{"id":351685,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/child-support\/child-support-determining-parents-income.html"},"modified":"2023-06-08T15:18:15","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T20:18:15","slug":"child-support-determining-parents-income","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-support\/child-support-determining-parents-income.html","title":{"rendered":"Child Support: Determining Parents’ Income"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Child Support: Determining Parents' Income<\/h1>\n
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\n By Danielle Gilmore, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Courts examine many factors when crafting a child support order. One of these factors is the parent’s income. The court will look at the income the parent receives from all sources. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Because the basic child support obligation is based on income, parents must understand what funds can be considered income under the child support guidelines. It’s also essential for parents to understand what funds are excluded from income.
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Calculating Child Support<\/h2>\r\n

While income plays a prominent role in setting the amount of support, custody of the child is also important. The number of children supported is also considered. Typically, the non-custodial parent pays the parent who has physical custody.<\/p>\r\n

Whether you’re the paying parent or the parent who receives child support, you want to know how much child support will be paid. You might use a child support calculator to estimate the guideline amount. Your state has a formula for calculating child support. The formula usually begins with the parents’ monthly income.<\/p>\r\n

Determining Income for Purposes of Child Support<\/h2>\r\n

Before the court sets a child support amount for the child support order, the judge considers the state law in their jurisdiction. Each state’s child support guidelines<\/a> give guidance for a child support amount. The guidelines also include a definition of gross income<\/a>. The definition of income must consider all earnings from both parents.<\/p>\r\n

States vary, but there is a lot of uniformity. Typically, a parent’s gross income includes money received from any source. This list is not exhaustive. Sources include:<\/p>\r\n