What is Net Monthly Income for Purposes of Child Support Calculations?
The Court and our society impose an absolute duty to financially support one’s children. When special circumstances exist or there are gaps in employment, there isn’t a hard and fast rule as to how to calculate current child support. Factors such as what county you reside in, what court you are in, and ultimately what judge will hear your case play a factor. 1. Fluctuating Income The question of how to determine net monthly income is sometimes difficult to determine if the obligor (person who will be paying support) has been unemployed or changes jobs frequently. Generally, courts will average a person’s monthly income over a period of time if there has been a fluctuation in the amount of income a person receives. 2. Unemployment If a person is unemployed at the time a child support order is established, the court will base child support based upon the federal minimum wage at 40 hours a week.
