Alabama Child Support Guidelines

Created by FindLaw's team of attorney writers and editors.

Child support is the amount of money that a non-custodial parent is required to pay for their minor child. States have child support guidelines that judges follow to set child support amounts. As with most states, Alabama primarily calculates child support based on each parent's income. It's important to note, however, that there are a variety of other factors involved in determining child support.

What Guidelines Will the Judge Follow to Determine Child Support?

Alabama child support guidelines provide a standard of support that's subject to the ability of the parents to pay, and to ensure that the support is fair and consistent among people in similar circumstances.

Alabama's guidelines are based on the "income shares model" that was developed by the National Center for State Courts. The general intent of child support is to provide for the child in the same manner that they would have been provided for had the family stayed intact.

Alabama Child Support Guidelines at a Glance

While it's important to read the actual language of the law, an overview of the statutes can help you to better understand the law. The following chart offers a helpful overview of Alabama laws related to child support guidelines as well as links to applicable statutes.

Statute(s) Alabama Code, Title 30, Chapter 3. Section 30-3-1, et seq. (Child Custody and Support)
Who's Responsible?

Both parents, although it's presumed that the custodial parent will spend their share directly on the child.
Deviating from the Guidelines

The court may deviate from the child support guidelines for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:

  • Shared physical custody or visitation rights where the non-custodial parent cares for the child substantially longer that usually approved or ordered by the court;
  • One parent having to pap extraordinary costs of transportation for visitation;
  • College education expenses that are incurred before the child reaches the age of majority;
  • Assets of, or unearned income received by/on behalf of, a child; and
  • Any other facts or circumstances that the court finds are in the child's best interests.
Calculating Child Support

Basic steps for calculating child support:

  1. Child support is generally calculated by adding basic child support obligation, work-related child care costs, and health insurance costs.
  2. The total is then divided between the parents in proportion to each parent's adjusted gross income.
  3. Each parent's obligation is calculated by multiplying the total child support by each parent's percentage share of their combined gross income.
Related Statute(s)

Alabama Code, Title 30, Chapter 3D. Section 30-3D-101, et seq. (Uniform Interstate Family Support Act)

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Alabama Child Support Guidelines: Related Resources

If you'd like additional information and resources related to this topic, you can visit the links listed below.

Talk to a Lawyer to Learn More About Alabama Child Support Guidelines

Even if you and your partner no longer want to be together, it's important that you both provide financial support to your child. If you'd like to learn more about child support guidelines as they apply to your unique situation, it's a good idea to speak with an experienced child support attorney near you.

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