ER Law: Trial Attorneys | Family & Personal Injury | Greensboro, NC
ER Law: Trial Lawyers | Personal Injury & Family Law | Greensboro, NC

How is child support calculated in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, child support is calculated using the state’s Child Support Guidelines, which consider factors such as each parent’s income, the number of children, and the amount of time each parent spends with the children. The guidelines provide a formula for determining the basic child support obligation, which is then adjusted based on additional factors like health insurance costs, childcare expenses, and extraordinary expenses.

The calculation process typically involves the following steps:

  • Determine each parent’s gross monthly income, including salary, wages, commissions, bonuses, and other sources of income.
  • Adjust the gross income for any pre-existing child support or alimony obligations.
  • Calculate each parent’s percentage share of the combined adjusted gross income.
  • Determine the basic child support obligation using the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines table based on the combined adjusted gross income and the number of children.
  • Add the cost of health insurance premiums for the children, if applicable, and allocate the cost between the parents based on their income shares.
  • Add work-related childcare costs, if applicable, and allocate the cost between the parents based on their income shares.
  • Consider any extraordinary expenses, such as medical expenses or educational expenses, and allocate them between the parents as appropriate.
  • Determine the final child support obligation for each parent by adjusting the basic obligation based on the additional factors and each parent’s percentage share of the combined income.

It is important to note that while the Child Support Guidelines provide a standard calculation, the court may deviate from the guidelines in certain circumstances if it finds that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate. Factors that may warrant a deviation include the child’s special needs, the parents’ extraordinary expenses, or a significant disparity in the parents’ incomes.

October 15, 2024 – Eric Richardson 

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