Income withholding is a deduction of a payment for child support from a parent’s income. An order for income withholding can be from a court or administratively ordered by a child support agency—such as the child support division of the state’s Attorney General’s office.
The parent's employer often transmits the money directly to the child support agency.
In Minnesota, income withholding is a common method used to collect child support payments. When a parent is ordered to pay child support, the amount can be automatically deducted from their wages through an income withholding order. This order can be issued by a court or administratively by a child support agency, such as the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Employers are typically required to withhold the specified amount from the employee's paycheck and send it directly to the child support agency, which then distributes the funds to the custodial parent. Employers must comply with the income withholding order within the time frames specified by state law, and failure to do so can result in penalties. The process is designed to ensure timely and consistent support payments to the child.