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(801) 254-9450 (801) 254-9450 Like all states, Utah has guidelines for determining the financial obligations a parent owes to their child. These child support calculations are made using a formula that includes each parent’s income and other factors, such as the custody arrangement.
Calculating child support in South Jordan is not an exact science since the courts are entitled to deviate from the suggested amounts. To ensure you are treated fairly, you should rely on the guidance of our skilled family attorneys at Carr | Woodall.
In South Jordan, determining child support payments involves a multi-step process. A state-provided formula offers a weekly payment amount based on an array of factors, but judges are not obligated to use these calculations.
This process starts with reviewing both parents’ gross income, which includes all types of earnings. The formula factors in wages, salaries, and other income, including:
A few items are not taken into account, including welfare benefits and housing subsidies. The court can also impute income on you or the other parent if the judge believes you are intentionally making less than you could.
The state provides a table that establishes the base support rate based on your gross income and the number of children you have. You are generally responsible for a share of the total amount owed based on your percentage of both parents’ combined earnings.
Additional adjustments are made at this point. For example, judges might require you to pay more if medical or childcare expenses are higher than normal.
These calculations are a starting point, but the courts do not always implement them without making changes first. An important part of calculating your child support obligations is understanding when and why a South Jordan judge might deviate from the guidelines.
Judges will examine the suggested payment structure to determine if it is fair and if the result is in the child’s best interests. In some situations, the ideal payment is larger or smaller than what the formula recommends. The court will consider an array of facts when altering the amounts in the final order.
Some of these factors include both parents’ standard of living as well as your individual abilities to earn a living. For example, a judge might believe that one parent is earning far less than they could. This might lead them to adjust the suggested payment amount. Other factors include the following:
Our attorneys at Carr | Woodall could advise you about how all of these factors might impact a specific case’s outcome.
Whether you are divorcing or facing a custody dispute, understanding the method of calculating child support in South Jordan is crucial. This process might not go the way you expect it to, but having an attorney assisting you improves your chances of a favorable outcome.
Our attorneys could make the case for a support obligation that ensures your children are cared for and also treats you fairly. To learn more, reach out to us as soon as possible for a private consultation.