Recent Changes in Child Support Calculations

In Pennsylvania, the basic amount of child support a parent is entitled to receive is calculated based upon the parents’ combined net monthly incomes and the number of children. Pennsylvania uses a spreadsheet that will then indicate how much of the parents’ net monthly income would have been spent on the children if the parents had remained together. For example, if the parents each earn $3,000 per month, there are three children, and one parent is the primary custodian, then the spreadsheet indicates that the parents would have spent $1,721 on the children had they remained together. As the parties’ incomes are equal, the non-custodial parent will owe half of that amount on a monthly basis, or $860.50. Every four years, the spreadsheet is updated to take into account inflation, cost of living increases, etc. As of May 1, 2017, the spreadsheet has been adjusted to reflect those updates. As of May 1, 2017, the spreadsheet indicates that if $3,000 were earned by each parent, then $1,761 would have been spent on the children if they had remained together. This raises the noncustodial parent’s basic support obligation to $880.50. After the basic child support obligation is calculated, it is further adjusted to take into account things such as health insurance premiums, daycare expenses, and other circumstances. If you have questions about child support, the impact of the new increases, or any other questions relating to family law matters in general, contact the attorneys at Appel & Yost, (717) 394-0521.