BECAUSE YOU DESERVE THE BEST
Child Support Decoded
Who pays and How much?
Child Support is a fundamental right paid to the residential parent based on the combined adjusted gross income of the parties and the number of children to be provided for.
Both parents have an obligation to support their children. The parent with whom the children do not primarily reside (non-residential parent) provides financial support to the residential parent that goes indirectly toward food, clothing and shelter.
Child support is determined by first combining the gross incomes of both parties and then adjusting the combined incomes by removing Medicare and FICA to find the combined adjusted gross income.
The combined adjusted gross income is then multiplied by a percentage depending on how many children are being provided for. For one child - 17%; For two children - 25%; For three children - 29%; for Four children - 31%; for five children and above - 35%. Multiplying by the appropriate percentage will result in the parties combined child support amount.
The combined child support is then divided on a pro rata basis (depending on the disparity in income) to determine the non-residential parent's child support payment. That amount would be paid consistently based on how the non-residential parent receives their income.
For example, if the combined child support obligation is $10,000.00 per year and the non-residential parent's pro rata share is 65%, his/her obligation would be $6,500.00 per year. If the non-residential parent is paid bi-weekly, he/she would make 26 payments of $250.00 ($6,500/26 = $250.00). That would be the non-residential parent's child support obligation.
Child support can become complicated when one party earns money "off-the-books" and or has their own business and either does not declare all of their income or pays for some of their expenses utilizing the business while not counting same as their "income."
That is why you need an experienced attorney to insure that the appropriate amount is paid based on the circumstances. We have handled thousands of child support cases and can help you to simplify the Child Support Standards Act and explain to you how it will effect your case.