Nashville, TN family law attorney Anne Hamer talks about how child support is determined in a divorce case. She points out that child support is essentially calculated based on the monthly cost of raising a child. The state determines this amount by combining both parents’ incomes and applying a standardized formula. This formula, or algorithm, adjusts according to the relative earnings of each parent and can be updated annually.

She notes that additional factors are also considered, including childcare expenses, health insurance premiums, and, in some cases, private school or special needs education costs. All of this information is entered into a spreadsheet that produces the child support amount.

From there, parents can negotiate adjustments within reason. For example, one parent may agree to pay less in child support if they are covering out-of-pocket medical expenses or other specific costs. Any deviation from the calculated number must be explained to the court, but overall, she emphasizes that determining child support is a highly formulaic process.