To calculate each parent's child support obligation, Minnesota law uses a formula based largely on gross income. Unlike a child support order in Minnesota—which is based on a specific calculation—there is no formula for judges to use to setting alimony.The calculator is intended to be used to estimate the amount of child support that the court may order on a case. There is No Formula for Calculating Minnesota Spousal Maintenance. Use this interview guide for an overview of child support, spousal maintenance, and property division. As far as I can tell, child support in Minnesota is pretty straight forward. You plug in incomes into the calculator. The calculator is only able to calculate a basic support amount for six or fewer joint children. The short answer to this question is that spousal maintenance differs from alimony in name only. Minnesota law applies a formula for determining each parent's "basic support" obligation, based largely on their income.