In Oregon, either or both parents may be ordered to provide child support. In determining child support the courts consider:

According to Oregon's guidelines, the child is entitled to benefit from the income of both parents to the same extent that he or she would have if the marriage had not failed. Both parents share in the costs of supporting the child in the same proportion as each parent's income bears to the combined income of both parents. Child support in Oregon must also be determined to insure, as a minimum, that the child being supported benefits from the income and resources of the absent parent on a fair basis in comparison with any other minor children of the absent parent.

The courts use the official Oregon Child Support guidelines to determine the correct amount of child support. They follow these guidelines unless the parents have agreed to a child support amount approved by the court or the court finds these guidelines unjust for a particular case.

The formula used in the guidelines to determine each parent's support obligation is based on the combined income of both parents and then determines each parent's prorated share of the base support amount.

Oregon uses the Income Shares Model to determine the amount of child support the noncustodial 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. This is easy to do using the Oregon 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.

In Oregon wages may be garnished to pay child support or payment may be made through the clerk of the court. A child support award must contain provisions for payment of health insurance and any uninsured medical expenses. A parent may be required to maintain life insurance with the child as beneficiary. Child support is described in Oregon Revised Statutes; Volume 2, Sections 25.275, 107.105, 107.106, and 107.820.

Once this amount is determined it is essential to take a look at any appropriate Oregon child support deviation factors that may be applicable to the situation. Additional information about Oregon child support can be found in the Oregon 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. Childcare expenses are a mandatory deduction, and extraordinary medical expenses are permissive deductions.

The court views extraordinary medical expenses, childcare and secondary education support add-ons.

Children grow and thrive because the the Oregon Child Support Program makes it easy for parents to give children the support they need.

When a noncustodial parent does not fulfill their obligation to their child or children, the Child Support Program has many tools to enforce child support and medical insurance. These include:

In extreme cases a court may put a parent under contempt for failure to pay support or to force them to pay in the future. The judge may also impose a jail sentence.

More information about Oregon Child Support Enforcement can be found at their website.

In Oregon, child support normally ends when a child is 18. However, support may be extended until 21 if a child attends school at least half-time and maintains at least a C average. Support may be extended indefinitely if the child is physically or mentally handicapped. Child support can end before 18 when a child marries, enlists in the military or becomes legally emancipated. Specific protocols cover children between 18 and 21.

The "Presumed Amount of Support" carries with it a few exceptions that permit modification, which means increases or decreases in income, increases or decreases in special expenses or simply an increase or decrease in support. These alterations are called "rebuttal deviations," and unless they apply, the presumed amount controls.