Child support is often emotionally charged and legally complicated. If you’re going through a divorce or involved in a paternity case in Indiana and have minor children, you probably have many questions.
Each state has its own laws regarding child support and established formulas to determine the amount. In most cases, both parents must support their children financially. The noncustodial parent – the parent who doesn’t live with the child most of the time – will usually have to pay child support to the parent who has primary custody. However, there are still many nuances within those scenarios. Let’s answer the question of how is child support calculated in Indiana.
Indiana’s Child Support Formula
In Indiana, the child support formula considers gross weekly income for each parent, the number of overnights each parent exercises annually, if either parent has subsequent children or prior-born children for which they pay support, work-related child care expenses, and health insurance premiums paid for the child(ren).
Gross weekly income includes:
- Wages and salaries.
- Rental property income.
- Royalties through licensing agreements for the use of copyrighted works, influencer endorsements, intellectual property, or natural resources.
- Veterans, social security, and disability benefits.
- Commission for sales.
- Dividends they receive from owning a company’s stock.
- Imputed income, which is anything an employee receives that isn’t part of their salary or wages, such as a company car or housing stipend, but is still taxed as part of their income.
Gross weekly income doesn’t include public assistance programs such as Temporary Aid to Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, or food stamps. It also doesn’t include survivor benefits that any other child in either parent’s home receives.
The Income Shares Model
Indiana is one of 40 states that bases its child support guidelines on the income shares model. Under this model, the court combines the income of the custodial and noncustodial parent. Each parent’s share is then prorated according to their proportional share of the combined income.
After calculating gross weekly income and adjusting for permitted deductions, Indiana uses a simple chart to determine how much each parent pays.
For example, if the parent’s weekly adjusted gross income is $1,500, they would pay:
- $210 for one child
- $315 for two children
- $394 for three children
- $443 for four children
- $471 for five children
- $512 for six children
- $552 for seven children
- $591 for eight children
A parent’s maximum payment per week never exceeds 50% of their income, therefore, a parent making $1,500 a week won’t ever have to pay more than $750 a week regardless of how many children they support.
The Indiana Child Support Calculator
Indiana provides a child support calculator so parents can easily determine child support obligations based on the state’s guidelines. However, the state advises that parents should not use the calculator as a substitute for legal guidance from an experienced child custody attorney.
How Long Do Indiana Child Support Orders Last?
In most cases, child support orders last until children turn 19, but the court may decide to terminate them sooner if they are at least 18, haven’t attended school in at least four months, and are capable of employment.
Child Support Attorneys in Indiana
The experienced attorneys at Zentz & Roberts provide compassionate legal assistance for all family law matters including child support. Our dedicated attorneys will stand up for your rights and ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family. Book an appointment today by calling 317-220-6056 or by filling out our online form.
***Please note: This page is not intended to give specific legal advice but is meant for information purposes only. Contact us to discuss your case***