Child Support
CHILD SUPPORT
It is each parent's legal duty to provide for the support of their children. While the duties are equal, the amount each parent contributes is usually unequal as it is based upon several variable factors. Unsurprisingly, the factors include the respective gross incomes of the parents, the percentage of time the child[ren] is in physical responsibility of each parent, the number of children and a few other specifics such as health insurance, child-care, tax filing status or limited special circumstances.
To illustrate, here are some examples of how variable data changes the support obligation.
Joe and Mary have two minor children. Joe is employed, earns $100,000 annually; the children do not attend pre-school. Based on changes in timeshare percentage and whether Mary works or not, the amount Joe would pay in child support varies as follows:
Joe's timeshare % Mary's earns/mo Joe pays
33% -0- 1,868
49% -0- 1,593
33% 3,000 1,261
49% 3,000 1,167
Interestingly, if Joe were a very high earner, let's say $500,000 annually, here's the change in child support.
Joe's timeshare % Mary's earns/mo Joe pays
33% -0- 5,338
49% -0- 4,552
33% 3,000 4,942
49% 3,000 3,986
It is fair to say that the child support burden falls heaviest on the lower earning parent. The $500,000 earner makes 5 times as much as the $100,000 earner but pays around 3 times as much child support.
The trial court must calculate child support using approved software such as Cal Support Pro, DissoMaster or SupporTax to name a few of the available software products. Courts have no discretion as to child support calculation. Since all software must use the same formula established by the State legislature and all must be approved annually by the State's Judicial Council, the results are virtually identical. The data entered into the software is taken straight from the parties Income & Expense Declarations.
Thus, child support is quite straightforward once there is concurrence as to the Income & Expense Declaration information.