How is the amount of child support determined?
A. Except in cases involving split custody or shared custody, a total monthly child support obligation is established by adding the monthly basic child support obligation calculated from the statutory schedule; the allowable extraordinary medical and dental expenses; the allowable health care coverage costs; and the allowable child care costs. The total monthly child support obligation is divided between the parents in the same proportion as their monthly gross incomes bear to their monthly combined gross income.
Indiana uses a method of calculating child support that is referred to as the “Income Shares Model.” Simply put this means the courts try to come up with a figure that best reflects what sort of income would have been available for use on the child if the parties had stayed together or had married. Our Office uses a standard child support worksheet to help determine what the child support order should be. There is no set number as many factors must be considered (i.e. overnight visitation, other biological children living in the house hold, daycare expenses, and ext.) The Court, after hearing all of the evidence, has the final say on a child support order.
Federal law now requires that the amount of a child support payment be set in accordance with a guideline. Having a guideline is believed to prevent widely different amounts of child support being ordered from courtroom to courtroom. Guidelines provide an objective basis for the determination of the amount of support to be paid. As a result, most states have established formulas that are used to determine the amount of the payment from one parent to the other. Chicago, Illinois child support lawyer David M. Siegel will safeguard your rights and fight for what is fair. Call now for your appointment.
