{"id":377288,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:24","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-child-support-guidelines.html"},"modified":"2025-05-27T13:39:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T18:39:25","slug":"wisconsin-child-support-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-child-support-guidelines.html","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin Child Support Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wisconsin Child Support Guidelines<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Jordan Walker, J.D.<\/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

Wisconsin child support is determined using the "Percentage of Income Standard,\u201d which considers a parent’s income, the amount of time a child spends with each parent, and the number of children supported. For one child, 17% of income is allocated, increasing with more children.<\/p>\r\n

Special child support guidelines exist for high- and low-income earners, shared placement, and serial families. Courts can adjust payments based on specific circumstances, ensuring fair support that meets children’s needs while considering parents’ financial abilities.<\/p>\r\n

Children have a legal right to receive financial support from both parents. This article examines the child support system in Wisconsin.<\/p>\r\n

How Wisconsin Calculates Child Support Payment<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The state of Wisconsin uses the Percentage of Income Standard to calculate the amount of child support payments. The percentage standard approach differs from the Income Shares Model<\/a> other states use. Rather than looking at the perspective of the amount of support payments that the child should have received if the parents stayed together, the Percentage of Income Standard<\/a> looks at each parent\u2019s income and the amount of time that a child spends with each parent. They also look at the number of children that a paying parent supports:<\/p>\r\n