In an effort to equalize everyone's financial responsibilities, Louisiana has enacted certain laws and statutes providing that the court shall determine the basic monthly child support amount by computing the combined adjusted gross income of the parties and the number of children involved in the proceeding into a specified formula.

With any calculations, there are standards and variables that may change and thereby modify a monthly child support amount.

It is important that a party to an action for child support understand the ins and outs of the calculation of child support, as well as the deviations that allow certain parties to request amounts lower or higher than those that would otherwise be required.

Important considerations in each case:

1. Has one party voluntarily left their employment?
2. How much time are the children with each parent?
3. Does my spouse have to maintain the children on health insurance?