Up 2. How do courts decide the amount of child support?
Most states have formulas to calculate the amount of child support the non-custodial parent should pay based on your net income each month. Typically the amounts are: • 20 percent for one child • 25 percent for two children • 30 percent for three children • 35 percent for four children • 40 percent for five children • No less than 40 percent for six or more children Special rules apply in cases of split or joint placement or multiple children in different households. In some states, if a court believes that you are not making as much money as you should, the child support amount may be based on your earning potential rather than your current income.
