How is child support calculated when a parent is self-employed?

In Maine, child support is calculated using a formula based on the incomes of both of the parents and the number of children they are responsible for. For self-employed parents, income can be harder to determine, since there is no set paycheck or wage. In this case, the income of the self-employed parent must be estimated with tax returns, or with other evidence of how much money is available for the parent to pay in child support. For example, if the parent has an independent business, the court may read through the income tax return to determine the net income of the business. This includes any income from investments, real estate, or other taxable items they had during a particular tax year. The estimated income can then be added to the gross income of both parents to calculate their combined total income. The Maine Child Support Guidelines then use that combined total income to calculate the estimated child support amount that the self-employed parent should pay. If the court finds that the estimate of the self-employed parent’s income is inaccurate, they can order the parent to provide more detailed income information or testimony on their net income. Overall, Maine child support law takes into account the incomes of both parents when calculating child support, regardless of employment status. Self-employed parents may have to provide additional evidence of their income, but the court can still determine how much child support they should pay.

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How is child support calculated when a parent is self-employed?

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