How Wisconsin Child Support Laws Work

Wisconsin Child Support Laws: What You Need to Know

Issues surrounding children and child support can be complicated within the legal system. That is why there are explicit Wisconsin child support laws in place. If your family is embroiled in a legal dispute involving children, it is important to educate yourself and know what your rights are. This article explains how Wisconsin child support laws work and seeks to help you understand your rights, obligations, and other factors to consider.

The Purpose of Child Support

In the event of a separation or divorce, child support is intended to ensure that children are sufficiently provided for. When parents are separated, it can be hard to hold them both accountable for a child’s expenses. This is why the court will mandate child support payments. These payments are used to make sure the child has food, clothing, transportation, housing, insurance, and other necessities.

Who Is Responsible for Child Support?

Child support may be paid by either parent. It is usually mandated until the child is 18, however, it may be required until the child is older if the child is still enrolled in a secondary schooling program. When deciding the amount of support to be paid, the court considers the time each parent spends with the child. If the parents have shared custody, it is likely that payments will not be as steep as it would be if one parent spends a significant more amount of time with the child. It is important to remember that child support is intended to supplement normal living expenses for the child.

How Is Child Support Determined?

The courts will take various factors into consideration and these factors vary by state. Wisconsin child support laws are also frequently subject to change. In order to determine a fair payment, the overall familial situation is evaluated. Guidelines for parents who share custody are different than for parents with split custody. Moreover, the court will take the number of children into account as well. If an individual has multiple families that must be legally supported, this is also factored into payments. The court can make alternative arrangements if they are in the best interest of the child.

Other Guidelines for Child Support

The amount of child support is related to the parent’s overall income. This income extends beyond wages and salaries and may include tips, commissions, investments, and bonuses. Even income from personal injury settlements, military allowances, voluntary retirement contributions, or disability payments may be counted. It should be noted, however, that supplemental security income and other types of public assistance are not counted. All of these factors help determine an individual’s financial solvency, ensuring that the payments are fair for both parent and child.

Specific Percentages for Support

Although there can be extenuating circumstances, the legal guidelines in Wisconsin are clear. For one child, parents are usually required to pay 17 percent of their income. This jumps to 25 percent for two children. This continues up to five children. For five children, a person may be required to pay 34 percent of his or her income. This is usually the maximum percentage even if there are more children involved. After all, the courts do not intend to make it impossible for a person to pay for child support.

Overview of Child Support

Child support is an important issue for families. This article is dedicated to explaining how Wisconsin child support laws work. With this information hopefully, parents and children can navigate the legal system for everyone’s benefit.