Wyoming Child Support Guidelines
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated November 23, 2018
Child support refers to the amount of money that a non-custodial parent is required to pay to the custodial parent in order to care for the child. Since the main goal of child support is to care for a child, it's a separate order from spousal support (also called alimony). Parents are generally barred from waiving or limiting child support unless it's approved by a court.
Generally speaking, states use one of three models to calculate child support:
- Income shares model;
- Percentage of income model; or
- The Melson formula.
The majority of states, including Wyoming, follow the income shares model to determine child support amounts. The income shares model is based on the idea that a child should receive the same amount of the parents' income that they would've received had the family unit lived together.
Overview of Wyoming Child Support Guidelines
Although the actual text of a law is the most authoritative source of information, statutory language is rarely written in a clear manner. For this reason, reading an overview of the law in plain English can be very helpful. In the chart that follows, you can find an overview of child support guidelines in Wyoming as well as links to relevant statutes.
| Statute(s) | Wyoming Statutes, Title 20:
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| Presumptive Child Support | Child support is determined based on the net monthly income of both parents, the number of shared children, and then divided between the parents in proportion to the net income of each parent. |
| Definition of Net Income for Child Support Calculations | Net income is defined as any income a person receives minus the following:
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| Deviation from the Presumptive Child Support | A court can deviate from the presumptive child support if it finds that it would be inappropriate or unfair. To determine this, the court will consider a variety of factors* including:
*Please see Section 20-2-307 for a full list of factors. |
| Related Statute(s) | Wyoming Statutes, Title 20:
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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.
Wyoming Child Support Guidelines: Related Resources
For additional information and resources related to this topic, please visit the links listed below.
Have Questions About Wyoming Child Support Guidelines? Talk to a Lawyer
If you have questions about child support, or need help with an existing child support order, it's a good idea to speak with local child support attorney to learn how the child support guidelines in Wyoming apply to your particular case.
Next Steps: Search for a Local Attorney
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