You and your child’s other parent are no longer together, and your child’s other parent was awarded primary physical custody. This means you will likely be paying child support. How does the commonwealth of Virginia ensure that the amount you will have to pay is fair, especially for those of greater wealth?
Statutory child support guidelines
Virginia follows a statutory formula for calculating child support. This formula is based on the child’s needs, each parent’s income, who has primary physical custody of the child and each parents’ basic needs.
The guidelines are in place to ensure that both parents contribute to the expenses associated with raising a child. The guidelines aim to ensure that child support orders are fair and consistent across Virginia.
How much will you pay?
If you earn a minimal income and have only one child, you will not owe as much in child support as you would if you had multiple children or earned a higher income. The minimum amount a parent can pay in child support is $68 monthly.
However, those with a higher income will pay more in child support, with exemptions. For example, if you have a combined income of $6,000 monthly and you have two children, you may owe $1,226 in child support if you are the noncustodial parent.
Let’s look at those of even greater wealth. If you have a combined income of $15,000 monthly and you have two children, you may owe $2,055 in child support if you are the noncustodial parent.
If you have a combined gross monthly income that is greater than $35,000, you may pay the amount of child support owed for those making $35,000 combined monthly, plus a percentage based on how many children you have.
You may or may not feel like what you owe in child support is fair. What you must keep in mind is that child support is not meant to punish you. It is meant to ensure that your child’s quality of life does not suffer. And that is what is important in the end.
