The obligation to pay support continues until the child is emancipated, as defined by state law, or by the parties in the marital settlement agreement.

These payments are not tax deductible to the payor, nor taxable to the payee.

In calculating child support, the court may consider child support or alimony either parent receives or pays in conjunction with previous marriages and whether either parent now lives with a new partner or spouse who contributes to household expenses. Other factors include which parent is paying health insurance and its cost, day care and its cost, union dues and amount, and the ages of the children.

There are two methods for calculating child support. Each state uses one of these three methods or a derivation there of. These methods are described as:

The Income Shares Model: child support is calculated by estimating the amount of support that would have been available to the child(ren) if the family had remained intact. This estimated amount is then divided proportionally to the parents according to each parent’s income. This is easily done by using the state child support worksheet and the estimated incomes are typically substantiated by past pay stubs or W-2s.

Percent of Income Model: this method utilizes the percentage of income formula which determines the amount of child support as a percentage of the income of the parent obligated to pay the child support. This percentage is determined by factoring the number of children requiring support. This is the most basic or primitive method for calculating support. Many people believe that it does not take into consideration many important details, which makes this model of support calculation the least exact.

Don't Forget to Visit Our Online Support Community

Your Suggestion

1. Remember the Children
   Child support cannot be waived. A child has a legal right to support, and no parent can give this away. Parents may agree that no child support will be paid from one to the other, but the court will have final say as to whether this would be appropriate. In order for the court to award zero child support, typically the custodial arrangement must be joint or shared and the income levels of the parents must be close to equal.
   Contributed on 6/20/2007 by: DivorceDex.com Staff

   Category: Child Support  (Applicable in All States)
2. Modification Of Child Support
   It should be noted that once child support has been awarded, the amount can always be modified if certain conditions change. The conditions and rules will vary by state but all states permit modification.
   Contributed on 11/3/2007 by: Affiliates In MediationOffices Valley Wide, AZ[Total Submissions: 2]

   Category: Child Support  (Applicable in All States)
3. Child Support Protection through Life Insurance
   Whatever alimony or child support award you receive, make sure to secure it through life insurance on your ex-spouse. Especially if those monthly awards are a primary source of income for your household, unexpected loss of the income may be financially devastating. This coverage must be put in place before the divorce is final, otherwise the insurance company will likely not allow you to apply as the owner. This is an important area to address in the divorce negotiations, as who will pay for it, how long the coverage must be kept, and how much coverage is needed may all have to be negotiated. If your spouse is uninsurable and there is no existing life insurance plan to provide this coverage, alternate arrangements may need to be made.
   Contributed on 11/19/2007 by: Paragon Wealth StrategiesJacksonville, FL[Total Submissions: 14]

   Category: Child Support  (Applicable in All States)

Contribute Tip/Fact