How Is Child Support Calculated?

Under the current child support guidelines that became effective as of 2007, both parents’ gross incomes are used to calculate child support.  Prior to the “new”  guidelines, only the non-custodial parent’s income was used to determine the amount of child support payable to the custodial parent.  Under the “old” guidelines, the non-custodial parent paid a percentage of his/her net income with the percentage based on the number of children eligible for support.  Not only do the “new” guidelines use gross income instead of net income but both parents’ incomes are considered.
 
The procedure for computing basic support under the new law is set forth in Minnesota Statutes section 518A.34 and the table for the basic support guidelines is found in Minnesota Statutes section 518A.35.  The table sets forth what level of child support is implicated based on the number of children and total monthly gross income of both parents.  The basic child support payable by the child support obligor is determined by multiplying the obligor’s percentage of the total gross income of both parties by the level of child support implicated by the child support guideline table mentioned above.  If the obligor’s percentage of overnight parenting time is more than 10%, then basic support is reduced by 12%.  This is referred to as the “Parenting Expense Adjustment”.  If parents share overnight parenting time on an approximately equal basis,  basic child support may not be payable from one party to the other or, at least, would be greatly reduced. 


The other components of child support include medical and daycare support.   Contribution for these expenses is based upon each parents’ percentage of the total gross monthly income of both parents. 

By: Lisa Watson Cyr

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Lisa Watson Cyr is a top attorney and author in Woodbury and St. Paul, Minnesota. Lisa offers a FREE Divorce Protection Kit at her popular blog. Visit Lisa's Blog at www.familylawmatters-mn.com for more expert information and your FREE Divorce Protection Kit. Lisa created the Divorce Protection Kit as a way of assisting the management of risk on many levels through the divorce process. Get your free Divorce Protection Kit at www.familylawmatters-mn.com