Child support is financial support that a noncustodial parent pays to a custodial parent to meet the basic needs of a shared child. This money is paid from one parent to the other, rather than directly to the child, and is separate from any spousal support that might also be paid. Child support can be court-ordered or administratively ordered, but parents can also establish informal agreements between themselves for the payment of support. Court-ordered child support payment amounts are determined by the income guidelines used by the state where the case is filed. Child support payments are neither tax deductible for the person who makes them nor included as taxable income for the person who receives them.
10+ Child Support Worksheet Samples
1. Child Support Worksheet
2. Child Support Obligation Worksheet
3. Standard Child Support Worksheet
4. Sample Child Support Worksheet
5. Child Support Schedule Worksheet
6. Simple Support Schedule Worksheet
7. Basic Child Support Worksheet
8. Simple Child Support Obligation Worksheet
9. Formal Child Support Worksheet
10. Professional Child Support Worksheet
11. Printable Child Support Worksheet
How the Amount of Child Support Is Determined
Each state in the United States is required by federal law to establish guidelines that are used to calculate child support due from parents. These amounts are largely based on their income and expenses. Individual states have a fair amount of discretion in setting these guidelines, which means that child support payments required can vary widely between states (even under the same circumstances). The court will consider several factors, such as a child’s standard of living prior to divorce, a child’s specific needs, the resources of the custodial parent, and the non-custodial parent’s ability to pay. In most states, judges are allowed wide discretion in setting these payments. It is important for a non-custodial father to provide information to the court up-front to make the payments are fair as possible.
How Child Support Works
1. Open the Case
Either parent can open a child support case, as can a child’s legal guardian. Having an order from a judge for child support to be paid does not automatically open a child support case.
To open a case in California, fill out the online application or visit your local child support agency – agency locations can be found here.
After an application is submitted, the applicant will be contacted by their local office to assist with the process of obtaining a child support order with the court.
There are many benefits to opening a child support case:
- If you do not yet have an order, we provide assistance to both parents through all steps of the process.
- In certain situations, we can help you avoid court completely.
- Once you have an order, we keep official records, protecting both the payer and the recipient.
- We can assist recipients with enforcement of the order.
- We can help payers avoid or resolve negative enforcement actions if you are unable to pay.
2. Locate the Parents
Before a child support order can be made, both parents of the child need to be located. There is no guarantee they will be found, but the more information we have, such as the parent’s date of birth and Social Security Number, the easier it will be.
3. File a Summons & Complaint
After the case is opened, the parent being asked to pay child support will be given a Summons and Complaint packet. This is legal notification that you have been named in a child support case. You only have 30 days to respond, or a “default” child support order may be ordered by the judge without your financial situation being considered.
4. Establish Legal Parentage
If you have been served with a Summons and Complaint, and you do not believe you are legally responsible for the child or children you are being asked to pay child support for, you have the right to request proof and we will assist you free of charge. This is either DNA testing to determine parentage (which is more than 99% accurate), or proof that the parents were legally married at the time of the child’s birth. If you do not request proof, you can still be assigned legal parentage without your consent.
5. Create a “Stipulated Agreement”
If you would like to avoid going to court, some local agencies offer “Family Meetings” that allow both individuals to meet with a child support caseworker, either together or separately. If both parents can agree on an amount, their signed document becomes the “Stipulated Agreement,” which is filed with the court. This option may not be offered in all child support offices.
6. File the Support Order
If there is no Stipulated Agreement, a court date will be set. The judge will review the financial and other relevant information from both parties and decide on an appropriate amount of child support to be ordered. If either parent can get medical insurance, the court will consider that cost in deciding the amount of child support ordered.
7. Make or Receive Payments
After a child support order is set, payments are scheduled to begin. There are many options for payment but if the parent ordered to pay is employed, their employer will be required to make those payments by withholding the funds from their paycheck. This is mandated under Federal law for child support orders and does not imply a failure to pay. All payments are recorded and this can provide security for the parent paying support in case there is any disagreement.
8. Enforcing the Order
A child support order is a legal court order. Parents who refuse to pay or delay paying their child support face enforcement actions that can include:
- Suspension of their driver’s license or passport
- Revocation of professional and occupational licenses
- Bank and property liens
- Interception of tax refunds
- Interception of lottery winnings
9. Modify the Order (if changes are necessary)
If either parent or guardian has a change in circumstances after a child support order is set, which could be losing a job, changing jobs, or a change in custody or visitation, the order may qualify for modification.
10. Closing the Case
There are many reasons why a child support case can be closed. The usual one is that the youngest child reaches the age of 18, is no longer a full-time high school student, and no past-due balances are owed. At that time both parents are notified by the child support agency, and the case stays open for 60 days after this notification. All records are maintained for at least four years and four months in accordance with federal law.
FAQs
How long does child support lasts?
Generally, the law requires that the person paying child support continues to make those payments until any of the following circumstances apply:
- Your child is no longer a minor1 (unless the child is still in high school or has special needs)
- Your child becomes active duty in the military (applies to most states, but not all; you will also have to file a motion with the court)
- Your parental rights are terminated through adoption or another legal process2
- Your minor child is declared legally emancipated by a court (in which case the court has determined the child is able to be self-supporting)
How can a parent apply for child support?
Depending on where you live, you should be able to apply for child support with your Department of Social Services or Child Support Services division. You may be able to apply online or in person. When you apply, you’ll need to provide certain information, including:
- Proof of your identity
- Proof of income
- Copy of your child’s birth certificate
- Photo of the noncustodial parent
- Verification of marital status
- Legal documents relevant to your claim—which can include a divorce decree, an affidavit of parentage, a domestic violence protective order, and voluntary agreements signed between you and the noncustodial parent
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