Dakota County Child Support Office

Child Support · Minnesota · Free

Child support services for Dakota County fathers and families from the West St. Paul office. Handles establishment, modification, and enforcement including paternity testing, wage withholding, and interstate cases. Apply online or in person; bring photo ID, Social Security number, child birth certificates, pay stubs, and any existing orders. Free to any parent with a child in common.

Contact & Details

Address: 1 Mendota Rd W #100, West St. Paul, MN 55118

Phone: 651-891-7400

Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm

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About Child Support for Fathers

Child support in the United States is administered state-by-state under the Title IV-D federal program, with every state required to operate a child support enforcement agency. These agencies establish paternity, locate non-custodial parents, calculate support obligations, and enforce payments through wage garnishment, tax refund intercepts, license suspension, and other civil enforcement tools. Support amounts are calculated using state-specific guidelines, most based on an income shares or percentage-of-income formula. Fathers paying support can request modifications when their income drops substantially or when circumstances change (job loss, additional children, disability). Fathers owed support can open a case with their state agency free of charge. This directory includes each state's child support agency, online calculators, local enforcement offices, and modification resources.

Child Support in Minnesota

Minnesota district courts hear family matters across its 87 counties. The Child Support Enforcement Division operates under DHS. Minneapolis-Saint Paul anchors the state; Rochester, Duluth, and Bloomington are other major metros. Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, and Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid cover the state through regional LSC-funded programs.

More Child Support in Minnesota

  • Minnesota Child Support Division — State office that establishes, enforces, and modifies child support orders for all 87 Minnesota counties from the St. Paul headquarters. Ser
  • Hennepin County Child Support Office — Assists Hennepin County parents with establishing, enforcing, and modifying child support orders from the Portland Avenue service center in
  • Ramsey County Child Support Office — Handles child support establishment, modification, and enforcement for Ramsey County parents from the Kellogg Boulevard office in downtown S
  • St. Louis County Child Support — Child support services for families in Duluth, the Iron Range, and across St. Louis County from the downtown Duluth office. Handles order es
  • Minnesota Child Support Online — Statewide online portal where parents can view payment history, make payments, update address and employer info, and communicate with their
  • Washington County Child Support — Child support establishment, modification, and enforcement for Washington County residents from the Stillwater service center. Handles pater

Child Support — Common Questions

How do I open a child support case?
Apply through your state's Child Support Services agency — usually online, in person, or by mail. Applications are free, and the agency handles paternity establishment, order creation, and enforcement on your behalf. You don't need the other parent's cooperation to open a case.
Can I modify my child support order?
Yes, if there's a substantial change in circumstances (income drop of 15–25% or more, job loss, disability, a new child, change in custody time). File a Motion to Modify with the court that issued the original order. Most states don't modify retroactively — file as soon as circumstances change.
What happens if I can't pay?
Contact the child support agency immediately — don't ignore the debt. Options include payment plans, hardship modifications, and in some states, work programs that substitute community service for payment. Accumulated arrears don't disappear but can sometimes be reduced through debt compromise programs.
How is the amount calculated?
Each state uses guidelines — most follow Income Shares (combining both parents' income) or Percentage of Income (only non-custodial parent's income). Online calculators on every state agency site estimate your obligation. The actual order also considers health insurance, childcare, and other add-ons.