{"id":351708,"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\/how-to-calculate-child-support.html"},"modified":"2023-06-21T13:05:09","modified_gmt":"2023-06-21T18:05:09","slug":"how-to-calculate-child-support","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-support\/how-to-calculate-child-support.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Calculate Child Support"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How to Calculate Child Support<\/h1>\n
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\n By Danielle Gilmore, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, 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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States have different resources, including calculators, to help you estimate child support. Courts also use state guidelines to help them craft awards. You can use these resources to estimate potential child support.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

 The following article will help explain how a court calculates child support obligations.<\/p>\r\n

How Can Child Custody Arrangements Impact Child Support Obligations?<\/h2>\r\n

Child support obligations<\/a> depend on whether one party has sole custody or both parents are awarded joint custody. When one parent has sole custody, the other parent pays child support. The non-custodial parent makes child support payments to the custodial parent. The parent with physical custody can be considered to meet their obligation by caring and providing for the child directly.<\/p>\r\n

When a court awards joint custody, they look at how much each party earns and the amount of time (parenting time) the child spends with each parent. This includes the number of overnights in each parent’s home. When parents have similar incomes and equivalent parenting time, child support may be reduced. If the state guidelines do not provide an avenue for this, the parties may agree to a deviation in support or request one from the court.<\/p>\r\n

How Is Child Support Calculated?<\/h2>\r\n

Child support is formulated at the state level<\/a>, but federal laws such as the Child Support Enforcement Act also have an impact. Each state sets up its child support system. Every state has child support guidelines that the family court uses to set child support amounts.<\/p>\r\n

There is considerable variation between states in how they calculate child support. However, most states use the following criteria:<\/p>\r\n