Calculate Wisconsin Child Support Payments
Wisconsin bases child support on placement, how many overnights the children spend with each parent, and a percentage of the paying parent's income. When one parent has the children fewer than 92 overnights a year, the court applies the standard percentage model based on the number of children:
- For 1 child, it is 17%
- For 2 children, it is 25%
- For 3 children it is 29%
- For 4 children, it is 31%
- For 5 children, it is 34%
Calculate Child Support
Use the calculators below to estimate child support payments.
Shared Custody Child Support Calculator
Sole Custody Child Support Calculator
In Wisconsin, custody means decision-making authority, and it does not affect child support. The term for time with the children is placement, and placement is what drives the support number. So when you use these calculators, what matters is the overnight schedule, not who has legal custody.
How To Calculate Child Support in Wisconsin
Every state has set child support guidelines as well as several different child support worksheets you can fill out.[1] There are also options when determining child support. In Wisconsin, our support order guidelines help determine the amount due from one spouse to the other in the event of a divorce or legal separation. Below you will find the type of information you need to as well as the percentages required for payment based on Wisconsin DCF 150. First, we need to calculate the paying party's net income. To determine net income we need to add up monies considered income like the following:
- Wages, overtime, commissions, tips, and bonuses
- Rental income and interest income
- Self-employment income and many benefit or retirement contributions
Once the gross income is determined the court will determine the net income of the paying party. This is not done by using tax returns rather the court will deduct social security taxes, federal income taxes based on the tax rate for a single person claiming one personal exemption and the standard deduction, state income tax, union dues, and expenses for the cost of health insurance for the child. It is also worth mentioning that child support is not taxable by the spouse receiving it, so it will not be a tax-related issue for the recipient of it.
Shared Custody Guidelines
Yes, one parent will be obligated to pay child support unless both parents spend the exact amount of time with the child and earn the exact same income, which is rare. Wisconsin child support laws say that a shared placement formula can be used if certain guidelines are met. Typically the court will approve the use of this formula when:
- if the parenting plan states that both parents will have the children at least 92 overnights per year
- if the parenting plan states each parent will pay for the child’s basic needs proportionately to the time each parent has placement of the child.
The Wisconsin 50/50 Child Support formula is based on the Percentage Standard guideline in conjunction with the time spent with each parent. The Percentage Standards guidelines are as follows:
For a detailed worksheet on how the Wisconsin Shared-Placement formula works download the worksheet here.
To refer directly to DCF 150 review the section labeled DCF 150.035(2)(b) Support Orders Above is a worksheet we put together to help calculate the amount child support payers will pay in child support..[2] If you need further assistance please contact us we would be happy to help.
Are you ready to move forward? Call (262) 221-8123 to schedule a strategy session with one of our attorneys.
Wisconsin Shared Custody Child Support Calculator
These are estimated values and may present inaccurate results for high income individuals. For a more accurate estimation of child support payments, please schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.
Are you ready to move forward? Call (262) 221-8123 to schedule a strategy session with one of our attorneys.
Wisconsin Child Support Guidelines for Sole Custody
The court will then use a standard percentage model based on the number of children when one parent has the children for less than than 92 overnights throughout the year. A typical example of this type of arrangement is every other weekend. When these placement arrangements are in place the court will use the percentage standard model shown below.
- For 1 child, it is 17%
- For 2 children, it is 25%
- For 3 children it is 29%
- For 4 children, it is 31%
- For 5 children, it is 34%
Sole Custody Guidelines & Example Table
| Monthly Income | 1 child (17%) | 2 children (25%) | 3 children (29%) | 4 children (31%) | 5 or More children (34%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $255 | $375 | $435 | $465 | $510 |
| $2,000 | $340 | $500 | $580 | $620 | $680 |
| $2,500 | $425 | $625 | $725 | $775 | $850 |
| $3,000 | $510 | $750 | $870 | $930 | $1,020 |
| $3,500 | $595 | $875 | $1,015 | $1,085 | $1,190 |
| $4,000 | $680 | $1,000 | $1,160 | $1,240 | $1,360 |
For more examples, download the DCF 150 Appendix A conversion table.
To refer directly to DCF 150 review the section labeled DCF 150.03(2) Support Orders.[3] Above is a worksheet we put together to help calculate the amount child support payers will pay in child support. If you need further assistance please contact us we would be happy to help.
Wisconsin Sole Custody
Child Support Calculator
These are estimated values and may present inaccurate results for high income individuals. For a more accurate estimation of child support payments, please schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.
Are you ready to move forward? Call (262) 221-8123 to schedule a strategy session with one of our attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate child support in Wisconsin?
To calculate child support in Wisconsin first the type of custody needs to be determined.
If each parent has more than 92 overnights per year, then the State of Wisconsin has determined those parents are in a joint custody scenario and they must use a joint custody calculator to determine child support payments.
If both parents do not have 92 overnights per year then the State of Wisconsin has determined the parent with the greater number of overnights has sole custody of the child. To determine child support in a sole custody scenario the parents must use a percentage standard to determine child support payments.
What is child support percentage in Wisconsin?
The percentage of child support paid in Wisconsin is determined by the type of custody arrangement. If the custody arrangement is sole custody, then the following are the percentages used to calculate child support payments.
- 17 percent of gross income for 1 child
- 25 percent of gross income for 2 children
- 29 percent of gross income for 3 children
- 31 percent of gross income for 4 children
- 34 percent of gross income for 5 or more children
If the custody arrangement is joint custody, meaning both parents have the child more than 92 overnights a year, then child support payments are determined based on gross income and time spent with both parents.
The shared placement child support calculator found on this page is a great way to estimate shared child custody payments.
Does a father pay child support with 50/50 custody?
In a shared custody scenario, where both parents have the children 182.5 overnights per year and both parents make the same gross income no child support payments would be required.
However, if one parent makes substantially more than the other parent in the same scenario where both parents have 182.5 overnights then the higher-earning parent will pay child support to the other parent.
The shared placement child support calculator found on this page is a great way to estimate shared child custody payments.
Is child support based on gross income or net income, and what counts as income?
Wisconsin starts from gross income, defined broadly as all income and earnings from all sources, whether or not taxable, and whether money, property, or services. That includes wages, self-employment income, bonuses, commissions, investment income, and many benefit and retirement contributions, so the figure the court uses is often larger than a paystub's take-home line.
Can child support take your whole paycheck?
In the State of Wisconsin, law limits the amount that can be garnished for a child support order as follows. 50% of disposable income if the payer has an intact family living with her or him (a spouse and/or child) and has no arrears 55% of disposable income if the payer has an intact family living with her or him (a spouse and/or child) and has arrears 60% of disposable income if the payer has no intact family (a spouse and/or child) living with her or him and has no arrears 65% of disposable income if the payer has no intact family (a spouse and/or child) living with her or him and has arrears The State of Wisconsin defines gross income as all of the employee’s income from all sources before mandatory deductions for federal, state, local, and Social Security taxes are deducted. Gross income also includes employee contributions to any employee benefit program or profit-sharing and voluntary contributions to any pension or retirement account whether or not the account provides for tax deferral or avoidance.
The State of Wisconsin defines disposable income as the part of the earnings of the employee remaining after deducting federal, state, and local withholding taxes, and Social Security taxes. Deductions for Individual Retirement Accounts, medical expense accounts, etc. do not reduce disposable income.
How much is child support in Wisconsin for one child?
the percentage standard is 17% of the paying parent's income for one child. A parent with $4,000 in monthly income available for support would owe roughly $680 per month. Shared placement, high income, or a prior obligation can change that, and the low-income schedule can reduce it.
Is child support based on gross income or net income, and what counts as income?
Wisconsin starts from gross income, defined broadly as all income and earnings from all sources, whether or not taxable, and whether money, property, or services. That includes wages, self-employment income, bonuses, commissions, investment income, and many benefit and retirement contributions, so the figure the court uses is often larger than a paystub's take-home line.
Can a parent lower child support by quitting or working less?
No. If the court finds a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, it can impute income based on earning capacity, looking at work history, education, skills, and available local jobs. Support is then based on what the parent could earn, not just what they currently do.
How is child support calculated for high-income earners in Wisconsin?
The percentage standard is built for typical incomes and can overstate support at high income levels, so the court may apply a reduced percentage to income above certain thresholds. These cases usually need a closer look than a calculator can give.
Is there a child support adjustment for low-income payers?
Yes. Wisconsin has a separate low-income schedule so support does not push a payer below a basic subsistence level. Whether it applies, and exactly how, is set by the current DCF 150 schedules, so the figures should be confirmed against the live tables rather than assumed.
Can a child support order be changed later?
Yes. Support can be reviewed and modified on a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant income change, a change in the placement schedule, or a change in the children's needs. Our establishing child support in Wisconsin page explains how orders are set.
What if I already pay support for children from another relationship?
A serial-family parent may have that prior support obligation subtracted from income available for support before the current number is calculated, under the guideline worksheets.
References: 1 Child Support Guidelines Wisconsin, 2 DCF 150.035(2)(b) Support Orders , 3 DCF 150.03 Support Orders