When a child lives with only one of his or her parents (the custodial parent), often times the other parent (the non-custodial parent) is required to make monthly child support payments in order to help provide financially for the child. In Connecticut, family courts use the Child Support Guidelines to determine how much the non-custodial parent will be required to pay to the custodial parent. The following chart provides a general overview of Connecticut's child support guidelines.
Code Section |
Connecticut's Child Support Guidelines: How to Determine Each Parent's Share of the Basic Child Support Obligation |
Step 1: Determine Each Parent's Net Weekly Income |
For each parent, add the following figures:
Now subtract this figure from the parent's gross weekly income to find each parent's net weekly income. |
Step 2: Determine the Basic Child Support Obligation |
Using the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations chart find the block in the schedule that corresponds to the income level of the noncustodial parent (rounded to the nearest $10) and the number of children whose support is being determined.
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Step 3: Determine Each Parent's Share |
Take parent #1's net weekly income and multiply it by the basic child support obligation (determined in step 2) to find parent #1's share. Next repeat this step for parent #2. Now you know how much each parent's share is. The court will likely require that the non-custodial parent pay this amount to the custodial parent on a monthly basis. |
Factors that may cause the Court to Deviate from the above Guidelines |
The non-custodial parent's share will be altered if that parent is paid social security dependency benefits on behalf of the child whose support is being determined. The court may also deviate from the guidelines if a parent has financial resources that aren't included in the definition of net income, if the child has extraordinary expenses, if the parent has extraordinary expenses, the needs of a parent's other dependents, or other special circumstances. |
Split Custody
Under Connecticut's child support guidelines, "split custody" is defined as a situation in which the parents have more than one child in common and each parent is the custodial parent of at least one of the children. When this is the custodial arrangement, then the court calculates the child support that the father would owe to the mother for the children in her custody as if those were the couple's only children, and then does the same calculation for the mother. The court then subtracts the lesser amount from the greater amount in order to determine how much the child support payment will be.
Parents Who Are Incarcerated
If the non-custodial parent is institutionalized or incarcerated, then the court will establish an initial order for support, or modify an existing order for current support, based upon the parent's present income and substantial assets. An existing child support order won't be reduced if the non-custodial parent is incarcerated because of an offense that was committed against the custodial party or the child subject to the support order.
Additional Resources
State laws change frequently. For case specific information regarding Connecticut's child support guidelines contact a local family law attorney.
