How Child Support Guidelines Work (Income Shares vs. Percentage)

How Child Support Guidelines Work (Income Shares vs. Percentage) — plain‑English guide. This article explains the concept, how courts and child support agencies approach it, what documents to gather, common pitfalls, and practical steps you can take to keep orders accurate and enforceable.

Overview. Two main models: income‑shares (allocates costs by both parents’ incomes) and percentage‑of‑income (fixed percentage of payer’s income).

Inputs. Gross income, overnights, insurance premiums, childcare, and credits. Deviations require written findings.

Practice. Run the official calculator and attach printouts to your filing.

Bottom line. Courts decide with documents and predictable processes. If you prepare cleanly, meet deadlines, and route payments through official channels, you reduce conflict and get to reliable results faster.