If you are the parent of a minor child in South Carolina and you are going through a divorce or are establishing paternity child support for the child will likely be an issue during the proceedings. Whether you are expecting to receive support or are the parent who will be paying support you are probably wondering “How is child support calculated in South Carolina? ” Because of the unique nature of a divorce or paternity proceeding it is always best to consult with an experienced South Carolina family law attorney for individualized advice and guidance; however, some general information about child support may also be beneficial.
Not that long ago child support orders varied widely from one court or jurisdiction to another. In an effort to end the disparity in support orders, most states now use Child Support Guidelines when determining child support orders. South Carolina is one of those states. Although a judge may deviate from the guidelines, the deviation cannot be great and a good reason must exists to do so. Therefore, if you expect to be the payor or payee of a child support order in South Carolina, that order will be based on the calculations performed using the Child Support Calculator.
Calculating child support begins by determining how much incomes each parent has. The income of both parents is then added together to determine how much combined income is available for the child each month. Both your percentage of the whole and that of the other parent is then determined. For example, assume that you have $2,000 of income each month and the child’s other parent has $4,000 of income each month. Together, you make $6,000 each month. Your share, or percentage, of the total is 1/3 or 0.33 percent. The other parent’s share is 2/3 or 0.67 percent. According to the Guidelines, that means that $856 should be available for the care and maintenance of the child. If the child lives with you, the other parent would be responsible for paying $573.50 ($856 x 0.67) as a starting point. The Guidelines allow deductions for things such as the payment of medical insurance premiums or child care as well as credits for things such as overnights spent with the child. Only after all the deductions and credits have been factored in will the final child support order be finalized.
If you have additional questions or concerns about child support or family law in general, contact the experienced South Carolina family law attorneys at Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm by calling 843-577-3700 to schedule your appointment.
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