How is Missouri child support determined?
In Missouri, under most circumstances, both parents have a duty to support their children. In determining the amount of child support, the courts consider the following factors: • the financial needs and resources of the child • the financial resources and needs of the parents • the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not ended • the physical and emotional condition of the child and the child’s educational needs • the child’s physical and legal custody arrangements, including the amount of time the child spends with each parent and the • reasonable expenses associated with the custody or visitation arrangements • the reasonable work-related child care expenses of each parent There are specific Missouri Child Support Guidelines, designed to be in the best interests of the child, that the courts use to determine the correct amount of child support. These will be followed unless both parents agree to an amount other than that calculated by the guidelines, or t
