Your Choices for Child Support in Divorce Mediation
Child Support Formula:
Everyone knows the Child Support Standards Act formula for calculating child support – one child: 17%, two children: 25%, three children: 29%; four or more children: at least 35%. This is the formula that any court in New York State will use in calculating financial support for children. But how does it actually work?
Calculation of Child Support is Really Just on the Non-Custodial Parent’s Income.
There is a myth on Long Island that the custodial parent’s income reduces the support obligation of the non-custodial parent. It doesn’t work that way. Yes, the formula takes into account the combined income of both parents. But, after the calculations are complete, it then disregards the child support assigned to the custodial parent.
Let’s look at an example, using 2016 figures. Mom makes $68,500 a year gross income. Dad makes $94,000 a year gross income. Their total gross income is $162,500. First, you have to deduct the social security and Medicare tax (as well as certain other deductions that don’t apply to most people). So, Mom’s adjusted income for child support calculations after those adjustments is $63,269.75; Dad’s is $86,809. The total combined income is $150,068.75, not $162,500.
The Myth of the Cap on Child Support
Next, you calculate the child support on the combined income. This is where people often get confused. It’s complicated. [note: these calculations are all yearly figures]. There is a cap (adjusted yearly by New York State) on the calculation of financial support for children in divorce. It is not a cap on the amount of income subject to child support. For 2016 the cap is $143,000 on combined income. Here is how it works:
So, Mom and Dad have a combined income that is $19,500 greater than the cap. Now what? First we calculate the child support based on the amount up to the cap in earnings: $143,000 x 17% = $24,310. However, we then have also to calculate the child support on the amount over $143,000: $19,500 x 17% = $1,201.69.
Why do we have to calculate the support in these two parts? What is the point? The Child Support Standards Act requires this for the following reason. For financial support for children based on income under $143,000 a judge is required to use the formula. If the judge wants to not use the formula the judge must explain why, based on a list of factors laid out in the Child Support Standards Act. Judges usually do not want to go to that trouble and just use the formula.
The calculation on the income over $143,000 is exactly the opposite. A Judge is required to explain how the judge has arrived at that number, again, based on the factors laid out in the law. The so called “cap” is not an upper limit on child support; it is merely a cut-off point for the methods that the judge uses in explaining the support award. For the most part judges apply the same formula to the income over $143,000.
However, there is a point where judges decide that the formula has produced enough child support and they stop applying it. Every judge is different, and the amounts vary from downstate counties, Manhattan, and upstate. My experience is that, on Long Island, by the time you get to an income of $250,000 – $350,000 for the non-custodial parent any more child support has to be justified by something more than just the formula.
The Custodial Parent’s Income Is Ignored
So, the total child support award based on the combined income of Mom and Dad is ($24,310 + $1,201.69 =) $25,511.69. Mom makes 42% of that income. Dad makes 58% of that income. So, Mom’s obligation is ($25,511.69 x 42% =) $10,754.16. Dad’s obligation is ($25,511.69 x 58% =) $14,757.53.
This is often where the confusion comes in. Let’s assume for this example that Mom is the custodial parent (it could be Dad, but here, let’s assume Mom). Mom’s obligation is theoretical — she doesn’t have to pay it and she doesn’t have to account for spending in that amount. The support actually payable is $14,757.53 ($1,229.79/month), payable from Dad to Mom.
Child Support in Divorce Mediation
The courts require that we make the calculations that I have explained earlier in this article. It must appear in the divorce papers submitted to the Court.
However, one of the benefits of child support in divorce mediation is that we can look at these numbers, as well as any other factors that the two of you feel are important to consider, and alter those numbers. It takes both of you to agree.
It is my experience that many other factors can come into play when the two of you are not forced into the straight-jacket of contested divorce with aggressive divorce lawyers. With child support in divorce mediation, you and your spouse can make your own agreement if you can figure out a meeting of the minds.
You can find more information about child custody here.
How Is Child Support Calculated?
Child Support Calculated:
Basic child support is based on a formula. Basically, you take the non-custodial parent’s income, reduce it by FICA (social security taxes and medicare taxes) and then multiply it by a percentage to arrive at the yearly child support obligation of the non-custodial parent. The percentages used as: one child: 17%, two children: 25%, three children: 29%, four children: 31%; five or more children: no less than 35%.
Child Support Calculated at Divorce Mediation Long Island Center
Example of Child Support Calculation:
As an example, the non-custodial parent earns a gross salary of $65,000 a year and there are two children. The custodial parent earns $30,000 per year. The non-custodial parent’s income of $65,000 is reduced by $4,972.50 for FICA, and for the purpose of child support calculations is $60,027.50.
Multiply that by 25% and the yearly child support obligation of the non-custodial parent is $17,407.98, or $1,450.66 per month. The income of the custodial parent does not change that calculation. This calculation is taken into account with all the other financial and child custody issues when negotiating in Divorce Mediation.
Child Support Calculated: Sound complicated? At the LI Center of Divorce Mediation, Long Island, we have had a combined 50 years of experience helping clients work through their Child Support calculations. We offer our help. We will help you with Child Support, Spousal Support, Financial Settlements, Property Divisions, Debts, Pensions and Wills.
Long Island Divorce Mediation Suffolk County
Questions? Want Answers and Solutions? Ready to start Divorce Mediation? Contact our mediators to learn more about how we can help or to get started with our process.
Schedule A Consultation
At the Long Island Center for Divorce Mediation, we care about helping families settle their differences. If you’re interested in our services, contact us at 631-757-1554 so we can help you.