Child Support

WI attorneys Child Support Desk Reference (great info on procedures for establishing support): 

https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/cs/attorney-dr/03adr.pdf

 

Easy to use quick CHILD SUPPORT calculator:  https://www.divergentfamilylaw.com/WiChildSupportCalculator

 

Child support Administrative code:.   http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dcf/101_199/ 

 

Check the status of your child support payments ...

 

If you believe that you are being impoverished by the court ordered child support obligations see maximum child support obligation.

LOW INCOME SUPPORT TABLES :   http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dcf/101_199/150_c.pdf

MAXIMUM Birth COST recovery/income:  https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/register/2021/782a2/register/public_notices/public_notice_updates_to_chapter_dcf_150_appendices_c_and_d/dcf_150_appendix_d.pdf

Job loss and child support obligation:    https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cs/enforce/home     

WI child support program home:   : https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cs/home

How to establish child support payments:   https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/cs/attorney-dr/03adr.pdf 

When child support ends:     https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cs/emancipation

Child Support Incentive Program how it works:   https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dcf/101_199/153

---

 

Defining a child support award in Wisconsin

If you have the standard cookie-cutter "every second weekend and one night through the week" shared placement schudule, this simple child support calculator is available from the Department of Children and Familes (DCF).\

Child support in joint placement situations:

Wisconsin's  DWD 40 Percentage of income child support standard. (Complete version.)

Note:  

The directive to apply the DWD 40 standard are in Wis. 767.511(1J): 

Except as provided in sub. (1m), the court shall determine child support payments by using the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9). ( DWD 40 child support standard)

 

The court may deviate from this amount per 767.41(1m) 

 

Upon request by a party, the court may modify the amount of child support payments determined under sub. (1j) if, after considering the following factors, the court finds by the greater weight of the credible evidence that use of the percentage standard is unfair to the child or to any of the parties:

 

(a) The financial resources of the child.

 

(b) The financial resources of both parents.

 

(bj) Maintenance received by either party.

 

(bp) The needs of each party in order to support himself or herself at a level equal to or greater than that established under 42 USC 9902 (2).

 

(bz) The needs of any person, other than the child, whom either party is legally obligated to support.

 

(c) If the parties were married, the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not ended in annulment, divorce or legal separation.

 

(d) The desirability that the custodian remain in the home as a fulltime parent.

 

(e) The cost of day care if the custodian works outside the home, or the value of custodial services performed by the custodian if the custodian remains in the home.

 

(ej) The award of substantial periods of physical placement to both parents.

 

(em) Extraordinary travel expenses incurred in exercising the right to periods of physical placement under s. 767.471.

 

(f) The physical, mental and emotional health needs of the child, including any costs for health insurance as provided for under sub. (4m).

 

(g) The child’s educational needs.

 

(h) The tax consequences to each party.

 

(hm) The best interests of the child.

 

(hs) The earning capacity of each parent, based on each parent’s education, training and work experience and the availability of work in or near the parent’s community.

 

(i) Any other factors which the court in each case determines are relevant.

 

---

 

Easy way to modify existing child support order

 

The easiest and least adversarial way to modify an existing child support order is to work out an agreement with your ex spouse, download and print  form  FA-604 or MS word fill in version and DIRECTIONS FA-604 ( Petition, Stipulation and Order Amending Judgment Affecting Family) from the Wisconsin Court System web site.  Fill out, sign  this form (both parties), and submit it to the office of the court commissioner or judge  who entered the original order. 

 

 

The Hard way to modify existing child support order

 

 If you can't get agreement on child support modification use forms here or download them:

FA-4170 Notice of Motion and Motion to change: Legal Custody, Physical Placement, Child Support or Spousal Maintenance

FA-4171 Order to Show Cause and Affidavit: Change of Legal Custody, Physical Placement, Child Support, Spousal Maintenance, Other

FA-4175 Decision & Order on Motion or Order To Show Cause to: Change of Legal Custody, Physical Placement, Child Support, Spousal Maintenance, Other. 

---

 

Child Support Reform proposals

 

 

---

 

National Resources

 

Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement Home Page

 

Links to state child support office web sites 

 

SupportGuidelines.com is a comprehensive resource, provided by the American Bar Association, for the interpretation and application of child support guidelines in the United States.  This site provides access to child support guidelines for all the states.  Also available are  on-line child support calculators  for calculating child support awards in many states.

 

---

 

 

 

For more information about the legal process go to legal resources.