Louisiana Child Support Calculator

Louisiana uses the income shares model under La. R.S. § 9:315 et seq. and the Louisiana Child Support Guidelines. Both parents' adjusted monthly gross incomes are combined, and the basic child support obligation is read directly from the schedule in La. R.S. § 9:315.19 using the combined income and number of children. Work-related childcare costs and the child's health insurance premiums are added, and the total is divided between the parents in proportion to their share of the combined income. The non-domiciliary parent owes their proportionate share. If the parents share physical custody for an approximately equal amount of time, a separate shared-custody calculation under La. R.S. § 9:315.9 applies instead.

Gross income in Louisiana includes income from all sources including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, disability insurance, workers' compensation, and spousal support received. Louisiana courts may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed without good cause.

Louisiana treats parenting time differently from many states. There is no automatic percentage reduction based on overnights. Instead, a special shared-custody calculation under La. R.S. § 9:315.9 applies only when the parents share physical custody for an approximately equal amount of time. In that case the basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, divided in proportion to income, and cross-multiplied by each parent's share of time, so the higher-owing parent pays only the difference. Under an ordinary (non-shared) joint custody order, if the paying parent has the child for more than 73 days the court may grant a discretionary credit, but Louisiana does not apply a fixed formula for it. This calculator offers a shared-custody option for the approximately-equal-time scenario.

Yes, either parent can petition to modify child support when there has been a material change in circumstances since the last order. Common reasons include a significant change in either parent's income, a change in the amount of time the child spends with each parent, changes in childcare or medical costs, or a child aging out of the order. The court will recalculate support under the current guidelines.

In Louisiana, child support generally continues until the child turns 18. If the child is still a full-time student in good standing at a secondary school, support can continue until the child graduates or turns 19, whichever comes first. Support may continue beyond that age for a child who is unable to support themselves due to a mental or physical disability. Louisiana courts generally do not order parents to pay for college as part of child support.

Yes. Under Louisiana's guidelines, net work-related childcare costs and the cost of health insurance premiums for the child are added to the basic child support obligation before it is divided between the parents. Each parent's share of these additional costs is proportional to their share of the combined gross income.

This calculator provides an estimate based on the Louisiana child support guidelines. Actual court-ordered support may differ because judges may deviate from the guidelines based on factors including the child's particular needs, extraordinary expenses, the financial resources of each parent, and the standard of living the child would have enjoyed. Consult a Louisiana family law attorney for an accurate assessment.