Note: The following example shows how to calculate the child support obligations of shared-placement parents.
Number of children: Two
Parent A: $2,000 monthly income available for child support
Court-ordered placement of the child for 219 days a year or 60%.
Parent B: $3,000 monthly income available for child support
Court-ordered placement of the child for 146 days a year or 40%.
1. Monthly income available for child support | $2,000 | $3,000 |
2. Monthly income available for child support X percentage standard for two children | $2,000 X 25% = $500 | $3,000 X 25% = $750 |
3. Amount in 2. X 150% | $500 X 150% = $750 | $750 X 150% = $1125 |
4. Amount in 3. X the proportion of time that the child spends with the other parent | $750 X 40% = $300 | $1125 X 60% = $675 |
5. Offset | $675 - $300 = $375 | |
6. Court also assigns responsibility for payment of the child’s variable costs. | Manner of payment is between the parents or from a parent to a third-party service provider. |
Example of equivalent care:
Number of children: Two
Parent A: $2,000 monthly income available for child support
Parent A has court-ordered placement of the child 271 days a year or 74%.
Parent B: $3,000 monthly income available for child support
Parent B has court-ordered placement of the child 94 days a year or 26%.
Parent B also provides day care 4 days a week from 3 pm – 9 pm and
Provides dinner to the children 46 weeks per year.
(4) 6 hour blocks per week = 2 overnights X 46 weeks= 92 overnights per year
Total number of overnights = 457 (271 + 94 + 92)
Parent A = 59%
Parent B = 41%
Time with Parent A = 59% (271/457 = .59)
Time with Parent B = 41% (94 =92/457 = .407) (94 +92)/457=.407
1. Monthly income available for child support | $2,000 | $3,000 |
2. Monthly income available for child support X percentage standard for two children | $2,000 X 25% = $500 | $3,000 X 25% = $750 |
3. Amount in 2. X 150% | $500 X 150% = $750 | $750 X 150% = $1125 |
4. Amount in 3. X the proportion of time that the child spends with the other parent | $750 X 41% = $307.50 | $1125 X 59% = $663.75 |
5. Offset | $663.75 - $307.50 = $367.50 |
6. Court also assigns responsibility for payment of the child’s variable costs. | Manner of payment is between the parents or from a parent to a third-party service provider. |
SECTION 12. DCF 150.04 (1) (b) 3. a. and (4) (a) are amended to read:
DCF 150.04 (1) (b) 3. a. If the parent is subject to an existing support order for that legal obligation, except a shared-placement order under s. DCF 150.035 (1), the support for that obligation is the higher of the monthly amount of that the existing order or the monthly support amount that would currently be determined under this chapter. (4) (a) The court may use the monthly support amount provided in the schedule in Appendix C as the support amount for a payer with a monthly income available for child support at a level set forth in the schedule if the payer’s total economic circumstances limit his or her the payer’s ability to pay support at the level determined under s. DCF 150.035. If a payer’s monthly income available for child support is below the lowest income level in Appendix C, the court may set an order at an amount appropriate for the payer’s total economic circumstances. This amount may be lower than the lowest support amount in Appendix C. SECTION 13. Effective date. This rule shall take effect the first day of the month following publication in the Administrative Register, as provided in s. 227.22 (2) (intro.), Stats.
