Estimate Your Kentucky Child Support in Minutes
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Kentucky Child Support Calculator
Estimate based on Kentucky guideline-style income shares + parenting-time adjustment. For informational purposes only.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Results may differ based on the Kentucky worksheet, statutory adjustments (including low-income provisions), and judicial findings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Child Support in Kentucky
Discover what you need to know about Child Support Laws in Kentucky.
Kentucky calculates child support using the Kentucky Child Support Guidelines, which follow an income shares model. The formula is based on:
Both parents’ gross monthly incomes
The number of children
A statewide child support guideline schedule
Health insurance costs for the child
Work-related childcare expenses
Extraordinary medical or educational expenses
Court-approved deviations
Kentucky uses standardized worksheets to determine the presumptive support amount. The goal is to approximate what parents would have contributed to the child if living 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 Kentucky is influenced by:
Each parent’s gross income
The number of children
Health insurance premiums for the child
Work-related childcare expenses
Extraordinary medical or educational costs
Parenting time arrangements
Court-approved deviations
Cases involving fluctuating income, self-employment, or disputed parenting schedules may require more detailed financial review.
Child support cases are handled through Kentucky family courts. Families may also work with Kentucky Child Support Enforcement (CSE) for establishment and enforcement services.
If income, parenting time, or expenses are likely to be contested, consulting an experienced Kentucky family lawyer before filing can help avoid costly mistakes and delays.
There is no universal amount. The final figure depends on:
Both parents’ financial information
The Kentucky guideline schedule
Health insurance and childcare allocations
Any approved deviations
For a reliable estimate before filing or negotiating, use the Deliberately.ai calculator above—keeping in mind the court has final authority.
In most cases, child support ends when the child:
Turns 18, or
Graduates from high school (if still enrolled at 18), but not beyond age 19
The specific termination language in your court order controls.
Not necessarily automatically.
You should review your court order
Wage withholding may continue unless properly terminated
Arrears remain owed even after the obligation ends
It is important to confirm the termination terms in your decree before assuming payments stop.
Yes. A child support order may be modified when:
There has been a material change in circumstances
Income has substantially increased or decreased
The current order varies significantly from the guideline amount
Modifications generally apply going forward from the date the motion is filed—not retroactively to previously owed support.
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 can take longer.
Kentucky child support is intended to help cover:
Housing
Food
Clothing
Transportation
Basic daily living expenses
Health insurance and childcare costs are typically included in the worksheet calculation or allocated separately in the court order.
It can—but only if:
The costs are included in the official child support worksheet
The court order specifically accounts for them
Simply paying medical expenses does not automatically reduce your obligation without court approval.
Kentucky generally considers gross income, which may include:
Wages and salary
Bonuses and commissions
Overtime
Self-employment income
Rental 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:
Tax refund interception
Driver’s license suspension
Professional license suspension
Property liens
Contempt proceedings
Enforcement actions may escalate as arrears grow.
Arrears:
Remain owed until paid in full
Do not disappear when the child reaches termination age
May continue to be collected through enforcement tools
May accrue interest under Kentucky law
Unpaid support cannot be erased without court approval.
In serious cases of willful nonpayment, courts may initiate contempt proceedings. Consequences may include:
Fines
Probation
Possible jail time
If you are facing enforcement or contempt, seeking legal advice early is strongly recommended.
Yes. Common enforcement tools include:
Automatic income withholding
Bank account levies
Tax intercepts
Property liens
The Kentucky Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program has authority to pursue collection.
Not automatically.
Parenting time may influence calculations
Income differences remain a primary factor
Even in joint custody situations, support may still be owed
Shared custody does not eliminate child support obligations.
Possibly.
Support may continue through high school graduation (up to age 19)
Support for a child with qualifying disabilities may extend beyond age 18
College support is not automatic and depends on court findings or agreements
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 straightforward cases. However, legal representation is strongly recommended when:
Income is disputed
Self-employment is involved
Arrears exist
A deviation from guidelines is requested
Parenting time adjustments are contested
You will typically need:
Recent pay stubs
Federal and state tax returns
Proof of health insurance costs
Childcare documentation
Existing court orders
Incomplete financial documentation is one of the most common causes of delay.
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