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State Guide · Indiana
Child Support in Indiana: How It's Calculated, Modified & Enforced
A plain-English guide to Indiana child support — the guideline model, how the number is computed, the modification and enforcement process, and where to find the official worksheet.
Direct answer
Weekly gross income of each parent, including wages, bonuses, self-employment, and most government benefits (means-tested public aid is excluded).
Indiana uses the Income Shares model under the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines (adopted by the Supreme Court), applied in all proceedings. It is based on the weekly gross income of each parent; combined weekly adjusted income drives the Guideline Schedule for Weekly Support Payments. A parenting-time credit begins at 52 overnights/year, and modifications presumptively require a 20% deviation (IC 31-16-8-1). Support generally continues to age 19.
Open the Indiana child support calculator to see your own number under the current guideline: Indiana calculator.
How a support order is established in Indiana
Apply through the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) or file in court.
Establish paternity if unmarried (voluntary acknowledgment or court testing).
Complete the Indiana Child Support Obligation Worksheet using the free Indiana Judicial Branch calculator (in.gov/courts).
The court enters an order; the guideline amount is a rebuttable presumption and deviations need written findings.
Payments via income withholding; DCS enforces.
To modify, file showing a substantial change; Indiana presumes a change at a 20% deviation from the guideline (IC 31-16-8-1).
Worked examples
Illustrative example — weekly gross-income split (two children) — Parent A weekly gross $800; Parent B $600; combined $1,400/wk; two children; child health insurance $40/wk; childcare $80/wk. Parent A = 57% of combined. Look up the basic obligation for $1,400 combined weekly and two children on the Indiana schedule; add-ons = $120. Parent A\'s share ≈ 0.57 × (basic obligation + $120). Indiana applies income shares to weekly gross income; the paying parent owes their income percentage of the obligation plus add-ons.
Illustrative example — parenting-time credit — Paying parent has 104 overnights/year (above the 52 threshold). A parenting-time credit reduces the transferred amount; the credit grows with overnights up to near-equal time. Indiana gives the noncustodial parent a credit once overnights reach 52 per year.
Modifying or enforcing an order
Orders in Indiana can be modified when there is a substantial change in income, custody, or circumstances. Use the modification eligibility check and the cross-state comparison tool to see how a move would change the outcome. Enforcement runs through the state agency and can include income withholding and contempt proceedings.
Official sources
Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) — https://www.in.gov/dcs
Indiana Judicial Branch — Child Support Calculator — https://www.in.gov/courts/services/child-support-calculator
Is Indiana gross or net income?
Weekly gross income of each parent, including wages, bonuses, self-employment, and most government benefits (means-tested public aid is excluded).
How does parenting time affect support?
A credit applies once the noncustodial parent has at least 52 overnights per year, increasing with overnights.
What is the modification threshold?
Indiana presumes a substantial change when the recalculated guideline differs by 20% (IC 31-16-8-1).
Can the court deviate?
Yes, with a written finding that the guideline amount would be unjust.
When does support end?
Generally at age 19.
Where do I get the official worksheet?
Use the Indiana Judicial Branch\'s free calculator at in.gov/courts, which produces court-ready worksheets.
Indiana child support calculator
Estimate for Indiana
Indiana uses the Income Shares model.
Enter the paying parent’s gross (pre-tax) monthly income.
Indiana Child Support Worksheet — Planning Estimate
Generated September 22, 2026 · Model: Income Shares · Income basis: gross · Statute: Ind. Code § 31-16-8
This is an informal planning estimate, not a court worksheet and not legal advice. Confirm the current guideline with the state child-support agency or a licensed family-law attorney.
Estimated monthly support$1,003.83per month
Official schedule: Indiana Child Support Schedule (Supreme Court of Indiana), published as a WEEKLY schedule; converted to monthly via the statutory factor 4.333 weeks/month. Income basis = Weekly/Daily Gross Income. (2024)
Annual estimate$12,045.96
Effective rate20.1%
MethodIncome Shares: combined income → official Indiana schedule → split by income share (+ add-ons, parenting-time credit)
View calculation breakdown
Combined parental income
$9,000
Total basic obligation (schedule)
$1,807
Obligor income share
55.6%
Obligor basic obligation
$1,004
Estimated monthly support
$1,004
How the basic obligation splits between parents
56%
44%
Paying parent: $1,004 Other parent: $803
Each parent pays their proportional share of the combined basic obligation.
Estimated monthly support by number of children
At the incomes you entered, for 2 children.
This article is general education, not legal or tax advice. For your exact number, open your state calculator.
Not legal or financial advice. This estimate follows the state’s statutory guideline formula but cannot capture every factor a court considers (health insurance, childcare, prior orders, deviations, imputed income).
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