What Is Child Support
Child support is a court-ordered monthly payment from one parent to the other to cover a child's living expenses, healthcare, education, and other necessities until the child reaches age 18 (or 19 in some states if still in high school). The paying parent is called the obligor, and the receiving parent is called the obligee.
Child support is separate from custody arrangements and property division. Even if you have primary physical custody, you may still owe child support. Even if you have no custody, you may receive it. The obligation exists because both parents are legally responsible for their children's financial wellbeing regardless of marital status.
How Child Support Is Calculated
Most states use the Income Shares Model to calculate child support, which considers both parents' gross monthly income, number of children, and custody arrangement. The combined parental income is plugged into state-specific charts to determine a base support amount, which is then divided between parents based on their income percentages.
For example, in a two-child household, if combined parental income is $8,000 monthly, the base support obligation might be $1,400. If one parent earns 60% of combined income and the other earns 40%, the higher earner pays approximately $840 monthly. Additional factors adjust this amount:
- Childcare and work-related expenses
- Health insurance costs for the child
- Overnight custody percentage (50/50 custody typically reduces obligations)
- Other minor children from previous relationships
- Significant income changes since the order
Each state's Child Support Guidelines specify these adjustments. Income includes salary, bonuses, self-employment earnings, rental income, and investment returns. Some states impute income if a parent is voluntarily underemployed.
Enforcement and Modification
If a parent fails to pay, the receiving parent can request enforcement through the state's child support agency or attorney. Consequences include wage garnishment (up to 65% of disposable income), tax refund intercepts, license suspension, and contempt of court charges.
You can request a modification if circumstances change materially, typically a 10-20% income shift depending on the state. Job loss, illness, or significant custody changes qualify. Modification requires filing with the court or state agency and cannot be handled informally between parents.
Common Questions
- Does child support end at age 18? In most states, yes. However, if the child is still enrolled full-time in high school, some states extend the obligation to age 19. College expenses are generally not covered by child support unless specifically ordered.
- Can I include private school tuition in child support? Not automatically. Private school costs are typically handled separately in custody orders or as part of property division agreements. Some states allow adjustment to base support if both parents agree.
- What if I'm self-employed or have irregular income? Courts average income over 2-3 years or use current year calculations, whichever is more accurate. Substantial fluctuations require documentation through tax returns and business records.