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Connecticut Child Support Guidelines

In most custody arrangements, one parent is required to make monthly child support payments. Regardless of whether a child spends more time with one parent under a time-sharing arrangement, it remains common for even the parent that spends less time with the child to make these payments.

In Connecticut, family courts use the Child Support Guidelines to determine how much a parent will be required to pay under child support arrangements. The following chart provides a general overview of Connecticut's child support guidelines.

Step 1: What is Considered Income for Purposes of Determining Child Support Obligations

For each parent, add the following figures, which all qualify as income (or income-related) for purposes of determining child support obligations:

  • Gross weekly income
  • Federal income tax
  • Social security tax
  • Medicare tax
  • State and local income tax
  • Medical insurance premium payments
  • Payments on court-ordered life insurance for the benefit of the child
  • Payments on court-ordered disability insurance, mandatory union dues or fees
  • Cost of mandatory uniforms and tools needed for work, and
  • The amount of court-ordered alimony and child-support payments.

Once you have added together all of the above, subtract the resulting 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 chart that starts on page 11 of the Child Support Guidelines, find the block in the schedule that corresponds to the noncustodial parent's income level (rounded to the nearest $10) and the number of children whose support is being determined.

  • If the box is shaded, then the noncustodial parent is required to pay the amount within the shaded box.
  • If the block isn't shaded, then add together the parents' net weekly incomes, which you determined in step 1. Find this figure on the chart. The dollar amount shown in this block is the basic child support obligation of both parents.
Use this worksheet for help in determining child support obligations. Alternately, you can use this child support calculator.

Step 3: Determine Each Parent's Share

Take parent #1's net weekly income and multiply it by the basic child support obligation to find parent #1's share. The basic child support obligation was determined in step two.

Next, repeat this step for parent #2.

Now you know how much each parent's share is. The court will likely require that the parent with whom the child spends less time pay this amount to the other parent on a monthly basis.

Factors that may cause the Court to Deviate from the above Guidelines

  • Under Connecticut Chapter 816, guidelines are set for determining the amount of support, payment on arrearages, and past-due support.
  • Under 46b-56c, guidelines are set for educational support orders.
 

Need More Help? Contact an Attorney Today

State laws change frequently. For case-specific information regarding Connecticut's child support guidelines, contact a local family law attorney.

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