Child Support in Kentucky: How's It Figured Out? (Including Shared Parenting!)

One of the questions I get asked most often is about child support: "How is it calculated? How much will I pay or receive?" It can seem complicated, but I'm here to break it down for you.

 

Kentucky has Child Support Guidelines that we use to make things as fair as possible. Think of it like a recipe – there are specific ingredients and steps we follow. But there's one ingredient that sometimes gets overlooked: shared parenting.

 

The Main Ingredients:

Just like a recipe needs ingredients, child support calculations need some key information:

• Each Parent's Income: This is the most important ingredient. We look at your gross income – that's what you earn before taxes and other deductions. Things like wages, salaries, bonuses, and even self-employment income all count. Again, this is the before taxes amount, not your take-home pay.
• Number of Children: Seems obvious, right? The more children you have, the more support might be needed.
• Childcare Costs: If you pay out-of-pocket for daycare or before/after school care so you can work, that gets factored in. You’ll need actual proof of those payments, though, for them to count.
• Health Insurance Costs: We also consider how much you pay for your child's health insurance premiums. Your HR office may be able to help you determine how much you pay for the children’s coverage, over and above what you pay for your own health insurance.
• Parenting Time: This is where shared parenting comes in. How much time does each parent spend with the child? This can affect the support calculation.

Putting It All Together (The "Recipe"):

Kentucky uses a chart – kind of like a cooking chart – that combines these ingredients. It shows the basic child support amount based on the combined income of both parents and the number of children. It's important to remember this chart is a starting point, in that it gives us a “base” child support amount. But from there, other factors are applied to get the adjusted child support amount.

 

Here’s a simplified way to think about it:

1. Combine Incomes: We add both parents' gross incomes together.
2. Find the Basic Obligation: We look at the chart to find the corresponding amount based on the combined income and the number of kids. This is the basic amount of support.
3. Add the Extras: We add in childcare costs and health insurance premiums.
4. Consider Parenting Time: This is where the shared parenting credit comes in. If the paying parent has the child for a significant amount of time – usually more than the standard visitation – they may receive a credit that reduces the amount of child support they owe. This recognizes the expenses the parent incurs while caring for the child during that time.
5. Divide It Up: The total amount (after considering the shared parenting credit) is then divided between the parents based on their percentage of the combined income. So, if one parent earns 60% of the combined income, they'll generally be responsible for 60% of the support (after any applicable credit).

Example Time (Simplified):

Let's say Parent A earns $2,000 a month, and Parent B earns $3,000 a month. They have one child.

1. Combined Income: $2,000 + $3,000 = $5,000
2. Basic Obligation (Hypothetical): Let's say the chart shows $800 for one child at that income level.
3. Add Extras: Parent A pays $100 a month for daycare. Total support is now $900.
4. Consider Parenting Time: Let's say Parent B has the child a significant amount of time, enough to qualify for a shared parenting credit. This credit (let's say it's $100, for the sake of the example) is subtracted from the $900. New total: $800.
5. Divide It Up: Parent A earns 40% of the combined income, Parent B earns 60%. So, Parent A would be responsible for 40% of $800 (which is $320), and Parent B would be responsible for 60% (which is $480). Usually, the parent with the higher income pays the other parent the difference.

Important Notes:

• This is a very simplified example. Real-life calculations can be more complex. The shared parenting credit is calculated according to specific qualifications and depends on the actual amount of time each parent spends with the child.
• The guidelines are just that – guidelines. A judge can adjust the amount if it's in the child's best interest. Or, the parents can agree to a different amount in many circumstances.
• It's always best to talk to a lawyer. I can help you understand the guidelines, including the shared parenting credit, and how they apply to your specific situation.

Child support is designed to help ensure kids have what they need. While the calculations may seem a bit complicated, especially with shared parenting involved.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to my office.  I’m here to help.

 

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice to any current or future client of Reed Law Group, PLC.