If you are in the process of ending a long-term relationship but share children with your ex, you probably have questions about custody and future support obligations. For most families, some kind of joint custody arrangement is ideal, but that does not necessarily mean each parent will have the kids for exactly 50% of the time because of logistics. Regardless of if you become the custodial or noncustodial parent, however, the resulting child support order could affect your financial situation significantly. Below, the family law team at Lonneman & McMahan, PLLC in Elizabethtown, KY, lists a few factors that can affect payment obligations, so you know what to expect going into the proceedings. 

3 Factors That Will Determine Your Child Support Obligations

1. Each Parent’s Income 

In the state of Kentucky, family law judges will consider each parent’s income when calculating a fair child support arrangement. If one of the parents does not work, but the court believes they could be earning a living wage given the circumstances, they will assign an estimated income to that parent when inputting numbers into the formula. 

2. The Number of Children You Share

After calculating the parents’ combined income, the court will refer to the state’s guidelines table, which details the total support obligation for various dynamics. If you have two children, for example, and you and the other parent earn a combined $10,000 per month, the total obligation would be $1,515, barring any special circumstances. If each parent earns exactly $5,000 per month, that means they each make 50% of the household income. Thus, the noncustodial parent would pay the custodial parent their share of the obligation, or 50% of $1,515, which works out to $757.50 per month. 

3. Extraordinary Health Care or Educational Expenses

A divorce attorney will tell you extraordinary expenses are just one example of special circumstances that could alter the final arrangement. For example, private school tuition could affect the final order, as could significant medical expenses. Medical expenses are considered significant if the child has some kind of chronic condition or requires the parents to spend more than $100 out of pocket per year on health care that is not covered by insurance.

If you are facing a tense child custody battle or want to modify a current support order, turn to a family law attorney at Lonneman & McMahan, PLLC in Elizabethtown. They have been representing clients throughout Hardin County and the surrounding areas for more than three decades and are proud to provide comprehensive legal services in a variety of practice areas. You can reach out to their family law team by visiting their website or calling (270) 765-2190.