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State Guide · Wisconsin
Child Support in Wisconsin: How It's Calculated, Modified & Enforced
A plain-English guide to Wisconsin child support — the guideline model, how the number is computed, the modification and enforcement process, and where to find the official worksheet.
Direct answer
Gross income before deductions — wages, salary, overtime, commissions, bonuses, self-employment, unemployment, and certain benefits. The court can impute income for voluntary underemployment (but not incarceration).
Wisconsin uses the Percentage of Income Standard in Wis. Admin. Code DCF 150 applied to the paying parent's gross income. Base rates: 17% (1 child), 25% (2), 29% (3), 31% (4), 34% (5+). Notable features: a high-income schedule (reduced rates above $84,000; 10–20% above $150,000), a low-income schedule below 150% of the federal poverty level, shared-placement offset (each parent ≥ 25% overnights) using a 1.5× multiplier, split-placement and serial-family adjustments, and a rebuttable presumption requiring written deviation findings.
Open the Wisconsin child support calculator to see your own number under the current guideline: Wisconsin calculator.
How a support order is established in Wisconsin
Apply through your county child support agency or online via Child Support Online Services (CSOS); you may apply even if the other parent lives out of state.
Establish parentage if needed.
Calculate the obligation using the DCF 150 percentage standard and worksheets/calculator.
The court enters a support order (the percentage standard is a rebuttable presumption; deviations need written findings).
Payments go through the Wisconsin Child Support Collection Trust Fund (income withholding).
Request a review/modification when income or placement changes, or generally every three years.
Worked examples
Illustrative example — two children, primary placement — Paying parent gross income $5,000/month, two children, primary placement with the other parent. 25% × $5,000 = $1,250/month base (before any deviation or adjustment). Wisconsin\'s base percentage for two children is 25% of gross income.
Illustrative example — shared placement — Each parent has the child 50% of overnights; Parent A gross $6,000, Parent B gross $4,000, two children. Each parent\'s base: A 25% × $6,000 = $1,500; B 25% × $4,000 = $1,000. The shared-placement formula multiplies by 150% and offsets by time, so the higher earner pays the difference (a reduced transfer versus sole placement). Shared placement uses both incomes and a 1.5× multiplier; the exact figure requires the DCF 150 worksheet.
Modifying or enforcing an order
Orders in Wisconsin 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
Wisconsin Child Support (DCF) — https://childsupport.wisconsin.gov/
Wis. Admin. Code DCF 150 (child support rule) — https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dcf/150
WisLawHelp — Calculating Child Support under WI Percentage Standard — https://www.wislawhelp.org/node/357/calculating-child-support-under-wisconsins-percentage-standard
What income is used in Wisconsin?
Gross income before deductions — wages, salary, overtime, commissions, bonuses, self-employment, unemployment, and certain benefits. The court can impute income for voluntary underemployment (but not incarceration).
What if I earn a very high or very low income?
Above $150,000/month-equivalent the high-income schedule uses 10–20% rates; below 150% of the federal poverty level the low-income schedule may apply (and below 75% the court may set a tailored amount).
How does shared placement work?
When each parent has at least 25% of overnights (92+ days), the formula multiplies each parent\'s obligation by 150% for two households, then offsets by time; the higher earner pays the difference.
What is a serial-family adjustment?
If the paying parent supports children from an earlier relationship, that existing obligation is considered before calculating the later order.
How long does support last?
Until age 18, or 19 if the child is still finishing high school.
Wisconsin child support calculator
Estimate for Wisconsin
Wisconsin uses the Percentage of Income model.
Enter the paying parent’s gross (pre-tax) monthly income.
Wisconsin Child Support Worksheet — Planning Estimate
Generated September 22, 2026 · Model: Percentage of Income · Income basis: gross · Statute: Wis. Stat. § 767.511
Paying parent income: $5,000.00/mo · Children: 2
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$1,250.00per month
Annual estimate$15,000.00
Effective rate25%
MethodFlat 25% of gross monthly income (2 children)
View calculation breakdown
Statutory rate (2 children)
25%
gross monthly income
$5,000
Estimated monthly support
$1,250
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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