Child support is one of the most rigid areas of the law. There is a base amount that every parent is required to pay on the same scale, which is also known as the child support guidelines. Most states have their own guidelines.
It’s determined by what your income is, what your spouse’s or the other parent’s income is, and certain allowable expenses, such as health care costs and work-related child care costs. It’s fairly rigid and formulaic, but there are certain exceptions. Making sure you calculate the right number is very important.