How to Calculate Child Support in Connecticut | CT Child Support Guidelines

Connecticut calculates child support using the Income Shares Model, which combines both parents' net weekly incomes and determines each parent's proportional share based on their percentage of the combined income. The state provides an official Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines Worksheet (form CCSG-001) that walks through the calculation step by step. The noncustodial parent typically pays their percentage of the "basic child support obligation"—a figure pulled from Connecticut's Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations based on combined parental income and the number of children.

Understanding Connecticut's Child Support Framework

Connecticut law requires both parents to financially support their children according to their respective abilities. Under C.G.S. § 46b-84, "the parents of a minor child of the marriage shall maintain the child according to their respective abilities, if the child is in need of maintenance." This fundamental principle ensures that children maintain a standard of living reasonably consistent with what they would have experienced had the family remained intact.

The Connecticut Child Support Guidelines (Section 46b-215a-2c) establish a standardized formula that courts must follow in most cases. These guidelines apply to determining current support, health care coverage contributions, and child care costs. The system is designed to be fair and predictable, giving parents a clear framework for understanding their financial obligations. When parents' combined net weekly income exceeds $4,000, the court determines support on a case-by-case basis while still following statutory criteria.

For parents focused on their children's wellbeing, understanding this calculation empowers you to advocate effectively for appropriate support. Organizing your income documentation and testing different scenarios early in the process can clarify how specific variables affect the final calculation.

Step-by-Step Child Support Calculation Process

Step 1: Calculate Each Parent's Gross Income

The calculation begins with determining each parent's gross weekly income. This includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income, investment returns, and most other sources of regular income. You'll enter this figure on Line 1 of the child support worksheet, along with the number of work hours used to determine that income (up to a maximum of 45 hours per week).

Gross income can also include imputed income—meaning if a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may attribute income they could reasonably be earning. This prevents a parent from artificially lowering their support obligation by choosing not to work to their earning capacity. Courts look at education, work history, job opportunities in the area, and any legitimate reasons for reduced employment.

Step 2: Determine Net Weekly Income

From gross income, you subtract specific deductions to arrive at net weekly income:

• Federal income tax (based on all allowable exemptions, deductions, and credits)
• Social Security tax (FICA) or mandatory retirement contributions
• State income tax
• Mandatory union dues
• Health insurance premiums for the parent only
• Pre-existing child support orders being paid

The resulting figure is each parent's net weekly income. Both parents' net weekly incomes are then combined to determine the "combined net weekly income," which is the foundation for the support calculation under Section 46b-215a-2c(c)(2).

Step 3: Find the Basic Child Support Obligation

Connecticut provides a Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations in Section 46b-215a-2c(e) that functions like a tax table. You find the row corresponding to the combined net weekly income (rounded to the nearest ten dollars) and the column for the number of children. The intersection gives you the basic child support obligation—the total amount both parents together should contribute to the children's basic needs.

For example, if parents have a combined net weekly income of $1,500 and two children, you would locate the $1,500 row and the "2 children" column to find the weekly obligation amount. This table accounts for the economic reality that child-rearing costs don't double with each additional child, but they do increase.

Step 4: Calculate Each Parent's Percentage Share

Once you have the basic child support obligation, you determine each parent's share based on their percentage of the combined net weekly income. If Parent A earns $900 weekly and Parent B earns $600 weekly, their combined income is $1,500. Parent A contributes 60% ($900 ÷ $1,500), and Parent B contributes 40% ($600 ÷ $1,500).

Each parent's percentage is multiplied by the basic child support obligation to determine their share. Under Section 46b-215a-2c(c)(4), the noncustodial parent's share typically becomes the child support order, while the custodial parent's share is presumed to be spent directly on the children through daily care.

Additional Support Components

Child Care Costs

Work-related child care expenses are added to the basic support obligation and divided between parents according to their income percentages. This specifically applies to costs incurred to allow a parent to work or attend necessary education or training. Casual babysitting or expenses for social purposes generally do not qualify for this mandatory division. If a state subsidy is received, only the actual out-of-pocket expense paid by the parent is used in the calculation.

These costs are entered separately on the worksheet (Line 13) and treated as an addition to the basic obligation. The system ensures fairness by splitting the cost proportionally; a lower-earning parent is not forced to pay 50% of an expensive daycare bill but rather a percentage that aligns with their financial share. This approach helps ensure that necessary employment-related care remains affordable for both parties.

Health Insurance and Medical Expenses

Connecticut requires that child support orders address health insurance coverage. Courts determine which parent can provide coverage most cost-effectively, often using a "reasonable cost" standard (typically defined as not exceeding 5% to 7.5% of net income). The cost of adding the child to the policy is calculated and credited to the paying parent on the worksheet (Line 25), effectively reducing their support obligation to account for the premium payment.

Unreimbursed medical expenses—such as co-pays, deductibles, orthodontia, and therapy not covered by insurance—are also shared. Typically, the first $100 per child per year is assumed to be covered by the custodial parent's support receipt. Expenses beyond that threshold are split between parents according to their respective net income percentages, ensuring that unexpected medical events do not financially overwhelm one parent.

Deviation Factors

Courts may deviate from the guideline amount when strict application would be inequitable or inappropriate. The "presumptive amount" calculated by the worksheet is the starting point, but judges have discretion to adjust this figure based on specific statutory criteria. To obtain a deviation, a parent must typically prove that following the guidelines would not be in the child's best interest.

Common deviation factors include:

• Extraordinary medical or educational expenses
• Significant disparity in parenting time
• Special needs of the child
• Other children the parent is legally obligated to support
• Significant assets or income of the child
• Extraordinary expenses for visitation or transportation

In Zheng v. Xia, the Connecticut Appellate Court addressed how bonus income should factor into support calculations, affirming that courts have discretion to order supplemental support based on variable income components when appropriate.

Required Financial Documentation

Document	Purpose	When Required
Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-006)	Disclose all income, expenses, assets, liabilities	At least 5 business days before any support hearing
Tax Returns (2-3 years)	Verify income history	Initial filing and modifications
Pay Stubs (recent)	Confirm current wages	Initial filing and modifications
Child Support Worksheet (CCSG-001)	Calculate support per guidelines	All child support determinations
W-2s and 1099s	Document income sources	Initial filing and modifications

Under Practice Book Rule § 25-30, both parties must file sworn financial statements showing current income, expenses, assets, and liabilities at least five business days before any hearing on support issues. These statements must use the official Judicial Branch format and be updated within 30 days before judgment. Accurate, complete financial disclosure is essential—courts take misrepresentation seriously, and incomplete disclosure can undermine your credibility.

Untangle's document organization tools help you gather, categorize, and prepare these financial documents systematically, ensuring nothing is overlooked when preparing for support hearings.

How to Complete the Child Support Worksheet

1. Gather income documentation for both parents—pay stubs, tax returns, 1099s, business records if self-employed
2. Calculate gross weekly income by annualizing all income sources and dividing by 52
3. List allowable deductions including taxes, mandatory contributions, and existing support obligations
4. Subtract deductions from gross income to determine each parent's net weekly income
5. Add both net incomes to find combined net weekly income
6. Locate the basic support obligation in the Schedule using combined income and number of children
7. Calculate each parent's percentage of combined income
8. Multiply the basic obligation by the noncustodial parent's percentage
9. Add child care costs (if applicable), divided by income percentages
10. Add health insurance costs for children, divided by income percentages
11. Review for deviation factors that might apply to your situation
12. Complete the arrearage section if calculating past-due support

The Lukasik v. Kopinska case illustrates how important proper worksheet completion is—the appellate court addressed errors in applying the guidelines and emphasized that calculations must strictly follow the regulatory procedures to ensure accurate, legally sound support orders. To streamline this process and ensure accuracy, a dedicated tool can be invaluable. Untangle's child support calculator guides you through each step, helping you input your financial data and generate an estimated support obligation efficiently.

Shared Custody and Parenting Time Adjustments

When children spend significant time with both parents, the support calculation may be adjusted to reflect this arrangement. Connecticut's guidelines include provisions for shared physical custody situations where the child spends substantial time (typically more than 35% of overnights) with each parent. In these cases, a different calculation methodology accounts for the fact that both parents directly incur child-related expenses during their parenting time.

The court in Moore v. Moore and similar cases has addressed how parenting time arrangements affect support calculations. The specific adjustment depends on the actual time-sharing arrangement and ensures that support obligations reflect each parent's direct contribution to the children's daily needs during their parenting time.

Understanding how different custody arrangements impact support can help you make informed decisions during negotiations. Untangle's parenting plan features allow you to explore how various parenting time arrangements might affect financial outcomes, helping you focus on arrangements that truly serve your children's best interests.

When Child Support Can Be Modified

Connecticut law under C.G.S. § 46b-86 allows either parent to request modification of child support when there's been a "substantial change in the circumstances of either party." The burden of proof lies with the party seeking the modification to demonstrate that the change is significant enough to warrant a legal adjustment. This prevents parents from dragging each other back to court for minor income fluctuations, requiring instead a meaningful shift in financial reality.

Common qualifying changes that justify a modification include:

• Significant increase or decrease in either parent's income (typically 15% or more)
• Job loss or involuntary career change
• Child's changing needs (medical, educational, extracurricular)
• Changes in parenting time arrangements
• Child reaching age of majority or becoming emancipated
• Cost of living changes

Practice Book Rule § 25a-18 outlines the modification process, including provisions for parents who may be in arrears. The court has discretion to address arrears while also considering whether current orders should be modified. Connecticut's Support Enforcement Services, described in Practice Book Rule § 25a-30, can also review child support orders in certain cases and facilitate modifications when appropriate.

Special Considerations for Your Children's Wellbeing

As a parent prioritizing your children's stability, understanding child support calculations helps ensure they receive adequate financial support. Beyond the basic calculation, consider these factors:

Educational expenses: While basic education is covered in the standard calculation, extraordinary educational needs—tutoring, special programs, private school if agreed upon or previously established—may warrant deviation from guideline amounts.

Extracurricular activities: Sports, music lessons, camps, and other enrichment activities your children have participated in can be addressed in the support order or through separate agreements about sharing costs.

Future needs: Children's financial needs change as they grow. Build in mechanisms for reviewing and updating support as circumstances evolve, whether through agreed-upon review periods or understanding when modification is appropriate.

Health and mental health care: Beyond insurance coverage, consider how therapy, counseling, and specialized care will be funded. C.G.S. § 46b-56 authorizes courts to order therapy and counseling for children when appropriate, and costs for these services should be addressed in support arrangements.

Beyond the numbers, ensuring your children's holistic needs are met is paramount. Keeping detailed records of their medical history, educational progress, and extracurricular activities can be overwhelming. Untangle's children-info features provide a dedicated space to organize all vital information, making it easier to advocate for their wellbeing and plan for their future.

When to Seek Professional Help

While Connecticut's child support guidelines are designed to be straightforward, several situations warrant professional assistance:

• Complex income situations (self-employment, variable income, multiple income sources)
• High-income cases where combined net weekly income exceeds $4,000
• Disputes over income calculation or hidden income concerns
• Cases involving deviation requests
• Interstate custody or support issues
• Modification requests with contested facts

An experienced family law attorney can ensure your children's needs are properly represented and that support calculations accurately reflect both parents' financial situations. For parents navigating these calculations independently, Untangle's guided divorce tools provide structure and clarity, helping you understand each step and prepare effectively for discussions with your co-parent or court appearances.

Key Takeaways for Calculating CT Child Support

Connecticut's child support system aims to ensure children receive consistent financial support from both parents. The Income Shares Model recognizes that both parents contribute to their children's needs, with the noncustodial parent's obligation typically paid directly while the custodial parent's share is spent through daily care. By understanding how to complete the official worksheet, gathering proper documentation, and knowing when deviation might apply, you can advocate effectively for support that truly meets your children's needs.

Remember that child support is about your children's wellbeing—not punishment or reward for either parent. Approaching calculations with accurate information and a focus on what your children genuinely need leads to better outcomes for everyone, especially the children at the center of these decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors affect child support amounts in Connecticut?

Connecticut child support amounts are primarily determined by both parents' net weekly incomes, the number of children, health care coverage costs, and child care expenses, with courts also considering each parent's percentage of combined income.

How is income calculated for child support in CT?

Connecticut calculates income for child support by determining each parent's net weekly income, which includes wages, salaries, bonuses, and other earnings minus taxes and certain allowable deductions.

Can I modify child support payments in Connecticut?

Yes, you can request a child support modification in Connecticut if there has been a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant income change, job loss, or change in the child's needs.

What happens if combined parental income exceeds $4,000 per week in CT?

When parents' combined net weekly income exceeds $4,000, Connecticut courts determine child support on a case-by-case basis using statutory criteria rather than the standard guidelines worksheet.

What form do I need to calculate child support in Connecticut?

Connecticut uses the official Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines Worksheet (form CCSG-001), which walks you through the Income Shares Model calculation step by step.