In Indiana, as in almost every state, government guidelines are published to describe the calculation used for determining minimum amounts of child support to be shared between parents. This support is intended to cover financial needs and the costs of certain basic and miscellaneous expenses. Examples of expenses to be covered are food, clothing, shelter, medical/dental/vision coverages. There are others.
Factors which affect the percentage sharing of these expenses include: Combined annual income of the parents, the percentage of the combined income contributed by each parent, and a ratio/range of overnights the children spend at the homes of each parent annually. Adjustments can be made to reflect premiums paid, child care expenses… by the respective parents. Nearly in all cases, Child Support is expressed in weekly amounts of Support due. Generally, if there is a significant disparity between the parent’s earnings, even if the parents divide the overnights evenly, the parent earning a higher income will pay child support.This is not always true and each situation is case specific.
If parent incomes are approximately the same, if overnights are divided equally, and if costs of medical coverage and daycare type costs are divided equally between the parents, it is possible that no Child Support will be due from either parent. Parents are permitted to deviate from the Child Support Guidelines within boundaries. Courts give significant scrutiny to any proposal for a deviation in Child Support in order to protect the interests of the children and to assure their needs are being met.
For detailed information regarding the Indiana Child Support Guidelines see: This Link – Click Here