Estimate Your Louisiana Child Support in Minutes
Before you trust a lawyer with your Divorce case, ask this:
Do you use Deliberately AI?
Lawyers who use our software prepare faster, negotiate smarter, and avoid costly mistakes long before court even starts.
Get a confidential estimate based on
Louisiana Family Code in under a minute.
Louisiana Child Support Calculator
Estimate based on Louisiana guideline schedule + shared-custody adjustment heuristics. For informational purposes only.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Louisiana child support can vary based on worksheet selection, credits, deviations, and court findings.
Is your Family Lawyer fully prepared for your Divorce Case?
Deliberately AI’s Client Intelligence framework—used by forward-thinking family law firms to set expectations early and avoid costly surprises. Ask your lawyer to use it on your case.
Louisiana Family Law Software: How Deliberately.ai Strengthens Legal Cases?
These short videos show how our Family AI software, powered by Client Intelligence, helps family law attorneys nationwide prepare faster, stay organized, and make smarter, data-driven decisions throughout a case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Child Support in Louisiana
Discover what you need to know about Child Support Laws in Louisiana.
Louisiana calculates child support using the Louisiana 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 schedule
Health insurance premiums for the child
Work-related childcare expenses
Extraordinary medical expenses
Other court-approved adjustments
Louisiana uses standardized worksheets to determine the presumptive support amount. The goal is to reflect 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 Louisiana is influenced by:
Each parent’s gross income
The number of children
Health insurance costs for the child
Work-related childcare expenses
Extraordinary medical expenses
Shared custody arrangements
Court-approved deviations
Cases involving self-employment, irregular income, or complex custody schedules may require more detailed analysis.
There is no universal amount. The final figure depends on:
Both parents’ financial information
The Louisiana 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
Turns 19 if still enrolled full-time in secondary school
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 support obligation ends
It is important to confirm termination procedures through the court before stopping payments.
Yes. A child support order may be modified when:
There has been a material change in circumstances
Income has substantially increased or decreased
Custody or parenting time has changed
The existing order significantly differs from the guideline amount
Modifications generally apply prospectively 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 parish
Whether income or custody is disputed
The complexity of financial documentation
Uncontested cases may resolve within weeks to a few months; contested cases may take longer.
Louisiana child support is intended to help cover:
Housing
Food
Clothing
Transportation
Basic daily living expenses
Health insurance premiums and work-related childcare expenses are typically included in the worksheet calculation.
It can—but only if:
The expenses are included in the official child support worksheet
The court order specifically accounts for them
Paying medical expenses outside the order does not automatically reduce your obligation.
Louisiana generally considers gross income, which may include:
Wages and salary
Bonuses and commissions
Overtime
Self-employment income
Rental income
Disability or unemployment benefits
Other recurring income sources
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 garnishment
Tax refund interception
Driver’s license suspension
Professional license suspension
Bank account seizure
Contempt proceedings
Enforcement efforts may intensify as arrears accumulate.
Arrears:
Remain owed until paid in full
Do not disappear when the child reaches termination age
May be collected through enforcement tools
May accrue interest under Louisiana law
Unpaid support cannot be waived without court approval.
In serious cases of willful nonpayment, courts may initiate contempt proceedings. Consequences can include:
Fines
Probation
Possible jail time
If you are facing enforcement or contempt, seeking legal guidance early is strongly recommended.
Yes. Common enforcement tools include:
Automatic income withholding
Bank levies
Tax intercepts
Liens against property
Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Child Support Enforcement has authority to pursue collection.
Child support cases are handled through Louisiana district courts. Families may also work with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Child Support Enforcement program for establishment and enforcement services.
If income, custody, or expenses are likely to be contested, consulting an experienced Louisiana family lawyer before filing can help prevent costly mistakes and delays.
Not automatically.
Louisiana recognizes shared custody arrangements
Parenting time may affect the calculation
Income differences remain a primary factor
Even in shared custody situations, support may still be owed.
Possibly.
Support may continue until age 19 if the child is still in high school
Support for a child with qualifying disabilities may extend beyond age 18
College support is not automatic and typically requires agreement or 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 straightforward cases. However, legal representation is strongly recommended when:
Income is disputed
Self-employment is involved
Arrears exist
A deviation from guidelines is requested
Custody arrangements 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.
Thought Leadership in Legal Document Management
Browse the articles below to discover smarter ways to streamline your workflow, reduce time spent on paperwork, and focus on what matters most—your clients and their cases.
How Long Does a Child Support Modification Take in Louisiana?