| name | child-support-worksheet |
| title | Child Support Guidelines Worksheet |
| description | Drafts a child support guidelines worksheet by extracting financial data, applying jurisdiction-specific guideline models, and calculating obligations. Triggers when preparing child support calculations, modification filings, or guideline worksheets for court submission. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/child-support-worksheet |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | family |
| language | en |
| tags | ["checklist","drafting","litigation"] |
Child Support Guidelines Worksheet
Produces a court-ready child support calculation worksheet compliant with the applicable state's guideline model.
Prerequisites
- Jurisdiction identified — confirm guideline model (income shares, percentage of income, hybrid)
- Income documentation for both parents (pay stubs, W-2s, 1099s, tax returns, financial affidavits)
- Children's information (names, DOBs, residence, special needs)
- Custody arrangement with parenting-time percentages
- Existing support obligations (case numbers, amounts)
- Child-related expenses (childcare, health insurance, extraordinary medical, education)
- Court filing requirements (local form mandates, caption format)
Workflow
1. Case Caption & Party Information
Use jurisdiction's official form if mandated. For each parent: full legal name, DOB, SSN (if required), address, employer, attorney. List each child with name, DOB, current residence, special needs.
2. Gross Monthly Income
Convert all figures to monthly amounts for each parent.
Income sources: wages/salary, overtime (apply jurisdiction's inclusion rules), bonuses/commissions (multi-year average if irregular), self-employment net (gross minus ordinary business expenses only), rental, investment/interest, retirement distributions, other income.
Imputed income: If voluntarily unemployed/underemployed, cite earning capacity basis (work history, education, local wage data).
- Cite source document and page for each figure
- Flag missing documentation with
[MISSING — REQUEST]
3. Allowable Deductions
Deductions: federal/state income tax, FICA, mandatory retirement contributions, health insurance (self only), pre-existing child/spousal support (cite case #), other statutory deductions.
Result: Adjusted Gross Monthly Income = Gross − Total Deductions.
- Exclude voluntary retirement unless jurisdiction permits
- Self-employed: calculate both employee + employer FICA portions
4. Basic Support Obligation
Look up from guideline schedule using combined adjusted gross income and number of children. Cite table/section and verify schedule effective date.
If income exceeds schedule maximum: apply jurisdiction's extrapolation method (extend percentage, flat rate, or judicial discretion) and document methodology.
5. Additional Expenses
Expenses: work-related childcare, children's health insurance premium, extraordinary medical (uninsured), private school/tutoring, extracurricular activities.
Each parent's share % = their adjusted income ÷ combined adjusted income. Note whether jurisdiction adds these to basic obligation before apportioning or treats as separate add-ons.
