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What Expenses Are Included in Child Support in Wisconsin?
Parents are required to financially support their children. When children live primarily with one parent, that parent is usually presumed to be supporting them, and the other parent will usually be required to pay child support. In 2017, The United States Census Bureau reported that around 20 million minor children in the United States live with one parent, making up 27.1 percent of all living arrangements for children. Determining the correct amount of support in these cases is essential, not only to ensure that children’s needs are met, but to ensure that the parents can maintain financial stability. No matter what side of a child support order you are on, the attorneys at Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP can help you reach an outcome that meets your needs.
Setting Support Amounts
In Wisconsin, child support obligations are typically determined using pre-set percentages based on the number of children being supported. According to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, the percentage of a parent’s income that will go toward child support are as follows:
- 1 child: 17%
- 2 children: 25%
- 3 children: 29%
- 4 children: 31%
- 5 or more children: 34%
In many cases, these percentages are used to calculate child support based on the income earned by the paying parent. However, in “shared-placement” cases in which children live with each parent at least 25% of the time, these percentages will be calculated for both parents. The results will then be multiplied by 1.5, and each parent’s obligation will be multiplied by the other parent’s percentage of time with the children. The lower amount will be subtracted from the higher amount, and the result will be the amount of that parent’s child support payments.
Other Expenses
Raising a child is not cheap. In addition to the amount of child support determined using the Percentage of Income Standard, parents may be required to share other expenses. These may include:
- Variable costs - These include child care, school tuition, expenses related to a child's special needs, and any costs involved in children’s extracurricular activities
- Medical support - Parents may split the costs of providing health insurance for children, as well as any other expenses related to medical treatment
Contact a Milwaukee Child Support Attorney
Whether you want to make sure all relevant factors are considered when calculating child support obligations or need to enforce the payment of child support, the attorneys of Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP can provide the legal help you need. Contact our Milwaukee, WI family law attorneys at 414-271-1440.
Sources:
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2017/living-arrangements.html
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cs/order/guidelines
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dcf/101_199/150
