Income and Adjustments in Indiana Child Support
Indiana starts from weekly gross income, uses potential income for a parent who is unemployed or underemployed, deducts prior-born support orders and a percentage for subsequent-born children, and adds child care and the children’s insurance with a credit to the parent who pays.
Weekly gross income
Weekly gross income is the actual weekly gross income of the parent if employed to full capacity, potential income if unemployed or underemployed, and the value of in-kind benefits received. Self-employment income can differ from business income for tax purposes, and the income of a parent’s spouse is not included (Guideline 3A). Start with total income from all sources and convert it to a weekly figure.
Subsequent-born children
A parent with children born or legally adopted after the children in the case, for whom the parent has a legal duty or order of support, gets a credit equal to his or her weekly gross income times a factor: one child .065, two .097, three .122, four .137, five .146, six .155, seven .164, eight .173 (Guideline 3C). A parent earning $500 a week with two such children deducts $48.50.
Prior-born children
The amount of any court order for child support for prior-born children is deducted from weekly gross income, and the parent seeking the deduction must prove the order. Where there is no order, a deduction is allowed for reasonably necessary support actually paid or funds actually spent for a prior-born child not in the home, with the burden on that parent.
Work-related child care
Reasonable child care costs due to employment or job search are added to the basic obligation, each parent’s expense is converted to a weekly figure by dividing the annual cost by 52, and each parent gets a credit for what he or she pays (Guideline 3E).
Health insurance
The weekly cost of the children’s share of the health insurance premium is added to the basic obligation when either parent pays it, and the parent who pays gets a credit. Only the portion for the children counts, such as the difference between self-only and family coverage, and any federal tax credit is subtracted.
Documents that prove income
Bring pay statements and tax returns, and for self-employed parents the records of receipts and ordinary and necessary expenses.
In the calculator
The Indiana child support calculator has fields for prior-born orders, subsequent-born children, child care and insurance, in weekly or monthly amounts. See how the worksheet works for the rest of the steps.
Frequently asked questions
What income counts for Indiana child support?
Actual weekly gross income if employed to full capacity, potential income if unemployed or underemployed, and in-kind benefits.
Is a new spouse’s income counted in Indiana child support?
No. The income of the spouses of the parties is not included in weekly gross income.
How do I deduct a subsequent child in Indiana?
Multiply weekly gross income by the factor for the number of subsequent-born children, .065 for one child, and subtract it.
Can I deduct support for an older child in Indiana?
Yes. A court order for prior-born children is deducted, and support actually paid without an order can be deducted if you prove it.
How is child care counted in Indiana?
It is added to the basic obligation, converted to weekly by dividing the annual cost by 52, and the parent who pays gets credit.
Official sources
- Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines
- Guideline Schedules for Weekly Support Payments
- Guideline 6: Parenting Time Credit
- Indiana Judicial Branch: child support calculator
A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Indiana statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Indiana attorney.