What You Need To Know About Child Support Calculations

Going through a child custody case,in New York and elsewhere, can generate many changes in your life including the payment of child support obligations.  Typically, a parent who has primary custody may be eligible for child support from the other parent to help pay for expenses.  If child support is ordered in your case, it will most likely be in place until the child turns 21 unless the child becomes emancipated.

There are three primary ways that child support in New York can be determined: using the income shares model, the percentage of income model, or the Melson formula model.  In the first scenario, the income of both parents is reviewed and a fixed percentage of that income is divided between the parents for financial maintenance.  The percentage of income model only reviews the non-custodial parent’s income to determine a percentage, and the Melson formula model accounts for increases in either parent’s standards of living. 

The court analyzes numerous factors in order to determine the appropriate amount of New York child support in a case.  These include health insurance expenses, mandatory retirement contributions, the tax filing status of each parent, how many children the parents have had together, the support children receive from other relationships, the cost of sharing daycare or uninsured healthcare costs, and how much time children spend with each parent. 

Furthermore, in New York, the court can allocate a portion of child support for non-recurring income to life insurance policies, gifts and inheritances, recovery of bad debts, discharges of indebtedness, and lottery winnings.  To better understand specific child support calculations and issues in New York, you need to consult with a New York family attorney as soon as possible.  Child support is a crucial part of your divorce and you should be informed.