Child Support guidelines are set out in the Indiana Rules of Court. The guidelines are based on the income shares model, based on gross income. Support may include sums necessary for a child’s education, including post-majority education.

Either parent may be ordered to pay reasonable child support, without regard to marital fault, based on the following factors:

Support may be ordered to include medical, hospital, dental, and educational support. Support payments may be required to be paid through the clerk of the court. Specific Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines are contained in the Indiana Supreme Court Child Support Rules.

Indiana uses the Income Shares Model to determine the amount of child support the non-custodial parent must pay. The Income Shares Model estimates the amount of support that would have been available if the marriage had not failed. This estimated amount is then divided proportionally to the parents according to each parent’s income. It is easy to do this using the Indiana child support worksheet. Pay records typically substantiate the estimated incomes.

This routine takes into account both parents’ gross income and applies a percentage to it based on the number of minor children they have together. The court takes the combined income of both parents and works out the proportion each contributes. That figure is then divided proportionately based on each parent's ability to pay and which parent has primary custody. 


If the noncustodial parent has a higher income than the custodial parent, the noncustodial parent would then be responsible for the greater portion of the child support obligation; conversely, if the noncustodial parent has a lower income than the custodial, the noncustodial parent would then be responsible for the smaller portion of the child support obligation.

Indiana child support is typically calculated by using a Child Support Worksheet. The worksheet generates an appropriate Indiana child support obligation according to each spouse’s income and other relative numeric factors such as taxes paid and retirement contributions. Once this amount is determined it is essential to take a look at any appropriate Indiana child support deviation factors that may be applicable to the situation. Additional information about Indiana child support can be found in the Indiana state statutes.

Extraordinary expenses are either add-ons, where the expense is added to the support payment, or deductions, where the amount is deducted, and indicated as either mandatory or permissive. Extraordinary medical expenses are a mandatory deduction; childcare costs are a permissive deduction. Private school tuition is a deviation factor.

In Indiana, help can be had by calling:

Child Support Customer Service Kidsline

(317) 233-5437 and (800) 840-8757


Kidsline customer service hours
Mon--Fri 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Automated phone service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Assistance is available in 170 different languages upon request. Check herefor days they will be closed.

Child support ends when the child turns 21.

Effective July 1, 2012, the age of emancipation for purposes of child support changed from 21 to 19.

According to Support Rule 3., Deviation from Guideline Amount, “[i]f the court concludes from the evidence in a particular case that the amount of the award reached through application of the guidelines would be unjust, the court shall enter a written finding articulating the factual circumstances supporting that conclusion.”