Child support is often a serious issue to discuss during a divorce involving children. One parent may not want to be saddled with a huge monthly payment, especially if they are seeing their children regularly.
That being said, child support is something that children are entitled to. The support is supposed to be there to make sure they get their necessities covered and are able to live in a comfortable home environment.
How is child support determined?
When determining the amount of child support, you can go with the guidelines set by the state or decide on your own. You and your spouse have an opportunity to negotiate a fair amount of custody. In some cases, you may be able to agree to not exchange custody if you both have regular visitation time, but this will depend on your case and how you set up your custody schedule.
Some of the factors that should go in to determining the support amount include:
- Parenting time estimates
- How much each parent earns
- The specific needs of the child
As a general rule, Kentucky uses a percentage of the parents’ combined income to determine how much support should be paid. For a single child, the state estimates that 20% of the parents’ income should go to the child, and that percentage increases from that point onward.
If you have questions about child support or modifying an order that is already in place, your attorney can help you look in to your options. Our website has more information on child support, custody and the laws that may affect your family in Kentucky.