{"id":373628,"date":"2018-11-19T11:13:40","date_gmt":"2018-11-19T16:13:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/louisiana-law\/louisiana-child-support-guidelines.html"},"modified":"2025-03-14T14:36:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T19:36:46","slug":"louisiana-child-support-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/louisiana-law\/louisiana-child-support-guidelines.html","title":{"rendered":"Louisiana Child Support Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Louisiana Child Support Guidelines<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Bridget Molitor, JD<\/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

Louisiana child support uses a shared income model based on parents’ combined earnings. Each parent contributes proportionally to their income, with adjustments for existing obligations and expenses like healthcare and childcare. Support typically continues until the child reaches 18, or 19 if still in high school.<\/blockquote>\r\n

When parents separate or divorce, child support payment becomes a critical concern. Each state has established specific guidelines to help ensure that parents meet their financial obligations to support the basic needs of the child.<\/p>\r\n

This article provides a comprehensive overview of Louisiana child support guidelines.<\/p>\r\n

How Louisiana Calculates Child Support<\/h2>\r\n

The state of Louisiana uses a shared income model when calculating child support obligations. This is based on the concept that each child should receive financial support similar to that amount if the parents lived together. Louisiana also uses Obligation Worksheet A<\/a> to calculate the total support obligation.<\/p>\r\n

Child Support Calculation<\/h3>\r\n

The process to determine the fundamental child support obligation<\/a> in Louisiana follows the following steps:<\/p>\r\n

1. Calculate the combined gross income of both parties.<\/b> The court of Louisiana law defines \u201cgross income<\/a>\u201d as income coming from any source. This includes the income from the following:<\/p>\r\n