On April 19, 2017, the DHFS has made available charts for the calculation of child support based on the July 1, 2017 income share model.
A quick review of the charts indicates that:
- The highest monthly figure is $30,000 of gross income both for the chart converting gross to net as well as the chart that is based upon net income. No doubt the thought is that those truly in the upper income levels will not be converting gross to net based upon standardized tables.
- At the upper income levels the increase in child support per child barely increases relative to the overall income;
- The key figures are to determine the individual and combined adjusted net income.
- Note that the two adjustments are handled completely differently.
- The first adjustment is the multi-family “adjustment.” This is an deduction per Section 505(a)(3) – (F)(I) from net income.
- The second adjustment is the spousal maintenance “adjustment.” But this is a deduction from the gross income. The language of that deduction states, “Obligations pursuant to a court order for spousal maintenance in the pending proceeding actually paid or payable to the same party to whom child support is to be payable or actually paid to a former spouse pursuant to a court order.” (F(II).
- The child support advisory committee has approved the final charts based upon updated data as of the first quarter 2017. This was done, in part, to have charts which can be considered the state of the art.
Family Law Software has now incorporate the chart into their software. Accordingly, child support can now be calculated under the current income shares model.
Stephanie Kasten of the Gitlin Law firm has developed the attached Shared Care Formula. Its use should be self-explanatory. This goes along with the basic child support obligation chart.
Both Attorney Gitlin and Kasten in May and June 2017 presented at the IICLE’s seminar in Chicago and downstate regarding the newest developments regarding the income shares model.
