Louisiana Child Support Calculator

Louisiana calculates child support under Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:315 through 9:315.20 using the Income Shares model, which is designed to approximate what the child would have received if the parents had remained together. Both parents' monthly gross incomes are combined, and the resulting combined income is used to look up the basic support obligation from the Louisiana child support schedule. The schedule is established by the Legislature and periodically reviewed to reflect current data on the cost of raising children in Louisiana.

Once the basic obligation is identified from the schedule, each parent's share is determined proportionally: each parent's individual gross income is divided by the combined gross income to produce their percentage share, and they are responsible for that percentage of the basic obligation plus any add-on expenses. The parent who does not have physical custody pays their share as a transfer payment to the custodial parent. Louisiana courts are required to apply the schedule and may deviate only when the standard amount would be unjust or inappropriate, as set out in the statute.

Louisiana's framework reflects the public policy goal of ensuring children are adequately supported after parental separation, while also recognizing that both parents are economic contributors to the child's upbringing. Courts in Louisiana approach child support as a matter of the child's right rather than simply a parent's obligation, which means that support cannot be waived by the parents as between themselves — the right to support belongs to the child, and a parent cannot relinquish it on the child's behalf.

Louisiana's child support statute defines gross income broadly to include wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, pension and retirement income, Social Security benefits, disability benefits, interest, dividends, rental income, and any other form of regular income. The courts look at the economic reality of both parents' situations, and income from all sources is relevant regardless of how it is categorized for tax or other purposes.

Louisiana permits certain adjustments to gross income before combining the figures for the support calculation. Parents may deduct child support payments actually being made for children from other relationships pursuant to a court order, as well as spousal support being paid to a former spouse. These deductions are capped to prevent a parent from fully sheltering income through an ever-expanding chain of support obligations. The adjusted income for each parent is then added together to form the combined adjusted gross income that drives the schedule lookup.

For self-employed parents or parents who receive income in non-traditional forms, Louisiana courts examine tax returns, business records, and other financial documents to determine a realistic income figure. Self-employment income is calculated as gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses — but courts apply scrutiny to claimed deductions and may disallow expenses that appear inflated or that provide a personal benefit to the parent. Income may also be imputed to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or working below their earning capacity without good cause.

Louisiana's child support guidelines explicitly include the cost of health insurance for the child as an add-on to the basic obligation. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:315.4, the cost of health insurance coverage for the child — specifically the incremental cost attributable to adding the child to a parent's existing plan — is added to the basic support obligation. This amount is then divided proportionally between the parents based on their respective income shares, ensuring that the cost of coverage is shared fairly.

Louisiana courts typically order the parent who has access to the most affordable group health insurance coverage through an employer to maintain the child on that plan. If both parents have access to group coverage, the court will compare plans and may order the more comprehensive or cost-effective option. If neither parent has access to employer coverage at a reasonable cost, the court may order that coverage be obtained through another source and may include the cost of that premium in the support calculation.

Louisiana also addresses dental and vision coverage in addition to general medical insurance. Courts encourage parents to provide the most comprehensive coverage reasonably available, recognizing that dental and vision care are important components of a child's overall health. Unreimbursed medical expenses — costs not covered by the child's insurance plan — are shared between the parents proportionally under Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:315.5, with the proportion matching each parent's income share of the combined income.

Work-related childcare expenses are a mandatory add-on to the basic child support obligation in Louisiana. Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:315.3 provides that childcare costs incurred by either parent as a result of employment, job search, or job training must be included in the support calculation. The qualifying costs are limited to amounts actually incurred and necessary — luxury childcare arrangements or costs unrelated to the parent's employment are not included.

The calculation of the childcare add-on begins with the actual monthly cost of qualifying childcare. Louisiana then requires that the value of any federal childcare tax credit available to the parent paying for the care be subtracted from the cost, since the tax benefit effectively reduces the net cost of childcare. The net childcare expense — after the tax credit subtraction — is then added to the basic obligation and divided proportionally between the parents. This approach prevents the custodial parent from receiving a double benefit by collecting support based on full childcare costs while also retaining the entire tax credit.

Childcare costs can fluctuate significantly as a child ages and enters or exits different childcare arrangements. Louisiana courts often include provisions in the support order addressing how changes in childcare costs will be handled — whether they require a full modification proceeding or can be adjusted by agreement of the parties. When childcare costs change substantially due to a child entering school or a parent's employment situation changing, either parent may petition for a modification of the childcare component of the support order.

Louisiana's standard child support formula assumes a primary physical custody arrangement where one parent has the child for the majority of the time. When parents exercise a substantially equal custody arrangement — typically defined as each parent having the child for more than 73 overnights per year — Louisiana provides for a deviation from the standard formula under Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:315.8. This deviation reduces the transfer payment to reflect the fact that both parents are bearing direct costs of the child's everyday care.

The shared custody deviation in Louisiana is calculated using a specific formula set out in the statute that cross-multiplies each parent's theoretical basic obligation with the other parent's custody percentage, then offsets the results to produce a net payment. This methodology is designed to reflect the economic reality of shared parenting, where both parents are simultaneously maintaining homes, providing food, and covering daily expenses for the child. The resulting transfer payment is lower than it would be under the standard formula, which is appropriate because the standard formula was designed for situations where only one parent bears the primary costs of daily care.

Louisiana allows modification of child support when there has been a material change in circumstances since the last order was entered. A change is considered material if it is significant, substantial, and ongoing rather than temporary. Examples of material changes include a significant increase or decrease in either parent's income, a change in the custody arrangement, a change in the cost of childcare or health insurance, or the child's reaching the age of majority. Louisiana courts apply a presumption in favor of the existing order — the party seeking modification bears the burden of proving that a material change has occurred and that modification is in the child's best interest.