Child support calculations vary by jurisdiction. Income of both parents may be considered, or only the noncustodial parent’s. Other factors include number of children, parenting time, taxes, medical bills, and spousal support. Seeking legal assistance or using a jurisdiction-specific calculator can help estimate support amounts.
Procedures for calculating child support vary depending on the particular jurisdiction in which a person pays or receives it. In some jurisdictions, the law considers the income of both the custodial and noncustodial parents when making a decision. Sometimes each parent is obligated to pay a percentage of the total amount needed to support the child. In some cases, however, only the noncustodial parent’s income is taken into account when calculating the child support amount. Other factors, such as the number of children involved, the children’s previous standard of living, taxes, child care costs, medical bills, and children in another relationship, may also play a part in the calculations of the child maintenance.
The income of parents involved in a child support case is usually important in calculating the amount of child support owed. Often, jurisdictions combine the incomes of both parents and then require each parent to contribute a percentage of their income towards child support. In other cases, however, the non-custodial parent may be sentenced to pay a sum that takes into account only her income and not also the income of the custodial parent. How income is considered and the amounts claimed vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
The number of children and ordered parenting time are also typically considered in determining the amount of child support. For example, a person who has three children may be ordered to pay more child support than a person of the same income who has one or even two children. Likewise, the amount of time children spend with each parent can also influence child support calculations. The amount of time each parent spends caring for the child can influence who is considered the custodial parent and, in some places, the amount each parent is required to contribute to child support.
In many cases, other considerations play a role in determining the amount of child support you owe. For example, obligations such as child support to other children, income taxes, and medical bills may be considered. Judges may also consider payments children receive due to a parent’s disability or retirement. The amount of any spousal support payments ordered for both parents and any child care expenses may also figure in the calculation of the amount of child support payments.
Because there are often many factors involved in determining child support and laws vary so much, an individual may need to seek the assistance of an attorney in understanding child support. In many cases, however, an individual can use a child support calculator specific to her jurisdiction on the Internet. While these calculators may not give you the exact amount a person will pay or receive in child support, they can be helpful in estimating support amounts.
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