How is child support calculated?

In New York State, the court uses an income shares model to calculate child support. This model takes into account both parents’ income and assigns the appropriate percentage to be paid by each parent. The court factors in the cost of raising the child in each parent’s home and how much money each parent has. The court may also make adjustments, such as alimony payments or special medical costs for the child. When calculating how much child support is owed, the court takes into account the number of children, the amount of time each parent spends with the child, the parents’ income, deductions from gross income, how much each parent contributes to health insurance premiums, and child care costs. The court then uses an income shares formula to determine the approximate amount of child support each parent should pay. The court considers the amount of child support determined by the income shares formula to be a minimum amount. The court may order additional payments if one parent can afford them. Additionally, the court may adjust the amount of child support if the circumstances change. For example, if one parent loses their job or experiences a drastic decrease in income, the court may adjust the child support amount.

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