Family Law Division

What We Do

The Family Law Division provides legal services to the Anoka County Office of Child Support when court action is necessary to:

  • Establish paternity
  • Establish a child support obligation
  • Enforce a child support obligation
  • Review child support orders.

An attorney from the Family Law Division must review all legal documents and must also approve and sign stipulations (Minn. Stat. § 518A.46, subds. 2 and 4.).

Who We Represent

The Anoka County Attorney's Office represents the Anoka County Office of Child Support in court with respect to establishment and enforcement of orders of paternity and support (45 C.F.R.§ 303.20(f)(1).).

The Anoka County Attorney's Office does not represent either parent in the child support or paternity proceeding. This means the Anoka County Attorney's Office cannot give you any legal advice. The Anoka County Office of Child Support is the public authority responsible for child support enforcement (Minn. Stat. §§ 256.741, subd. 1(c), and 518A.26, subd. 18.).

Sometimes when the County Attorney is representing the Office of Child Support, one parent agrees with the County Attorney in terms of what should happen with the case. However, this does not mean that the County Attorney is representing that parent. The Assistant County Attorney appearing on the case only represents the Anoka County Office of Child Support.

How We Get Involved in a Case

In 1975, Title IV-D ("Four D") of the Social Security Act was enacted, and mandates that federal, state, local and tribal child support programs be established to locate parents, establish paternity and child support orders, enforce orders and review orders (Minn. Stat. § 518A.26, subd.10).

Referrals

The Anoka County Attorney's Office acts on referrals from our client, the Anoka County Office of Child Support. A case may be referred when public assistance is being expended (Minn. Stat. § 256.741, subd. 5) or a person applies for services through the agency (Minn. Stat. § 256.87, subd.5).