Child Support Enforcement & Paternity Establishment in Rice County

The Rice County Attorney’s Office and the Rice County Child Support Unit of Social Services work together to establish paternity and obtain financial support from noncustodial parents financial support for their children. The goal is to have the noncustodial parent provide support according to his/her ability, rather than have the burden of support fall solely upon the custodial parent and/or the taxpayer.

Minnesota Child Support Online is a secure website that provides participants information about their Minnesota child support cases. Clients will need their case number and pin number to access information.

What is Paternity?
Paternity means legal fatherhood. If the parents of a child are married to each other, the husband is the legal father of any child conceived or born while the parents are married. If the parents are not married to each other, it is important that paternity be legally established so that the child has a legal father. Establishing legal fatherhood gives certain rights and benefits to the father, mothe, and child.

How is Paternity Established?
In Minnesota, one way to establish paternity is through the Recognition of Parentage. A properly completed Recognition of Parentage document legally establishes the child’s father. Parents can also go to court to have a judge or a jury decide if a person is the biological father of a child.

What is Child Support?
Child support can be money, medical insurance or child care expenses paid by one (or both) parents of a child. Children need the financial support of both of their parents.

How is Child Support Established?
Child support must be ordered by the court. Child support is often established in a divorce decree, but it can also be part of a legal separation, paternity action, or domestic abuse order. The County can also obtain an order for child support to pay back funds issued under the Minnesota Family Investment Program or Medical Assistance. If the child’s parents were never married, the first step is to establish paternity. Once paternity is established, child support can be ordered.

What Services are provided by the Rice County Attorney's Office and Rice County Child Support Unit?
These County offices work cooperatively to obtain court orders for support, establish paternity, locate noncustodial parents, and collect support. Methods to collect support include income withholding, interception of tax refunds, contempt of court charges, credit reporting, and judgment docketing. Medical support enforcement and contribution toward uninsured expenses is also provided by obtaining and enforcing insurance coverage for children.

What services are provided by the Rice County Social Services Department?
The following services are available to all Rice County residents:

• Establishment of paternity
• Establishment of support obligations
• Collections of support obligations
• Collection through other states or counties where the absent parent may reside
• Attachment of state and federal tax refunds for delinquent child support
• Enforcement of dependent health insurance coverage

Who is Eligible?
All families needing help with establishment of paternity and/or collection of child support are eligible. Families who receive public assistance automatically receive these services. Support collected is used to offset the cost of public assistance provided. These services are also available to those who do not receive public assistance by completing an application and providing a small fee. The majority of Rice County’s child support/paternity cases involve custodial parents who are not receiving public assistance.

HOW TO APPLY:
In Rice County, you may apply for child support services by calling (507) 332-6115 (from Lonsdale call (507) 744-5185, from Northfield call (507) 645-9576), or by writing to Rice County Child Support Unit, 320 3rd Street N.W., PO Box 718, Faribault, MN 55021.

County Attorney