Louisiana Child Support

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Get the right child support for your state now. Child Support is an important part of your monthly budget. Shouldn't you be sure the amount is correct? Calculate what your support should be OR calculate the arrears owed to you.

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Louisiana child support, like the support in all states, is actually dictated by Federal Law.  These Federal Laws are all encompassing and also mandate that the states implement certain laws regarding support collection and support enforcement.  The Federal Government based its laws on studies that determined how much support was available to children in intact families at different income levels.  The support laws of the various states are supposed to ensure that children in families that have divorced or separated maintain the same support level.  The Federal Government denies Federal funding to any state that does not maintain child support laws that incorporate the Federal guidelines. 

Louisiana child support is calculated pursuant to state guidelines and a consideration of the following factors: (1) the needs of the child; and (2) the actual resources of each parent. Like many states, the support guidelines in Louisiana provide for a percentage of income to be paid as child support based upon the number of children to be supported.

Louisiana child support as calculated under the guidelines is presumed to be correct. The Court may only deviate from the guidelines if it is determined that the amount is unjust or not in the best interests of the child.   In determining whether this standard has been met the Court will consider the following issues.  If there is any extraordinary medical expenses of the child or parent responsible for support payments, or if there is a permanent or temporary total disability of the parent responsible for support the Court may decide to deviate from the guidelines. If the combined income of the parents is less than that in the guideline charts may also cause a divergence from the guidelines. If there is an extraordinary community debt of the parents or if there are any other obligations to support other dependants the Court may seek to amend the child support amount to reflect what is in the best interests of the child.

Louisiana child support payments may be modified if a substantial change of circumstances has occurred. To justify a modification, the change must be something that has not previously been addressed by the Court.