Child Support in Louisiana: How It's Calculated
Louisiana uses the Income Shares Model to determine child support obligations. This guide walks through how the formula works, what factors Louisiana courts consider, and how to modify or enforce an order — with links to official Louisiana resources.
Income Shares Model in Louisiana
Louisiana uses the Income Shares Model under RS §9:315. Both parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined and applied to the Louisiana child support schedule to determine a combined obligation, which is then divided proportionally.
Louisiana defines a shared custody adjustment that applies when the non-primary parent has the child for 73 or more overnights per year (approximately 20% of the year). Louisiana also accounts for the cost of transporting the child between parents' homes if the parents live a significant distance apart. Medical and childcare expenses are added to the basic obligation before allocation.
Key Factors Louisiana Courts Consider
- Both parents' adjusted gross monthly income
- Number of children
- Custody arrangement — 73+ overnights per year triggers shared custody adjustment
- Child's health insurance costs
- Work-related childcare expenses
- Transportation costs for long-distance parenting time
- Extraordinary medical or educational expenses
Official Louisiana Resources
Get an accurate number from an official source
Child support calculations are complex and fact-specific. For an accurate figure, use Louisiana's official worksheet or consult a licensed family law attorney. This guide explains the framework — it does not produce a binding calculation.
Step-by-Step: How Louisiana's Formula Works
Here is how Louisiana applies the Income Shares Model to calculate a child support obligation, step by step:
1. Determine each parent's income
Louisiana starts by calculating each parent's income — gross income (before taxes). The specific definition of income is set by Income Shares Model.
2. Combine incomes and find the basic obligation
Both parents' incomes are combined and compared to Louisiana's child support schedule. The schedule produces a basic child support obligation based on combined income and the number of children.
3. Add health insurance and childcare costs
Health insurance premiums paid for the child and work-related childcare expenses are added to the basic obligation before it is divided between parents.
4. Divide proportionally based on income share
The total obligation is allocated between the parents in proportion to each parent's share of combined income. The parent with the higher income share bears a larger portion of the obligation.
5. Apply parenting time credits
Custody arrangement — 73+ overnights per year triggers shared custody adjustment shared custody adjustment that applies when the non-primary parent has the child for 73 or more overnights per year (approximately 20% of the year).
Document Everything for Your Louisiana Case
Louisiana courts rely on documented records — parenting time logs, expense receipts, and payment histories. ReplyCalmly helps you track all of it and generate organized, exportable reports.
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