If you and your child’s other parent are going through a divorce, you may be wondering how much you will be expected to pay in child support. Child support guidelines vary from state to state. Even in New York, there are many factors that go into determining how much you will pay and how often. Child support is paid by the noncustodial parent. The amount may be paid weekly, every other week, monthly or every other month. The money goes to the parent who has custody of the child and goes toward expenses such as food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education. Child support includes cash payments based on parent’s income, as well as payments for child care, the child’s health insurance and medical costs not covered by insurance. Every child is entitled to receive financial support from both parents, even if the parents have divorced or were never married. Under New York state law, child support must be paid until the child turns 21. Child Support CalculatorNew York calculates child support amounts in a fair and consistent manner in line with the Child Support Standards Act. The goal is to ensure children still have the same standard of living even though their parents are no longer together. Child support in New York typically follows a straightforward calculator. The percentage of income paid is based on the number of children. For example, for one child, 17 percent of the noncustodial parent’s income would go toward child support. For two children, the parent would pay 25 percent of his or her income. It goes up to 29 percent for three children. For four children, the number goes up to 31 percent. For five or more children, a parent can expect to pay at least 35 percent of his or her income in child support. These percentages apply to parents who earn less than $143,000 a year. Earnings include disability, workers’ compensation, Social Security, unemployment benefits and pensions. Health insurance must be provided for the child by either parent. Those who earn more than this amount may be asked to pay more or follow some other guidelines. Low-income parents are protected by state laws, if they meet certain income requirements. Those with annual income below the Federal Poverty Level—currently at $12,060—may have their child support established at $25 a month. Those with income below the New York State Self-Support Reserve—currently at $16,281—may have their child support established at $50 a month. If circumstances beyond your control prevent you from paying child support—such as getting laid off from your job or suffering a disability—file a petition for modification with the court right away. If you simply ignore your child support obligation, you could face serious penalties. Learn More About Child Support Requirements If you are going through a divorce and minor children are involved, you’ll want to learn about child requirements. If you are the noncustodial parent, you’ll need to know how much to pay each month. If you have custody of the children, you’ll want to know how much you can expect to receive. Contact an experienced family law attorney to learn more about your rights and obligations.
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