Estimate Your Indiana Child Support in Minutes
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Indiana Child Support Calculator
Estimate based on Indiana guideline concepts (income shares + parenting time credit). For informational purposes only.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Results may differ based on judicial findings and the official Indiana guideline worksheets/schedules.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Child Support in Indiana
Discover what you need to know about Child Support Laws in Indiana.
Indiana calculates child support using the Indiana Child Support Guidelines, which follow an income shares model. The formula is based on:
Both parents’ weekly gross incomes
The number of children
A statewide guideline schedule
Parenting time credits (overnights matter)
Add-ons such as health insurance and work-related childcare
The goal is to estimate what parents would have spent on the child if they were raising the child together. For an estimate tailored to your situation, you can use the Deliberately.ai child support calculator above—but only a court order is legally binding.
Child support in Indiana is influenced by:
Each parent’s weekly gross income
The number of children
The number of overnights exercised by each parent
Health insurance premiums for the child
Work-related childcare expenses
Extraordinary medical, educational, or special needs expenses
Other court-approved deviations
If income fluctuates, involves bonuses or self-employment, or if parenting time is disputed, the calculation can become more detailed.
There is no single number that applies to every family. The final amount depends on:
Both parents’ financial information
The Indiana guideline schedule
The parenting time credit calculation
Court-approved deviations
For a reliable estimate before filing or negotiating, use the Deliberately.ai child support calculator above—keeping in mind the court has final authority.
In most cases, child support ends when the child:
Turns 19
Indiana’s termination age is generally 19, unless specific exceptions apply (such as emancipation earlier by court order).
Not always automatically.
You should review your court order carefully
Income withholding may continue unless properly terminated
If there are arrears, payments may continue until the balance is satisfied
It’s important to confirm the termination language in your specific order.
Yes. A child support order may be modified when:
There has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, or
The existing order differs from the guideline amount by a legally significant percentage
Modifications generally apply going forward from the date the petition is filed—not retroactively to amounts already owed.
Timeframes depend on:
Whether the case is uncontested
Court scheduling in your county
Whether income or parenting time is disputed
The complexity of financial documentation
Uncontested cases may resolve in weeks to a few months; contested cases may take longer.
Indiana child support is intended to help cover:
Housing
Food
Clothing
Transportation
Basic living expenses
Health insurance and work-related childcare are typically added separately within the worksheet.
It can—but only if:
The costs are included in the child support worksheet
The court order specifically allocates those expenses
Paying medical bills independently does not automatically reduce your support obligation without court approval.
Indiana generally uses weekly gross income and may include:
Wages and salary
Bonuses and commissions
Overtime
Self-employment income
Certain benefits
If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income based on earning capacity.
Failure to pay child support may result in enforcement actions such as:
Wage withholding
Tax refund interception
Driver’s or professional license suspension
Liens
Contempt proceedings
Enforcement actions may escalate as arrears increase.
Arrears:
Do not disappear
Remain enforceable until paid in full
May continue to be collected after the child turns 19
Interest may apply in certain circumstances.
In serious cases, willful nonpayment may lead to:
Contempt proceedings
Fines
Possible jail time
If you are facing enforcement or contempt, seeking legal advice early is strongly recommended.
Yes. Common enforcement tools include:
Automatic wage withholding
Bank levies
Tax intercepts
Property liens
Indiana courts and child support enforcement agencies have broad authority to collect unpaid support.
Not automatically.
Indiana uses a parenting time credit based on overnights
Income differences remain a key factor
Even with significant parenting time, support may still be owed
Shared custody does not eliminate child support.
Possibly.
Indiana law allows courts to order post-secondary educational expenses in certain cases
Support for a child with qualifying disabilities may extend beyond age 19
These extensions are not automatic and depend on court findings.
Parents cannot privately override a court order.
Child support is considered the right of the child
Any modification must be approved by the court
Private agreements without court approval may not be enforceable.
A lawyer is not required for simple, uncontested cases. However, legal representation is strongly recommended when:
Income is disputed
Self-employment is involved
Arrears exist
A deviation from guidelines is requested
College expense allocation is involved
A lawyer is not required for simple, uncontested cases. However, legal representation is strongly recommended when:
Income is disputed
Self-employment is involved
Arrears exist
A deviation from guidelines is requested
College expense allocation is involved
Child support cases are handled through Indiana trial courts (often in family or domestic relations divisions), and families may also work with the Indiana Child Support Bureau for establishment and enforcement.
If income, parenting time, or expenses are likely to be contested, consulting an experienced Indiana family lawyer before filing can help avoid costly mistakes and delays.
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