When considering a child support action, Indiana Courts require that a child support worksheet be submitted.  The child support worksheet includes information such as income, health insurance expenses, overnight visitation credits, etc., to give an amount of recommended child support.

What information does the child support worksheet consider besides income?

Prior Child Support Orders – If you are paying child support for another child and that child is older than the child in question, then the child support worksheet allows for a deduction in your weekly gross income for purposes of calculating child support.  For example, let’s say your gross income is $500 per week (before any deductions).  Now if you have a child support order for an older child, then that will be subtracted from the $500 per week.  If you have a $75 per week child support order, then the amount of “income” you have for purposes of calculating child support for the second child is $425 per week.

Subsequent Child Credit – If you have a younger child that you are legally responsible for, or that you have a child support order for and you are paying that order, then the child support worksheet will also provide a deduction from your weekly gross income.  The deduction is a percentage of the weekly income and that percentage is based on the number of children you have.

Health Insurance Premiums – The child support worksheet also has a section for child related health insurance premiums.  This is any amount you pay for health insurance for the child in question.  So if you have employer provided benefits and you are paying $50 per week for this benefit to cover both you and your child, then you would receive a credit based on whatever the child’s portion costs.

These are a few of the deductions that can occur in a child support worksheet.  These deductions may raise or increase the amount of child support depending on whether the custodial or the non-custodial parent is taking the deduction.

if you have questions about child support or a child support modification, please contact me.

The Law Office of Jeffery M. Haupt is located in South Bend, Indiana and helps people handle family law issues such as divorce, parenting time, child support, paternity, and child custody, criminal defense matters, DUIs, theft charges, license suspensions, and for Bankruptcy. The information in this blog should only be used for educational purposes and not be construed as legal advice. Nothing in this blog creates an attorney-client relationship between me and any readers of this blog. No attorney-client relationship is created until you have a document from me saying so.  DO NOT POST ABOUT CASE PARTICULARS IN THE COMMENT SECTION.