High-Income, Low-Income and Serial-Family Adjustments in Wisconsin
Wisconsin may lower the percentage for income above $7,000 and $12,500 a month, uses a reduced-percentage table for low-income payers and subtracts earlier obligations from the income of a parent supporting more than one family.
High-income payers
If the paying parent’s income available for child support is more than $84,000 a year, the court may use the high-income payer percentages: the standard for the first $7,000 a month, 14% (one child), 20%, 23%, 25% or 27% (five children) for income from $7,000 to $12,500, and 10%, 15%, 17%, 19% or 20% above $12,500 (Department of Children and Families). At $14,000 a month and two children, the amount is $1,750 + $1,100 + $225 = $3,075, compared with $3,500 at a flat 25%.
Low-income payers
If the payer’s income is low enough that the standard would leave too little to live on, the court may use the low-income payer table (Appendix C), which sets reduced percentages for incomes between 75% and 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and is revised every year; below 75% the court may set an amount based on the payer’s circumstances. A payer with $1,500 of income owes $375 at the standard 25%, and the calculator warns that the table may lower it.
Serial-family parents
A parent who supports children from more than one family may have his or her income adjusted for earlier obligations before the new order is calculated: the earlier obligation is subtracted from income, using the court-ordered amount actually owed or, if there is no order (an intact family), the percentage standard times income. With $2,500 of income and a $625 order for two older children, the income for one younger child is $1,875 and the support is $319. With a $5,000 income and two children in an earlier intact family, a new two-child order is $938.
Only subsequent obligations
The adjustment applies only to later obligations, and applies to court-ordered obligations and to obligations to an intact family.
Imputed income
When a parent’s income is unknown or reduced by choice, the court may base support on earning capacity or other imputed income.
Documents to gather
Income records for the last year, earlier support orders and the federal poverty guideline for the year of the order.
Changing an order
A child support order can be revised on a substantial change in circumstances, and some changes create a rebuttable presumption of one (Wis. Stat. 767.59); revisions run only from the date they are effective.
Frequently asked questions
When do Wisconsin high-income payer percentages apply?
When the payer's income is over $84,000 a year ($7,000 a month), at the court's discretion.
How does Wisconsin treat a low-income payer?
The court may use a table of reduced percentages for payers between 75% and 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
What is the Wisconsin serial-family adjustment?
Earlier child support obligations are subtracted from the payer's income before calculating a later obligation.
Does a new family reduce Wisconsin child support?
It can, through the serial-family adjustment for obligations that began later than the earlier ones.
Can Wisconsin child support be modified?
Yes, on a substantial change in circumstances.
Official sources
- Wisconsin DCF: tools to estimate income and support amounts (DCF 150)
- Wisconsin DCF: setting payment amounts
- Wisconsin DCF: shared-placement worksheet under DCF 150
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 Wisconsin statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Wisconsin attorney.