Child Support Guidelines-2 Main Types Of Child Support Guidelines
Child support guidelines fall into two general categories-the income shares model and the percentage of the obligor’s income.
The obligor in a child custody case is the person who is obliged to pay child support on foot of an agreement for child support.This agreement can be arrived at by consent and mutual agreement or it can be imposed by the court in the form of a child support decree or order.
States generally operate within child support guidelines laid down be federal law in the Child Support Enforcement act.
Income Shares Child Support Model
Some states opt for this method of calculating child support and it works as follows:
the court will look at the income of both parents and specifically the net income. The court will then consult a table or computer program which will calculate the child support payment taking into account the number of children to be supported and the income of both parents.
It will then multiply the combined incomes of the parents by a percentage figure and arrives at an amount which will be required to support the children and provide for them.This figure is then divided between the parents based on each parent’s income as a percentage of the combined total income of both parents.
However the parent who has custody of the child will be considered to be contributing already in the day to day expenses that will occur in looking after a child so he/she will be given credit for this and the burden of paying over most child support will be the non custodial parent.
Percentage of the Obligor’s income
This model is based on simply taking a percentage of the obligor’s income-remember that the obligor is the non custodial parent and the percentage will vary from state to state.Some states such as New York will do the calculation on the basis of gross income of the non custodial parent and some states, such as Illinois, will calculate on the net income figure of the obligor.
When looking at net income in those states which base their figures on net income you will find differences between states as to what is allowable as an expense or deduction before arriving at a net income figure.This is why you need to familiarize yourself with the child custody and support laws of your state or engage the services of a good child support lawyer.
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Filed under Child Support Calculator by Terry
