Supporting Your Children
Child Support
Paying or receiving support, you get child support calculations that are fair and follow Idaho guidelines, with Matt making sure of it.
How Child Support Works in Idaho
Child support is for the benefit of the children and can be complicated when factoring in all of the potential income and expenses. Matt and his team will help you understand what goes into the number and how to make sure it's accurate and fair according to the Idaho Child Support Guidelines.
The formula considers:
- Both parents' income
- Number of children
- Custody time
- Healthcare costs
- Childcare costs / work-related daycare
The Idaho Child Support Guidelines
Calculate Combined Income
Add both parents' gross monthly income together.
Look Up the Basic Obligation
The Idaho Child Support Guidelines set the basic support amount for your income level and number of kids. Matt uses the same calculation software most attorneys rely on, which also balances the tax exemption.
Calculate Each Parent's Share
Each parent pays a percentage based on their share of the combined income.
Adjust for Custody Time
If you have significant custody time (typically 25%+), the amount is reduced.
Add Extras
Healthcare premiums and childcare costs are split proportionally and added.
Matt can run the actual calculations for your situation during your consultation.
Common Child Support Issues
Hidden Income
Some people try to hide income - working for cash, underreporting self-employment income, or having a new spouse "pay for everything." Matt understands the rules and knows what must be considered income for child support purposes, even when someone tries to hide it.
Voluntary Unemployment
You can't quit your job or work less to avoid support. If you are voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court can "impute" income - calculating support based on what you could earn, not what you're choosing to earn. This works both ways.
Modifications
Lost your job? Got a raise? Custody changed? Support can be modified when circumstances change. Matt handles modifications to make sure the child support is fair and accurate when circumstances have changed.
Enforcement
If your ex won't pay, you have options: wage garnishment, tax refund seizure, license suspension, and contempt. Matt can pursue all available remedies to get you what you're owed.
If You're Receiving Support
- Ensure all income is counted (bonuses, benefits, and other sources)
- Include healthcare and childcare costs
- Get enforcement help if payments stop
- Seek increases when income goes up
If You're Paying Support
- Ensure your ex's income is properly counted too
- Get credit for your custody time
- Seek reductions when circumstances change
- Fight against unfair deviations
Child Support Questions
Idaho uses a formula based on: both parents' income, how many children you have, how much time each parent has custody, and costs for health insurance and childcare. The Idaho Child Support Guidelines provide a specific calculation. Matt can run the numbers for your situation and explain what to expect.
Yes, if circumstances have changed significantly. Common reasons include: job loss or big income change, significant change in custody time, child's needs have changed (like medical issues), or it's been more than 5 years since the last order. Matt can evaluate whether you qualify for a modification.
You have options. Idaho can: garnish wages directly, seize tax refunds, suspend driver's or professional licenses, report to credit bureaus, and in extreme cases, hold the non-payer in contempt (which can mean jail). Matt can help you pursue enforcement through the court.
Yes, but you need a good reason. Courts can deviate from the guidelines for things like: extraordinary medical expenses, special educational needs, income substantially higher than the table covers, or other factors that would make the guideline amount unfair. Matt knows when deviation is possible and how to argue for it.
Not automatically. Idaho child support typically ends at 18 (or 19 if still in high school). Courts can't order parents to pay for college. However, parents can agree to college support in their divorce agreement. If that's important to you, Matt can help negotiate it into your settlement.
Child Support Questions?
Get accurate calculations and honest advice about your situation. Free consultation.