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Parenting Expense Adjustment

Quick Facts

Adjustment based on expenses incurred by custodial parent.
Adjustment reduces obligor's support obligation by a portion of expenses.
If parenting time is equal, then expenses can affect whether support is paid.

The parenting expense adjustment is based on a presumption that when a child is in the custody of a parent, then that parent is responsible for and incurs costs of caring for the child, such as food, transportation, recreation, and household expenses. A child support order defines the percentage of parenting time granted to or presumed for each parent.

The percentage of parenting time is calculated based on the amount of time the child is scheduled to spend with the parent during the calendar year as determined by court order. De facto excess or deficit of parenting time is not considered. Parenting time includes visitation, physical custody, and parenting time.

The percentage of parenting time can be determined by calculating the number of overnights that a child spends with a parent, or by using a method other than overnights if the parent has significant time periods on separate days when the child is in the parent's physical custody and under the direct care of the parent but does not stay overnight.

The court may consider the age of the child in determining whether a child is with a parent for a significant period of time.

If there is not a court order awarding parenting time, then the court will determine the child support award without considering the parenting expense adjustment. If a parenting time order is subsequently issued or is issued in the same proceeding, then the child support order should include an application of the parenting expense adjustment.

Calculation of Parenting Expense Adjustment

The obligor may be entitled to a parenting expense adjustment. The court will use the following expense adjustment calculation:

find the adjustment percentage corresponding to the percentage of parenting time allowed to the obligor below:

(i) less than 10 percent no adjustment
(ii) 10 percent to 45 percent 12 percent
(iii) 45.1 percent to 50 percent presume parenting time is equal

multiply the adjustment percentage by the obligor's basic child support obligation to arrive at the parenting expense adjustment;
subtract the parenting expense adjustment from the obligor's basic child support obligation.

The result is the obligor's basic support obligation after parenting expense adjustment.

Calculation of Basic Support when Parenting Time Presumed Equal

If the parenting time allotted to each parent is equal and the parental incomes for determining child support of the parents also are equal, then basic support will not be paid unless the court determines that the expenses for the child are not equally shared.

If the parenting time is equal but the parents' parental incomes for determining child support are not equal, the parent having the greater parental income for determining child support will bear the obligation for basic child support. This is calculated as follows:

multiply the combined basic support by 0.75;
prorate the amount between the parents based on each parent's proportionate share of the combined PICS; and
subtract the lower amount from the higher amount.

The resulting number is the obligation, after parenting expense adjustment for the parent with the greater parental income for determining child support.