CHILD SUPPORT

To use the guidelines and estimator tools, you need to know both parents' incomes and the child-custody arrangement. 

For income, you need to calculate both gross and net income.  A parent's gross income is regular income from all sources. This includes your salary, wages, bonuses and commissions from your job, and ongoing retirement payments such as military pensions. 

A parent's income also includes royalties, dividends and trust funds, among other returns on investments. Spousal support that you receive counts too, and where appropriate, a court could also set aside other assets to meet the child's needs.

Getting a child support order is only half the battle—you'll also need to collect the payments. 

The obligor parent (parent responsible for paying child support) must pay support as directed in the court order. 

A parent who fails to pay child support, pays late, or pays only portions of child support could face fines and sanctions.  

With all our electronic conveniences, it's easy to pay and receive child support. Payments can be made by cash, check, bank transfer, direct deposit, Venmo, or Zelle. 

The state presumes that child support based on the guidelines is appropriate, yet sometimes the final amount or the way it's divided would be unfair to a parent or the child. 

Before a child support order is in place, either parent can request a hearing to present evidence that explains why the amount of support should be increased or decreased.  

A judge decides whether to deviate from the guidelines and adjust the amount of support based on the following factors:  

• if sticking to the guidelines would work a substantial injustice on either parent or the child,
• where adjustment is necessary to meet the child's needs or do justice for all concerned, 
• or for certain circumstances involving foster care.