Indiana Child Support Calculations
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated January 22, 2019
One of the responsibilities of being a parent is financially supporting your minor children. For parents who are no longer coupled, this support generally occurs when a noncustodial parent pays child support to the custodial parent to help with child-rearing expenses.
Like many states, Indiana uses an "income shares" model to calculate child support. This model strives to give children the amount of support that they would've received if their parents lived in the same household. An Indiana child support calculator can provide an estimate of the child support obligation using state worksheets. However, calculations aren't case specific, and thus, the accuracy of the calculator may be questionable.
Indiana Child Support Calculations at a Glance
The detailed information in the state child support guidelines can often give readers more questions than answers. To help parents understand these matters, the chart below provides a concise explanation of Indiana's child support calculations.
Statutes |
Indiana Code Title 31: |
Income Calculations
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The calculations begin with determining the parents' income and combining them. The salary is the main source of income, but courts often order a parent to pay a percentage of their overtime pay, commission, and bonuses. However, the income doesn't include any payments parents receive for benefits from public assistance programs (for example, SSI income). For self-employed parents, the income is calculated by determining gross receipts, minus necessary expenses. |
Imputing Income |
Indiana courts may use an amount based on potential income if it finds that a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. For instance, a parent who purposefully requests a schedule to work part-time to reduce their child support payments would be an appropriate situation to impute income. But a parent whose schedule is controlled by employer-dictated work hours would not qualify. |
Deductions |
After the gross income is established, the parent can deduct specific expenses that will reduce the amount of income that can be used to calculate the child support obligation. Indiana recognizes the following expenses:
Child Care and Health Care Obligations Indiana's Child Support Guidelines include the cost of work-related child care costs and the child's portion of the health insurance premium as part of the parent's child support obligation. The parent who pays for child care and/or health care can deduct from their share of the child support amount. After the deductions are made, the court will apply an adjusted gross income. |
Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Indiana Child Support Calculations: Related Resources
Need Help with Indiana Child Support Calculations? See an Attorney
If you're a parent confused by Indiana's child support calculations, take the time to get in contact with an experienced legal professional. Meeting with an Indiana child support attorney can give you clarity on how to handle your child's support needs.
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