If you are divorcing and you have minor children, you may either pay or receive child support. Understanding how child support is calculated is important for your future financial planning.
Multiple factors influence the child support amount, so it is wise to get legal advice. The experienced child support attorneys at Dolan Divorce Lawyers can assist you with calculating child support in Fairfield.
Both parents have a legal obligation to support their children financially. The custodial parent fulfills their obligation by providing a home and necessities for the child. The non-custodial parent typically pays a child support amount to the custodial parent either directly, often by way of bank transfer or check, or, if appropriate through some form of wage garnishment.
Connecticut’s child support guidelines consider each parent’s income, the number of minor children the parents are supporting, and which parent has primary physical custody. When parents share custody equally, the higher-earning parent pays the lower-earning parent unless a deviation on account of the shared custody plan is appropriate. A Fairfield attorney could discuss whether a custody arrangement is close enough to 50/50 custody to impact the way the parents calculate child support.
Parents must submit their proposed child support arrangement to the court for approval. Their submission must include a completed copy of the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet.
The child support guidelines include a worksheet to help parents calculate the proper support amount. The first part of the worksheet asks for the parents’ gross income and deductions. Parents should not rely solely on pay stubs to determine deductions; they may need to consult an accountant to get accurate deduction amounts.
When parents have determined their combined net income, they will use the published guidelines to find the child support amount that correlates with their combined net income and the number of children they are supporting. Each parent is responsible for a share of the child support obligation equal to their proportionate share of the parents’ combined net income.
Under Connecticut’s child support guidelines, unreimbursed medical expenses and work-related childcare costs are allocated between the parents based on their proportionate shares of combined net disposable income.
The court calculates “net disposable income” by taking each parent’s net weekly income (Line 14) and then adding the basic child support amount for the custodial parent or subtracting it for the noncustodial parent. The court then uses each parent’s share of the combined net disposable income to divide medical and childcare expenses on a pro rata basis.
These calculations may not necessarily produce the final child support amount. Numerous circumstances could merit a deviation from the child support amount that the guidelines recommend.
One such circumstance arises when a parent’s income does not reflect their lifestyle. For example, a parent with substantial wealth may perform little paid work and report a lower income, which results in a reduced child support amount. A similar issue arises when a parent regularly receives gifts or support from third parties, such as a new spouse or parents, or intentionally remains underemployed to reduce a child support obligation.
A deviation may be necessary when a child has extraordinary medical or educational expenses, or when either parent has significant health issues. Several other less common scenarios may also justify an upward or downward deviation from the guidelines. An experienced Fairfield attorney could discuss the potential reasons for deviation with you and could request a change from the formula-based child support amount when appropriate.
Child support can have a substantial impact on your family’s finances. When calculating child support in Fairfield, work with our skilled attorneys. We can ensure your worksheet is accurate and that you have considered any applicable reasons for deviation.
Contact us today for a consultation.
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