What is Child Support?

Child support in Louisiana is set in accordance with guidelines first established by the legislature in 1989. Setting of child support utilizes a worksheet which is submitted to the Court for consideration in computation of the non-domiciliary parent's obligation. The guidelines use a combination of both parents' gross incomes to establish the "basic child support obligation"

Other considerations to be added to the basic child support obligation are the cost of health and/or dental insurance, if either parent has it available through their employer; the cost of net daycare; extraordinary medical expenses; private school tuition, the child's income, or payment of other court ordered support obligations.

These figures are tallied on the worksheet to determine the child support obligation of the non-domiciliary parent. The final figure set by the Court will be established by Judgment from the Court. The parent receiving the child support may request an Income Assignment Order from the Court which directs the payor parent's employer to deduct the child support from his or her paycheck and send it to the domiciliary parent.

If the child support is not paid properly or if either parent desires tochange the child support amount, the parents must return to Court to seek relief. The failure to pay court ordered child support may subject that parent to contempt of court proceedings. Contempt proceedings may result in a jail sentence, fines, orders to pay the other parent's attorney's fees and court costs, and/or suspension of licenses, including driver's licenses, hunting or fishing licenses, or even professional licenses, such as the license to practice law or medicine.

When consulting an attorney regarding the setting or changing of child support, you should be prepared to present a copy of your last two tax returns with W-2's and 1099's; your last paycheck stub; verification from your employer on the cost of health and/or dental insurance; and documentation on the cost of daycare. If you are seeking assistance with past due child support, prepare a list of payments received so that the attorney can compute the arrearages or past due support.

SAMPLE WORKSHEET - (Under Construction)