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Central Collections Unit

Quick Facts

Unlike other third parties, the central collections unit is not subject to other creditors' collection efforts.
The central collections unit supports local agencies to enforce family law obligations.

The central collections unit is created by Minnesota law. The commissioner of human services maintains the central collections unit for the purpose of receiving, processing, and disbursing payments, and for maintaining a record of payments, in all cases in which:

the state or county is a party;
the state or county provides child support enforcement services to a parent; or
payment is collected through income withholding.

The commissioner may contract for services to carry out these provisions, provided that the commissioner first meets and negotiates with the affected exclusive representatives.

Local Child Support Agency

The local child support agency is the entity at the county level that is responsible for providing child support enforcement services, such as collection of child support, medical support, maintenance, and related payments required by order of a court, voluntary support, or statutory fees.

Creditor Collections

The central collections unit is not a third party for purposes of creditor collection efforts against child support and maintenance order obligors or obligees, and is not subject to creditor levy, attachment, or garnishment.

Unclaimed Support Funds

Unclaimed support funds are any support payments collected by the public authority from the obligor, which have not been disbursed to the obligee or public authority.