How is child support calculated?
Alabama has child support guidelines, which can be found in Rule 32 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration (see www.supportguidelines.com or the Alalinc Information Network). The support obligation is based on the gross income of both parties, and takes into consideration the cost of medical insurance for the children and any work related childcare expenses.
Each state has official child support guidelines. Pennsylvania just released a new set of guidelines for 2006. The guidelines determine the method for calculating child support in each case. These guidelines are established to ensure uniformity and consistency in child support amounts. The guidelines are mostly income driven, rather than needs driven. Only large income matters look at the actual needs of the children and their lifestyle. In Pennsylvania, only when the combined net income of both parties is $20,000 per month or more, do needs play a part. With $20,000 per month or more, a Court is obligated to look at the total income of each parent, the reasonable needs of each party and the needs of the children according to the lifestyle they had maintained during the marriage. Thus, if a child attended private school, had piano lessons, tennis lessons and was accustomed to going to the theater in New York once a month, chances are that those things will continue. Guidelines control
Each state has developed guidelines that help establish the amount of child support that must be paid. The guidelines vary significantly from state to state, but they are all generally based on the parent’s incomes and expenses and the needs of the children. In some states, the guidelines allow judges greater discretion in determining the amount of child support that must be paid, but in other states any variance from the guidelines must be carefully justified or it can be readily overturned on appeal. Often, the guidelines are set out in a chart-type format that calculates the child support amount as a percentage of the paying parent’s income that increases as the number of children being supported rises. It is important to remember, however, that the guidelines are just that-guidelines-and they are not fixed amounts that must be applied under any and all circumstances. Judges are free to deviate from the guidelines when there are good reasons to do so. If, for instance, one party or
• According to Civil Rule 90.3 – Variation from the rule is allowed only in very rare circumstances. – Just because you might agree to vary does not mean the court will approve or accept your agreement. • Where you can find Civil Rule 90.3: – Court booklet, How to Calculate Child Support Under Civil Rule 90.3, DR-310 – The Alaska Court System website – In the Alaska Rules of Court book What does Civil Rule 90.3 say? Rule 90.3 discusses the different calculations you use depending on your parenting plan. Primary Custody To figure out the child support for a primary custody arrangement, do the following calculation: • Gross income Deductions = Adjusted Income (AI) • AI x Percentage (see below) = Child Support 1 kid: 20% 3 kids: 33% 2 kids: 27% More kids: 3% for each • If your AI is less than the federal poverty guidelines, your support amount may be $50/month which is the minimum amount allowed. If the calculation results in a support amount below $50.00, the support amount will be $50.0
Child support is calculated pursuant to the Oklahoma Child Support Guidelines adopted by the Oklahoma legislature. Child support is computed based upon the number of minor children, the gross monthly income of both parties and in some cases the number of nights the minor children spend with the non-custodial parents. The child support guidelines take into consideration the health insurance premiums paid by one party for the health care coverage of the minor children.
