Support Establishment: Calculating a Child Support Obligation
Calculation Guideline 3: Child related expenses
The court will review the case to determine if any additional amounts should be added to the approximate basic child support obligation. These additional amounts may be ordered to cover expenses such as:
- Child care (while the custodial parent is working or in school)
- Educational costs in some cases
- Unreimbursed health care costs
- Health insurance in every order
State law requires that every child support order provides health insurance coverage for the child(ren). Health Insurance means any medical, dental or optical health care service, and prescription drugs, that may be provided through a parent's employer at reasonable cost.
If there is coverage in effect or available at reasonable cost, the court will direct that the child be enrolled. The cost will be divided between the parents. If neither parent has available health insurance benefits through employment, the court will direct the custodial parent to apply for the state's health plan and the medical assistance program, if eligible. Each parent will pay an appropriate share of the cost.
To determine the additional amounts, the court will review both the CP's and NCP's annual income and other relevant factors. However, the NCP will be required to pay his share of the expenses.
Calculation example (Part 2 of 2):
Let's continue with the previous calculation example and add child related expenses to the approximate basic child support obligation. We will use a child related expense amount of $2,500 for this example. Note, however, that child related expenses vary per case:
| Annual income after allowable deductions | $20,000 |
2 children involved:
25% of income |
x .25
|
| Approximate basic child support obligation | $5,000 |
| Non-custodial parent's share of related expenses | + $2,500 |
| Basic child support obligation | $7,500 |