How Our Indiana Child Support Calculator Works

Want to see exactly how your estimate is produced? Below is a clear, step-by-step breakdown of the calculation process—followed by a worked example using real numbers.

1. Compute Each Parent’s Adjusted Weekly Income (AGWI)

1. Gather Gross Weekly Income
   Sum all income sources (wages, self-employment, benefits, investments).
2. Subtract Deductions
   • Prior-born child support paid
   • Court-ordered spousal maintenance
   • One-half of self-employment taxes
3. Results

AGWI = Gross Weekly Income − Deductions

2. Find Combined Weekly Adjusted Income (CWAI)

CWAI = AGWIA ​+ AGWIB​

3. Determine the Basic Child Support Obligation

• If CWAI ≤ $9,200:
  Look up the obligation in the official Indiana schedule (by CWAI row + number of children).
• If CWAI > $9,200:
  Apply the state’s high-income percentage for your child count.
  For example, with two children the percentage is 11.4%

Basic Obligation = CWAI × 0.114

4. Add Allowable Additional Expenses

Sum any of these weekly costs:

• Work-related childcare
• Child’s portion of health insurance
• Extraordinary expenses (e.g., uninsured medical, private school)

Presumptive Total = Basic Obligation + All Additional Expenses

5. Apply the 50% Self-Support Cap

Ensure the paying parent keeps at least half of combined income

Cap Amount = CWAI × 0.50

Capped Obligation = min(Presumptive Total, Cap Amount)

6. Allocate Between Parents by Income Share

Calculate each parent’s share of the CWAI

Share_A = AGWI_A / CWAI

Share_B = AGWI_B / CWAI

Then:

Initial_A = Share_A * Capped Obligation

Initial_B = Share_B * Capped Obligation

7. Subtract the Parenting Time Credit (PTC)

Based on annual overnights for the non-custodial parent:

PTC Amount = Initial_NCP * Credit Rate

Final_NCP = Initial_NCP - PTC Amount

(The other parent’s obligation remains at their initial share.)

Worked Example

Scenario:

• Two children
• Parent A: gross $11,000/week, 0 deductions, 200 overnights
• Parent B: gross $4,000/week, 0 deductions, 165 overnights
• No additional expenses

# Step 1: Calculate AGWI for A and B
AGWI_A = 11,000 - 0 = 11,000
AGWI_B = 4,000 - 0 = 4,000

# Step 2: Calculate CWAI
CWAI = 11,000 + 4,000 = 15,000

# Step 3: Calculate Basic Obligation
# (CWAI > 9200, two children -> 11.4%)
Basic Obligation = 15,000 * 0.114 = 1,710

# Step 4: Calculate Presumptive Total
Presumptive Total = 1,710 + 0 = 1,710

# Step 5: Calculate 50% Cap and Capped Obligation
50% Cap = 15,000 * 0.50 = 7,500
Capped Obligation = min(1,710, 7,500) = 1,710

# Step 6: Calculate Income Shares
Share A = 11,000 / 15,000 = 0.7333 (73.33%)
Share B = 4,000 / 15,000 = 0.2667 (26.67%)

# Step 7: Calculate Initial Obligations
Initial A = 0.7333 * 1,710 = 1,254
Initial B = 0.2667 * 1,710 = 456

# Step 8: Calculate PTC for Parent B
# (165 nights -> 45%)
PTC Amount = 456 * 0.45 = 205.20

# Step 9: Calculate Final Obligation for Parent B
Final B = 456 - 205.20 = 250.80

Final Estimate:

• Parent A pays: $1,254 per week
• Parent B pays: $250.80 per week

This walkthrough follows Indiana’s official guidelines precisely. For the full schedule tables, see the state PDF: https://www.in.gov/courts/files/schedule.pdf.