ENROLLED
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
Senate Bill No. 365
(Senators Chafin, Sprouse, Kimble, Bailey,
Snyder and Wiedebusch, original sponsors)
____________
[Passed April 12, 1997; in effect ninety days from passage.]
____________
AN ACT to repeal section thirteen, article one-b, chapter forty- eight-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended; to amend and reenact
sections two, three, four, seventeen, nineteen, twenty-six
and thirty-one, article one-a of said chapter; to amend and
reenact sections two, three, five, six, seven, nine, eleven
and twelve, article one-b of said chapter; and to further
amend said article by adding thereto a new section,
designated section sixteen, all relating to establishing
guidelines for child support award amounts; redefining the
terms "adjusted gross income", "attributed income",
"automatic data processing and retrieval system",
"extraordinary medical expenses", "gross income", "shared
physical custody" and "unreimbursed health care expenses";
providing for the calculation of child support orders; establishing monthly basic child support obligations through
use of a table; providing for a federal child care tax
credit; setting forth a worksheet for the computation of
child support orders in sole custody cases; providing for
the calculation of child support obligations in cases where
there is shared physical custody and setting forth a
worksheet for the computation of child support orders in
cases of shared physical custody; allowing an adjustment
when an obligor's social security benefits are sent directly
to the child; providing for modification of a child support
order if there is a substantial change of circumstances;
providing for an allocation of the right to claim dependent
children for income tax purposes; and authorizing a circuit
court to provide for the investment of child support for
future educational and other needs of the child.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section thirteen, article one-b, chapter forty-eight-a
of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty- one, as amended, be repealed; that sections two, three, four,
seventeen, nineteen, twenty-six and thirty-one, article one-a of
said chapter be amended and reenacted; that sections two, three,
five, six, seven, nine, eleven and twelve, article one-b of said
chapter be amended and reenacted; and that said article be
further amended by adding thereto a new section, designated
section sixteen, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1A. DEFINITIONS.
§48A-1A-2. Adjusted gross income.
(a) "Adjusted gross income" means gross income less the
payment of previously ordered child support, spousal support or
separate maintenance.
(b) A further deduction from gross income for additional
dependents may be allowed by the court or master if the parent
has legal dependents other than those for whom support is being
determined. An adjustment may be used in the establishment of a
child support order or in a review of a child support order.
However, in cases where a modification is sought, the adjustment
should not be used to the extent that it results in a support
amount lower than the previously existing order for the children
who are the subject of the modification. The court or master may
elect to use the following adjustment because it allots equitable
shares of support to all of the support obligor's legal
dependents. Using the income of the support obligor only,
determine the basic child support obligation (from the table of
basic child support obligations in section three, article one-b
of this chapter) for the number of additional legal dependents
living with the support obligor. Multiply this figure by 0.75 and
subtract this amount from the support obligor's gross income.
(c) As used in this section, the term "legal dependents"
means:
(1) Minor natural or adopted children who live with the parent; and
(2) Natural or adopted adult children who are totally
incapacitated because of physical or emotional disabilities and
for whom the parent owes a duty of support.
§48A-1A-3. Attributed income.
(a) "Attributed income" means income not actually earned by
a parent, but which may be attributed to the parent because he or
she is unemployed, is not working full time, or is working below
full earning capacity, or has nonperforming or under-performing
assets. Income may be attributed to a parent if the court or
master evaluates the parent's earning capacity in the local
economy (giving consideration to relevant evidence that pertains
to the parent's work history, qualifications, education and
physical or mental condition) and determines that the parent is
unemployed, is not working full time, or is working below full
earning capacity. Income may also be attributed to a parent if
the court or master finds that the obligor has nonperforming or
under-performing assets.
(b) If an obligor: (1) Voluntarily leaves employment or
voluntarily alters his or her pattern of employment so as to be
unemployed, underemployed or employed below full earning
capacity; (2) is able to work and is available for full-time work
for which he or she is fitted by prior training or experience;
and (3) is not seeking employment in the manner that a reasonably
prudent person in his or her circumstances would do, then an alternative method for the court or master to determine gross
income is to attribute to the person an earning capacity based on
his or her previous income. If the obligor's work history,
qualifications, education or physical or mental condition cannot
be determined, or if there is an inadequate record of the
obligor's previous income, the court or master may, as a minimum,
base attributed income on full-time employment (at forty hours
per week) at the federal minimum wage in effect at the time the
support obligation is established.
(c) Income shall not be attributed to an obligor who is
unemployed or underemployed or is otherwise working below full
earning capacity if any of the following conditions exist:
(1) The parent is providing care required by the children to
whom the parties owe a joint legal responsibility for support,
and such children are of preschool age or are handicapped or
otherwise in a situation requiring particular care by the parent;
(2) The parent is pursuing a plan of economic self- improvement which will result, within a reasonable time, in an
economic benefit to the children to whom the support obligation
is owed, including, but not limited to, self-employment or
education:
Provided, That if the parent is involved in an
educational program, the court or master shall ascertain that the
person is making substantial progress toward completion of the
program;
(3) The parent is, for valid medical reasons, earning an income in an amount less that previously earned; or
(4) The court or master makes a written finding that other
circumstances exist which would make the attribution of income
inequitable:
Provided, That in such case, the court or master
may decrease the amount of attributed income to an extent
required to remove such inequity.
(d) The court or master may attribute income to a parent's
nonperforming or under-performing assets, other than the parent's
primary residence. Assets may be considered to be nonperforming
or under-performing to the extent that they do not produce income
at a rate equivalent to the current six-month certificate of
deposit rate, or such other rate that the court or master
determines is reasonable.
§48A-1A-4. Automatic data processing and retrieval system.
"Automatic data processing and retrieval system" means a
computerized data processing system designed to do the following:
(1) To control, account for and monitor all of the factors
in the support enforcement collection and paternity determination
process, including, but not limited to:
(A) Identifiable correlation factors (such as social
security numbers, names, dates of birth, home addresses and
mailing addresses of any individual with respect to whom support
obligations are sought to be established or enforced and with
respect to any person to whom such support obligations are owing)
to assure sufficient compatibility among the systems of different jurisdictions to permit periodic screening to determine whether
such individual is paying or is obligated to pay support in more
than one jurisdiction;
(B) Checking of records of such individuals on a periodic
basis with federal, interstate, intrastate and local agencies;
(C) Maintaining the data necessary to meet applicable
federal reporting requirements on a timely basis; and
(D) Delinquency and enforcement activities;
(2) To control, account for and monitor the collection and
distribution of support payments (both interstate and intrastate)
the determination, collection and distribution of incentive
payments (both interstate and intrastate), and the maintenance of
accounts receivable on all amounts owed, collected and
distributed;
(3) To control, account for and monitor the costs of all
services rendered, either directly or by exchanging information
with state agencies responsible for maintaining financial
management and expenditure information;
(4) To provide access to the records of the department of
health and human resources in order to determine if a collection
of a support payment causes a change affecting eligibility for or
the amount of aid under such program;
(5) To provide for security against unauthorized access to,
or use of, the data in such system;
(6) To facilitate the development and improvement of the income withholding and other procedures designed to improve the
effectiveness of support enforcement through the monitoring of
support payments, the maintenance of accurate records regarding
the payment of support and the prompt provision of notice to
appropriate officials with respect to any arrearage in support
payments which may occur; and
(7) To provide management information on all cases from
initial referral or application through collection and
enforcement.
§48A-1A-17. Extraordinary medical expenses.
"Extraordinary medical expenses" means uninsured medical
expenses in excess of two hundred fifty dollars per year per
child which are recurring and can reasonably be predicted by the
court or master at the time of establishment or modification of
a child support order. Such expenses shall include, but not be
limited to, insurance copayments and deductibles, reasonable
costs for necessary orthodontia, dental treatment, asthma
treatments, physical therapy, vision therapy and eye care, and
any uninsured chronic health problem. Nonrecurring or
subsequently occurring uninsured medical expenses in excess of
two hundred fifty dollars per year per child shall be separately
divided between the parties in proportion to their adjusted gross
incomes.
§48A-1A-19. Gross income.
(a) "Gross income" means all earned and unearned income. The word "income" means gross income unless the word is otherwise
qualified or unless a different meaning clearly appears from the
context. When determining whether an income source should be
included in the child support calculation, the court or master
should consider the income source if it would have been available
to pay child-rearing expenses had the family remained intact or,
in cases involving a nonmarital birth, if a household had been
formed.
(b) "Gross income" includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
(1) Earnings in the form of salaries, wages, commissions,
fees, bonuses, profit sharing, tips and other income;
(2) Any payment from a pension plan, an insurance contract,
an annuity, social security benefits, unemployment compensation,
supplemental employment benefits, workers' compensation benefits
and state lottery winnings and prizes;
(3) Interest, dividends or royalties;
(4) Expense reimbursements or in kind payments such as
business expense accounts, business credit accounts, and tangible
property such as automobiles and meals, to the extent that they
provide the parent with property or services he or she would
otherwise have to provide;
(5) Attributed income of the parent, calculated in
accordance with the provisions of section three, article one-a of
this chapter;
(6) Compensation paid for personal services as overtime pay:
Provided, That overtime compensation may be excluded from gross
income if the parent with the overtime income demonstrates to the
court or master that the overtime work is voluntarily performed
and that he or she did not have a previous pattern of working
overtime hours prior to separation or birth of a nonmarital
child;
(7) Income from self-employment or the operation of a
business, minus ordinary and necessary expenses which are not
reimbursable, and which are lawfully deductible in computing
taxable income under applicable income tax laws, and minus FICA
and medicare contributions made in excess of the amount that
would be paid on an equal amount of income if the parent was not
self-employed:
Provided, That the amount of monthly income to be
included in gross income shall be determined by averaging the
income from such employment during the previous thirty-six-month
period or during a period beginning with the month in which the
parent first received such income, whichever period is shorter;
(8) Income from seasonal employment or other sporadic
sources:
Provided, That the amount of monthly income to be
included in gross income shall be determined by averaging the
income from seasonal employment or other sporadic sources
received during the previous thirty-six-month period or during a
period beginning with the month in which the parent first
received such compensation, whichever period is shorter; and
(9) Alimony and separate maintenance receipts.
(c) Depending on the circumstances of the particular case,
the court or master may also include severance pay, capital gains
and net gambling, gifts or prizes as gross income.
(d) "Gross Income" does not include:
(1) Income received by other household members such as a new
spouse;
(2) Child support received for the children of another
relationship;
(3) Means-tested assistance such as aid to families with
dependent children, supplemental security income and food stamps;
and
(4) A child's income unless the court or master determines
that the child's income substantially reduces the family's living
expenses.
§48A-1A-26. Shared physical custody.
"Shared physical custody" means an arrangement under which
each parent keeps a child or children overnight for more than
thirty-five percent of the year and under which both parents
contribute to the expenses of the child or children in addition
to the payment of child support.
§48A-1A-31. Unreimbursed health care expenses.
"Unreimbursed health care expenses" means the child's
portion of health insurance premiums and extraordinary medical
expenses.
ARTICLE 1B. GUIDELINES FOR CHILD SUPPORT AWARDS.
§48A-1B-2. Calculation of child support order.
(a) Both parents' adjusted gross income, as defined in
section two, article one-a of this chapter, is used to determine
the amount of child support. Unreimbursed child health care
expenses, work-related child care expenses and any other
extraordinary expenses agreed to by the parents or ordered by the
court or master less any extraordinary credits agreed to by the
parents or ordered by the court or master are added to the basic
child support obligation to determine the total child support
obligation. The child support order is determined by dividing
the total child support obligation between the parents in
proportion to their income.
(b) The calculation of the support order amount requires the
use of one of two worksheets which must be completed for each
case. Worksheet A is used for a sole physical custody
arrangement. Worksheet B is used for a shared physical custody
arrangement.
§48A-1B-3. Basic child support obligation.
(a) The basic child support obligation is determined from
the following table of monthly basic child support obligations:
MONTHLY BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS
Combined
Adjusted
Gross
MonthlyOneTwoThreeFourFiveSix or more
IncomeChildChildrenChildrenChildrenChildrenChildren
550121179212234254272
600135200237262283303
650143213253279303324
700151225267295319342
750159237281310336360
800167250296327355380
850176263312344373399
900184276327362392419
950193289343379411439
1,000201303358396429459
1,050210316374413448479
1,100218329389430467499
1,150227342405448485519
1,200235355420465504539
1,250243368436482522558
1,300252381451498540577
1,350261393465514557596
1,400270405479529574614
1,450279417493545590632
1,500289429507560607650
1,550298441521576624668
1,600307453535591641686
1,650316465549607658704
1,700325477563623675722
1,750334489578638692740
1,800344501592654709758
1,850353513606669726776
1,900361525620685742794
1,950370537634701759812
2,000378549648716776831
2,050386561662732793849
2,100395573676747810867
2,150403585690763827885
2,200411597704778844903
2,250420609718794860921
2,300428621732809877939
2,350436633746825894957
2,400445645760840911975
2,450453657774856927992
2,5004606687878699421,008
2,5504676777988829561,023
2,6004746878098949691,037
2,6504806968209069821,051
2,7004877068319189951,065
2,7504947158429301,0081,079
2,8005007258539421,0221,093
2,8505077348649551,0351,107
2,9005147448759671,0481,122
2,9505207538869791,0611,136
3,0005277638979911,0741,150
3,0505347729081,0031,0881,164
3,1005407829191,0161,1011,178
3,1505467909291,0261,1131,191
3,2005517979371,0361,1231,201
3,2505568049461,0451,1331,212
3,3005608119541,0541,1431,223
3,3505658189631,0641,1531,234
3,4005708259711,0731,1631,245
3,4505758329801,0831,1741,256
3,5005798399881,0921,1841,267
3,5505848469971,1011,1941,277
3,6005898531,0051,1111,2041,288
3,6505948601,0141,1201,2141,299
3,7005988671,0221,1291,2241,310
3,7506038741,0301,1381,2341,320
3,8006088811,0381,1481,2441,331
3,8506128871,0461,1561,2531,341
3,9006168931,0521,1631,2601,348
3,9506208981,0581,1691,2671,356
4,0006249041,0641,1761,2751,364
4,0506289091,0701,1831,2821,372
4,1006329151,0761,1901,2891,380
4,1506369201,0831,1961,2971,387
4,2006409261,0891,2031,3041,395
4,2506449311,0951,2101,3111,403
4,3006489371,1011,2171,3191,411
4,3506529421,1071,2231,3261,419
4,4006579481,1131,2301,3331,427
4,4506619531,1191,2371,3411,434
4,5006659591,1251,2441,3481,442
4,5506699641,1311,2501,3551,450
4,6006719691,1361,2551,3611,456
4,6506749721,1411,2601,3661,462
4,7006779761,1451,2651,3721,468
4,7506799801,1501,2701,3771,473
4,8006829841,1541,2751,3821,479
4,8506849871,1581,2801,3871,484
4,9006879911,1631,2851,3921,490
4,9506899951,1671,2891,3981,495
5,0006929981,1711,2941,4031,501
5,0506941,0021,1761,2991,4081,506
5,1006971,0061,1801,3041,4131,512
5,1507001,0101,1851,3091,4191,518
5,2007031,0141,1891,3141,4241,524
5,2507041,0151,1911,3171,4271,527
5,3007091,0231,2001,3261,4371,538
5,3507141,0301,2081,3351,4471,549
5,4007191,0371,2161,3441,4571,559
5,4507251,0451,2251,3531,4671,570
5,5007301,0521,2331,3631,4771,580
5,5507351,0591,2411,3721,4871,591
5,6007401,0661,2501,3811,4971,602
5,6507451,0741,2581,3901,5071,612
5,7007501,0811,2661,3991,5171,623
5,7507561,0881,2751,4091,5271,634
5,8007611,0961,2831,4181,5371,644
5,8507661,1031,2911,4271,5471,655
5,9007711,1101,2991,4361,5571,666
5,9507761,1171,3081,4451,5671,676
6,0007811,1241,3151,4541,5761,686
6,0507851,1301,3221,4611,5841,695
6,1007891,1351,3291,4691,5921,703
6,1507931,1411,3361,4761,6001,712
6,2007971,1471,3431,4841,6091,721
6,2508011,1531,3501,4911,6171,730
6,3008051,1581,3561,4991,6251,738
6,3508091,1641,3631,5071,6331,747
6,4008131,1701,3701,5141,6411,756
6,4508171,1761,3771,5221,6491,765
6,5008211,1821,3841,5291,6581,773
6,5508251,1871,3911,5371,6661,782
6,6008291,1931,3971,5441,6741,791
6,6508331,1991,4041,5521,6821,800
6,7008371,2051,4111,5591,6901,809
6,7508411,2111,4181,5671,6991,817
6,8008451,2161,4251,5751,7071,826
6,8508491,2221,4321,5821,7151,835
6,9008531,2281,4381,5901,7231,844
6,9508571,2341,4451,5971,7311,852
7,0008611,2401,4521,6051,7401,861
7,0508651,2461,4601,6131,7481,871
7,1008701,2531,4671,6211,7571,881
7,1508741,2591,4751,6301,7661,890
7,2008791,2661,4821,6381,7761,900
7,2508831,2721,4901,6461,7851,910
7,3008881,2791,4971,6551,7941,919
7,3508931,2851,5051,6631,8031,929
7,4008971,2921,5131,6711,8121,939
7,4509021,2981,5201,6801,8211,949
7,5009061,3051,5281,6881,8301,958
7,5509111,3111,5351,6971,8391,968
7,6009151,3181,5431,7051,8481,978
7,6509201,3241,5501,7131,8571,987
7,7009251,3311,5581,7221,8661,997
7,7509291,3371,5661,7301,8752,007
7,8009341,3441,5731,7381,8842,017
7,8509381,3501,5811,7471,8942,026
7,9009431,3571,5881,7551,9032,036
7,9509471,3631,5961,7631,9122,046
8,0009521,3701,6031,7721,9212,055
8,0509561,3761,6111,7801,9302,065
8,1009611,3831,6191,7891,9392,075
8,1509661,3891,6261,7971,9482,084
8,2009701,3961,6341,8051,9572,094
8,2509751,4021,6411,8141,9662,104
8,3009791,4091,6491,8221,9752,114
8,3509841,4151,6561,8301,9842,123
8,4009881,4221,6641,8391,9932,133
8,4509921,4281,6711,8462,0022,142
8,5009961,4331,6781,8542,0102,151
8,5501,0001,4391,6851,8622,0182,160
8,6001,0041,4451,6921,8692,0272,168
8,6501,0081,4511,6991,8772,0352,177
8,7001,0121,4571,7061,8852,0432,186
8,7501,0161,4631,7131,8932,0522,195
8,8001,0201,4691,7201,9002,0602,204
8,8501,0241,4751,7271,9082,0692,213
8,9001,0281,4801,7341,9162,0772,222
8,9501,0321,4861,7411,9232,0852,231
9,0001,0361,4921,7481,9312,0942,240
9,0501,0401,4981,7551,9392,1022,249
9,1001,0441,5041,7621,9462,1102,258
9,1501,0481,5101,7691,9542,1192,267
9,2001,0531,5161,7761,9622,1272,276
9,2501,0571,5221,7831,9702,1352,285
9,3001,0611,5281,7901,9772,1442,294
9,3501,0651,5331,7971,9852,1522,302
9,4001,0691,5391,8041,9932,1602,311
9,4501,0731,5451,8112,0002,1692,320
9,5001,0771,5511,8172,0082,1772,329
9,5501,0811,5571,8242,0162,1852,338
9,6001,0851,5631,8312,0232,1942,347
9,6501,0891,5691,8382,0312,2022,356
9,7001,0931,5751,8452,0392,2102,365
9,7501,0971,5811,8532,0472,2192,375
9,8001,1011,5861,8592,0542,2272,383
9,8501,1041,5911,8652,0612,2342,391
9,9001,1081,5961,8722,0682,2422,399
9,9501,1111,6011,8782,0752,2492,407
10,0001,1151,6071,8842,0822,2572,415
10,0501,1181,6121,8902,0892,2642,423
10,1001,1221,6171,8972,0962,2722,431
10,1501,1261,6221,9032,1032,2792,439
10,2001,1291,6271,9092,1102,2872,447
10,2501,1331,6321,9152,1162,2942,455
10,3001,1361,6381,9222,1232,3022,463
10,3501,1401,6431,9282,1302,3092,471
10,4001,1431,6481,9342,1372,3162,478
10,4501,1461,6521,9392,1432,3232,486
10,5001,1491,6571,9452,1492,3302,493
10,5501,1531,6621,9512,1562,3372,500
10,6001,1561,6671,9572,1622,3442,508
10,6501,1591,6721,9622,1682,3512,515
10,7001,1621,6761,9682,1752,3572,522
10,7501,1661,6811,9742,1812,3642,530
10,8001,1691,6861,9802,1882,3712,537
10,8501,1721,6911,9852,1942,3782,545
10,9001,1751,6951,9912,2002,3852,552
10,9501,1781,7001,9972,2072,3922,559
11,0001,1821,7052,0032,2132,3992,567
11,0501,1851,7102,0082,2192,4062,574
11,1001,1881,7142,0142,2262,4122,581
11,1501,1911,7192,0202,2322,4192,589
11,2001,1951,7242,0262,2382,4262,596
11,2501,1981,7292,0322,2452,4342,604
11,3001,2021,7362,0392,2542,4432,614
11,3501,2061,7422,0472,2622,4522,624
11,4001,2101,7482,0552,2702,4612,633
11,4501,2141,7542,0622,2792,4702,643
11,5001,2191,7602,0702,2872,4792,653
11,5501,2231,7672,0772,2952,4882,662
11,6001,2271,7732,0852,3042,4972,672
11,6501,2311,7792,0922,3122,5062,682
11,7001,2351,7852,1002,3202,5162,691
11,7501,2391,7912,1072,3292,5252,701
11,8001,2431,7982,1152,3372,5342,711
11,8501,2481,8042,1232,3452,5432,720
11,9001,2521,8102,1302,3542,5522,730
11,9501,2561,8162,1382,3622,5612,740
12,0001,2601,8222,1452,3702,5702,750
12,0501,2641,8292,1532,3792,5792,759
12,1001,2681,8352,1602,3872,5882,769
12,1501,2721,8412,1682,3952,5972,779
12,2001,2771,8472,1752,4042,6062,788
12,2501,2811,8532,1832,4122,6152,798
12,3001,2851,8602,1912,4212,6242,808
12,3501,2891,8662,1982,4292,6332,817
12,4001,2931,8722,2062,4372,6422,827
12,4501,2971,8782,2132,4462,6512,837
12,5001,3011,8842,2212,4542,6602,846
12,5501,3061,8912,2282,4622,6692,856
12,6001,3101,8972,2362,4712,6782,866
12,6501,3141,9032,2432,4792,6872,875
12,7001,3181,9092,2512,4872,6972,885
12,7501,3221,9162,2582,4952,7052,894
12,8001,3251,9202,2632,5012,7112,901
12,8501,3281,9242,2682,5072,7172,907
12,9001,3311,9282,2732,5122,7232,913
12,9501,3341,9332,2782,5182,7292,920
13,0001,3371,9372,2832,5232,7352,926
13,0501,3401,9412,2882,5292,7412,933
13,1001,3431,9452,2932,5342,7472,939
13,1501,3461,9502,2982,5402,7532,945
13,2001,3491,9542,3032,5452,7592,952
13,2501,3521,9582,3082,5512,7652,958
13,3001,3551,9632,3132,5562,7712,964
13,3501,3581,9672,3182,5622,7772,971
13,4001,3611,9712,3232,5672,7832,977
13,4501,3641,9752,3282,5732,7892,984
13,5001,3671,9802,3332,5782,7942,990
13,5501,3701,9842,3382,5842,8002,996
13,6001,3731,9882,3432,5892,8063,003
13,6501,3761,9932,3482,5952,8123,009
13,7001,3791,9972,3532,6002,8183,016
13,7501,3822,0012,3582,6062,8243,022
13,8001,3852,0052,3632,6112,8303,028
13,8501,3882,0102,3682,6172,8363,035
13,9001,3912,0142,3732,6222,8423,041
13,9501,3942,0182,3782,6282,8483,048
14,0001,3972,0232,3832,6332,8543,054
14,0501,4002,0272,3882,6392,8603,060
14,1001,4032,0312,3932,6442,8663,067
14,1501,4062,0352,3982,6502,8723,073
14,2001,4092,0402,4032,6552,8783,080
14,2501,4122,0442,4082,6612,8843,086
14,3001,4152,0482,4132,6662,8903,092
14,3501,4182,0522,4182,6722,8963,099
14,4001,4212,0572,4232,6772,9023,105
14,4501,4242,0612,4282,6832,9083,112
14,5001,4272,0652,4332,6892,9143,118
14,5501,4302,0702,4382,6942,9203,124
14,6001,4332,0742,4432,7002,9263,131
14,6501,4362,0782,4482,7052,9323,137
14,7001,4392,0822,4532,7112,9383,144
14,7501,4422,0872,4582,7162,9443,150
14,8001,4452,0912,4632,7222,9503,156
14,8501,4482,0952,4682,7272,9563,163
14,9001,4512,1002,4732,7332,9623,169
14,9501,4542,1042,4782,7382,9683,176
15,0001,4572,1082,4832,7442,9743,182
(b) This subsection provides for incomes below table. If
combined adjusted gross income is below five hundred fifty
dollars per month, which is the lowest amount of income
considered in the table of monthly basic child support
obligations set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the basic child support obligation shall be set at fifty dollars per
month or a discretionary amount determined by the court or master
based on the resources and living expenses of the parents and the
number of children due support.
(c) This subsection provides for incomes above table. If
combined adjusted gross income is above fifteen thousand dollars
per month, which is the highest amount of income considered in
the table of monthly basic child support obligations set forth in
subsection (a) of this section, the basic child support
obligation shall not be less than it would be based on a combined
adjusted gross income of fifteen thousand dollars. The court or
master may also compute the basic child support obligation for
combined adjusted gross incomes above fifteen thousand dollars by
the following:
(1) One child -- $1,457 + 0.088 x combined adjusted gross
income above fifteen thousand dollars per month;
(2) Two children -- $2,108 + 0.129 x combined adjusted gross
income above fifteen thousand dollars per month;
(3) Three children -- $2,483 + 0.153 x combined adjusted
gross income above fifteen thousand dollars per month;
(4) Four children -- $2,744 + 0.169 x combined adjusted
gross income above fifteen thousand dollars per month;
(5) Five children -- $2,974 + 0.183 x combined adjusted
gross income above fifteen thousand dollars per month; and
(6) Six children -- $3,182 + 0.196 x combined adjusted gross income above fifteen thousand dollars per month.
§48A-1B-5. Federal child care tax credit.
(a) The amount of the federal tax credit for child care
expenses that can be realized by the custodial parent shall be
approximated by deducting twenty-five percent from work-related
child care costs, except that no such deduction shall be made for
custodial parents with monthly gross incomes below the following
amounts:
(1) One child -- $1,150;
(2) Two children -- $1,550;
(3) Three children -- $1,750;
(4) Four children -- $1,950;
(5) Five children -- $2,150; and
(6) Six or more children -- $2,350.
(b) Work-related child care costs net of any adjustment for
the child care tax credit shall be added to the basic child
support obligation and shall be divided between the parents in
proportion to their adjusted gross income.
§48A-1B-6. Computation of child support order in sole custody
cases.
(a) For sole custody cases, the total child support
obligation consists of the basic child support obligation plus
the child's share of any unreimbursed health care expenses, work- related child care expenses and any other extraordinary expenses
agreed to by the parents or ordered by the court or master less any extraordinary credits agreed to by the parents or ordered by
the court or master.
(b) In a sole custody case, the total basic child support
obligation is divided between the parents in proportion to their
income. From this amount is subtracted the obligor's direct
expenditures of any items which were added to the basic child
support obligation to arrive at the total child support
obligation.
(c) Child support for sole custody cases shall be calculated
using the following worksheet:
Worksheet A: Sole Physical Custody
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF__________ COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA____________CASE NO.________
Mother: ____________________ SS No.: ________________ Custodial parent? ? Yes ? No
Father: ____________________ SS No.: ________________ Custodial parent? ? Yes ? No
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|
|
|
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Children
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SSN
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Date of Birth
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Children
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SSN
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Date of Birth
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|
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|
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|
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PART I. CHILD SUPPORT ORDER
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Mother
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Father
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Combined
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1. MONTHLY GROSS INCOME
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$
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$
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a. Minus preexisting child support payment
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-
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-
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b. Minus maintenance paid
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-
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-
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2. MONTHLY ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME
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$
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$
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$
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3. PERCENTAGE SHARE OF INCOME (Each parent's income from line 2 divided by Combined
Income)
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%
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%
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100%
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4. BASIC OBLIGATION (Use Line 2 combined to find amount from schedule.)
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|
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$
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5. ADJUSTMENTS (Expenses paid directly by each parent)
a.Work-Related Child Care Costs Adjusted for Federal Tax Credit (0.75 x actual work-related
child care costs.)
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$
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$
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b. Extraordinary Medical Expenses (Uninsured only) and Children's Portion of
Health
Insurance Premium Costs.
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$
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$
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c.Extraordinary Expenses (Agreed to by parents or by order of the court or master.)
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$
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$
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d.Minus Extraordinary Adjustments (Agreed to by parents or by order of court or master.)
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e.Total Adjustments (For each column, add 5a, 5b, and 5c. Subtract Line 5d. Add the parent's
totals together for Combined amount.)
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$
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$
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$
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6.TOTAL SUPPORT OBLIGATION (Add line 4 and line 5e Combined.)
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|
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$
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7.EACH PARENT'S SHARE OF THE TOTAL CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION (Line 3 x
line 6 for each parent.)
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$
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$
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8.NONCUSTODIAL PARENT ADJUSTMENT (Enter noncustodial parent's line 5e.)
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$
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$
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9.RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER (Subtract line 8 from line 7 for the
noncustodial parent only. Leave custodial parent column blank.)
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$
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$
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PART II. ABILITY TO PAY CALCULATION
(Complete if the noncustodial parent's adjusted monthly gross income is below $1,400.)
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10. Spendable Income (0.85 x line 2 for noncustodial parent only.)
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|
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11. Self Support Reserve
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$500
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$500
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12. Income Available for Support (Line 10 - line 11. If less than $50, then $50)
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13. Adjusted Child Support Order (Lessor of Line 9 and Line 12.)
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Comments, calculations, or rebuttals to schedule or adjustments if noncustodial parent directly pays extraordinary expenses.
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PREPARED BY:
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Date:
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(d) In cases where the noncustodial parent's adjusted gross
income is below one thousand four hundred dollars per month, an
additional calculation in Worksheet A, Part II shall be made. This
additional calculation sets the child support order at whichever is
lower: (i) Child support at the amount determined in Part I; or
(ii) the difference between eighty-five percent of the noncustodial
parent's adjusted gross income and five hundred dollars, or fifty
dollars, whichever is more.
§48A-1B-7. Shared physical custody adjustment.
(a) Child support for cases with shared physical custody shall
be calculated using Worksheet B. The following method should be
used only for shared physical custody as defined in section twenty- six, article one-a of this chapter: That is, cases where each
parent has the child for more than one hundred twenty-seven days
per year (thirty-five percent).
(b) The basic child support obligation shall be multiplied by
1.5 to arrive at a shared custody basic child support obligation.
The shared custody basic child support obligation is apportioned to
each parent according to his or her income. In turn, a child
support obligation is computed for each parent by multiplying that
parent's portion of the shared custody child support obligation by
the percentage of time the child spends with the other parent. The
respective basic child support obligations are then offset, with
the parent owing more basic child support paying the difference
between the two amounts. The transfer for the basic obligation for the parent owing less basic child support shall be set at zero
dollars.
(c) Adjustments for each parent's additional direct expenses
on the child are made by apportioning the sum of the parent's
direct expenditures on the child's share of any unreimbursed child
health care expenses, work-related child care expenses and any
other extraordinary expenses agreed to by the parents or ordered by
the court or master less any extraordinary credits agreed to by the
parents or ordered by the court or master to each parent according
to their income share. In turn each parent's net share of
additional direct expenses is determined by subtracting the
parent's actual direct expenses on the child's share of any
unreimbursed child health care expenses, work-related child care
expenses and any other extraordinary expenses agreed to by the
parents or by the court or master less any extraordinary credits
agreed to by the parents or ordered by the court or master from
their share. The parent with a positive net share of additional
direct expenses owes the other parent the amount of his or her net
share of additional direct expenses. The parent with zero or a
negative net share of additional direct expenses owes zero dollars
for additional direct expenses.
(d) The final amount of the child support order is determined
by summing what each parent owes for the basic support obligation
and additional direct expenses as defined in subsections (b) and
(c) of this section. The respective sums are then offset, with the parent owing more paying the other parent the difference between
the two amounts.
(e) Child support for shared physical custody cases shall be
calculated using the following worksheet:
Worksheet B: Shared Physical Custody
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ______________ COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA __________CASE NO. __________
Mother: ______________________________ SS No.:__________ Custodial parent? ? Yes ? No
Father: _______________________________ SS No.: __________ Custodial parent? ? Yes ? No
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Children
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SSN
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Date of Birth
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Children
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SSN
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Date of Birth
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|
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|
|
|
PART I. BASIC OBLIGATION
|
Mother
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Father
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Combined
|
1. MONTHLY GROSS INCOME
|
$
|
$
|
|
a. Minus preexisting child support payment
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-
|
-
|
|
b. Minus maintenance paid
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-
|
-
|
|
2. MONTHLY ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME
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$
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$
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$
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3. PERCENTAGE SHARE OF INCOME (Each parent's income from line 2 divided by
Combined Income)
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%
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%
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100%
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4. BASIC OBLIGATION (Use line 2 Combined to find amount from Child Support Schedule.)
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|
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$
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PART II. SHARED CUSTODY ADJUSTMENT
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5. Shared Custody Basic Obligation (line 4 x 1.50)
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|
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$
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6. Each Parent's Share (Line 5 x each parent's line 3)
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$
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$
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7. Overnights with Each Parent (must total 365)
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|
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365
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8. Percentage with Each Parent (Line 7 divided by 365)
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%
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%
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100%
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9. Amount Retained (Line 6 x line 8 for each parent)
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$
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$
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10. Each Parent's Obligation (Line 6 - line 9)
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$
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$
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11. AMOUNT TRANSFERRED FOR BASIC OBLIGATION (Subtract smaller amount on line 10
from larger amount on line 10. Parent with larger amount on line 10 owes the other parent the
difference. Enter $0 for other parent.
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$
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$
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PART III. ADJUSTMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES (Expenses paid directly by each parent.)
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12a. Work-Related Child Care Costs Adjusted for Federal Tax Credit (0.75 x actual work-related
child care costs.)
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$
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$
|
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12b. Extraordinary Medical Expenses (Uninsured only) and Children's Portion of Health
Insurance Premium Costs.
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$
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$
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|
12c. Extraordinary Additional Expenses (Agreed to by parents or by order of the court or master.)
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$
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$
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12d. Minus Extraordinary Adjustments (Agreed to by parents or by order of the court or master.)
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$
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$
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|
12e. Total Adjustments (For each column, add 11a, 11b, and 11c. Subtract line 11d. Add the
parent's totals together
for Combined amount.)
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$
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$
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$
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13. Each Parent's Share of Additional Expenses (Line 3 x line 12e Combined.)
|
$
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$
|
|
14. Each parent's Net Share of Additional direct expenses (Each parent's line 13-line 12e. If
negative number, enter $0)
|
$
|
$
|
|
15. AMOUNT TRANSFERRED FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES (Subtract smaller amount on line
14 from larger amount on line 14. Parent with larger amount on line 14 owes the other parent the
difference. Enter $0 for other parent.
|
$
|
$
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PART IV. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER
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16. TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED (Line 11 + line 15)
|
$
|
$
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|
17. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER (Subtract smaller amount on line 16 from
larger amount on line 16. Parent with larger amount on line 16 owes the other parent the
difference.
|
$
|
$
|
|
Comments, calculations, or rebuttals to schedule or adjustments
|
PREPARED BY:
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Date:
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§48A-1B-9. Adjustment for obligor's social security benefits sent
directly to the child.
If a proportion of the obligor's social security benefit is
paid directly to the custodian of his or her dependents who are the
subject of the child support order, the following adjustment shall
be made. The total amount of the social security benefit which
includes the amounts paid to the obligor and the obligee shall be
counted as gross income to the obligor. In turn, the child support
order will be calculated as described in section six of this
article. To arrive at the final child support amount, however, the
amount of the social security benefits sent directly to the child's
household will be subtracted from the child support order. If the
child support order amount results in a negative amount it shall be
set at zero.
§48A-1B-11. Modification.
The provisions of a child support order may be modified if
there is a substantial change of circumstances. If application of
the guideline would result in a new order that is more than fifteen
percent different, then the circumstances are considered to be a
substantial change.
§48A-1B-12. Tax exemption for child due support.
Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the court shall
allocate the right to claim dependent children for income tax
purposes to the custodial parent except in cases of shared custody.
In shared custody cases, these rights shall be allocated between
the parties in proportion to their adjusted gross incomes for child
support calculations. In a situation where allocation would be of
no tax benefit to a party, the court or master need make no
allocation to that party. However, the tax exemptions for the
minor child or children should be granted to the noncustodial
parent only if the total of the custodial parent's income and child
support is greater when the exemption is awarded to the
noncustodial parent.
§48A-1B-16. Investment of child support.
A circuit judge has the discretion, in appropriate cases, to
direct that a portion of child support be placed in trust and
invested for future educational or other needs of the child. The
family law master may recommend and the circuit judge may order
such investment when all of the child's day-to-day needs are being
met such that, with due consideration of the age of the child, the
child is living as well as his or her parents. A trustee named by
the court shall use the judgment and care under the circumstances
then prevailing that persons of prudence, discretion and
intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not
in regard to speculation but in regard to the permanent disposition of their funds, considering the probable income as well as the
probable safety of their capital. A trustee shall be governed by
the provisions of the uniform prudent investor act as set forth in
article six-c, chapter forty-four of this code. The court may
prescribe the powers of the trustee and provide for the management
and control of the trust. Upon petition of a party or the child's
guardian or next friend and upon a showing of good cause, the court
may order the release of funds in the trust from time to time.