Indiana Child Support
Estimate for Indiana
Indiana uses the Income Shares model.
Indiana Child Support Worksheet — Planning Estimate
Paying parent income: $5,000.00/mo · Other parent: $4,000.00/mo · Overnights: 0/yr · Child care: $0.00/mo · Health ins.: $0.00/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.
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)
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
Estimated monthly support by number of children
Typical amounts in Indiana
| Scenario | Obligor income/mo | Other parent | Est. monthly support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower earner | $2,500 | $4,000/mo | $398/mo |
| Typical case | $5,500 | $4,000/mo | $721/mo |
| Higher earner | $9,000 | $4,000/mo | $1,056/mo |
Indiana uses the income shares model on gross income. Your numbers will differ — run the calculator above with your own inputs. Estimates are educational, not a court order.
§ How Indiana calculates support
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.
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case 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).
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Parent A weekly gross $800; Parent B $600; combined $1,400/wk; two children; child health insurance $40/wk; childcare $80/wk.
Walk-through: 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).
Takeaway: Indiana applies income shares to weekly gross income; the paying parent owes their income percentage of the obligation plus add-ons.
Scenario: Paying parent has 104 overnights/year (above the 52 threshold).
Walk-through: A parenting-time credit reduces the transferred amount; the credit grows with overnights up to near-equal time.
Takeaway: Indiana gives the noncustodial parent a credit once overnights reach 52 per year.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://www.in.gov/dcs · https://www.in.gov/courts/services/child-support-calculator · Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines; IC 31-16-6-1, IC 31-16-8-1