first step is to enter into a payment agreement with the child support agency. You will need to contact you child support office to set up the payment agreement. In order to enter into a payment agreement you will need to make a good faith payment. The good faith payment is expected to be equal to 3 months of current child support. If you are delinquent on a payment agreement you will need to make that payment agreement current and bring that payment agreement into compliance.
What is the status of my case?
Recipients can find out the status of their cases by going to www.childsupport.dhs.state.mn.us You will need your participant number, and PIN number. If you do not have these please contact the local child support office and they will send out the participant number and PIN number to you in the mail.
Can I initiate a modification request on my own?
You can initiate a modification on your own. It is referred to as a pro se modification. The forms and instructions are available on the Court Administration web site.
How do I go about getting visitation/custody of my child?
All inquires about visitation and custody should be directed to an attorney or can be done with a pro se' motion. These forms are available on the court website referenced below.
Where can I find the proper Forms?
Most court forms and the court calendars are available on the court administration web site. www.courts.state.mn.us
Who may request a review of a child support order and why?
Any party can request a review of their court order at any time. If the children, are receiving public assistance, the county is considered a party and may also request a review of the current order. The law requires that for a change to occur, there has to be a change in the circumstances of one of the parties or the children which makes the current order no longer appropriate.
What is the effective date of a court order?
When the magistrate signs a new child support order, it includes the date that the new child support amount must start being paid. This is called the effective date of an order. There are laws that govern when the effective date of a new court order will be. Most often, the effective date is determined by the date a party files the required paperwork asking for a change in child support. A copy of that paperwork must be given to all parties in the case including the county agency. For example, if you break your leg and are unable to work, do not assume that your order will be changed effective with the date your leg broke. If you do not file the appropriate paperwork with the court until 6 months after your injury, the law will usually not allow for the changes to go back to the date of injury. It will most likely change the child support back to the date you filed the paperwork with the court. There are exceptions to this rule. An attorney can best advise you on what those exceptions are.
How can a court order be changed?
Does the County Attorney's Office or the Child Support Office represent me when handling a child support matter?
Pine County Courts does have a free legal service dedicated to Pine County residents who do not have an attorney. For more information on the Pine County Family Court Self-Help Center contact Pine County Family Courts. Pine County Child Support has free child support information and family law clinics throughout the year. Contact your assigned child support worker. LawHelp works with low and moderate-income people find free legal aid programs in their communities, and answers to questions about their legal rights. http://lawhelp.org/
