Connecticut Child Support Guidelines
For many people going through a divorce or other family law matter, child support is something they’ve heard about—but may not fully understand. In fact, one of the most common questions we hear at Connecticut Mediation Center is: “What exactly is child support, and why do I have to pay it?”
The answers are often more nuanced than people expect. This overview is intended to give you a clear, practical understanding of where child support comes from, how it works, and what it does—and does not—cover.
The Role of the Child Support Guidelines
In any family court matter involving children, Connecticut’s Child Support Guidelines must be applied. These Guidelines are based on a simple but important principle:
both parents are financially responsible for supporting their children. A child is entitled to child support until he or she attains the age of 18 or, if still in high school, upon graduation or age 19, whichever shall first occur.
The Guidelines provide an objective framework used by courts, mediators, and attorneys to determine how the financial responsibility for a child should be shared between parents, who, in most cases, are living separately. While the rules themselves are straightforward, applying them to real families and real lives can take some careful analysis.
What Is Child Support?
Child support is a financial contribution made by parents to help cover the cost of raising a child. At its core, child support is intended to provide for a child’s basic needs, including food, clothing, and housing.
The Guidelines also calculate how parents share the additional, common expenses of employment-related childcare and unreimbursed medical and other health-care costs.
In Connecticut, child support is based on the principle that both parents are responsible for the financial upbringing of their children. The state uses an objective “income-shares” model to ensure children receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the parents still lived together.
1. How the Calculation Works
The court determines a “baseline budget” for the child’s needs by looking at the combined net income of both parents.
- Proportional Responsibility: Each parent is assigned a percentage of that budget based on how much they earn relative to the other.
- The “Non-Custodial” Parent: This parent pays their calculated percentage to the custodial parent.
- The “Custodial” Parent: This parent is presumed to spend their calculated share directly on the child’s daily needs.
2. What Is Included (and Deducted)
To find the “net income,” the law (C.G.S. § 46b-215a) allows for certain deductions from your gross pay, including:
- Federal and state taxes.
- Medical insurance premiums.
- Mandatory union dues or retirement contributions.
Calculating this correctly can be complex if your income includes overtime, bonuses, commissions, or executive compensation, as these may require specific “deviations” or adjustments.
3. Basic Support vs. Additional Expenses
It is a common misconception that child support covers everything. The standard guideline amount covers only “room and board” (food, clothing, and shelter). Other costs are handled separately:
- Uninsured Medical Expenses: Costs like co-pays or dental work are split based on a percentage formula found on the second page of the guidelines.
- Work-Related Daycare: These costs are also shared proportionally between the parents.
- Extra-Curriculars: Generally, once a parent has paid their base support, medical share, and daycare share, they have met their legal financial obligation.
Important Legal Concepts
It belongs to the child: Parents cannot “waive” child support. The money is a right of the child, not a fee paid to the other parent.
Not a punishment: Child support is not a fine or a penalty. It is simply the transfer of resources to ensure the child’s budget is 100% funded.
Can the Guideline Amount Change?
Yes. Although the calculated guideline amount is presumed to be correct, the court may allow an adjustment—called a “deviation”—either higher or lower, if specific criteria are met such as shared custody arrangements and other equitable considerations. For example, if a child lives primarily with one parent, the other parent generally pays their share of the child’s support to that parent. In shared parenting arrangements, the amount of child support may be adjusted to reflect how parenting time and expenses are divided.
Can Parents Waive Child Support?
No. One requirement that often surprises parents is that child support cannot be waived, even by agreement. This is because child support is considered the child’s right, not the parents’ right. The Guidelines are designed to ensure that children receive appropriate financial support from both parents.
Can an original child support order be modified later?
Yes. After the original order, Child Support may be modified for the following:
- a substantial change in the financial circumstances of either party
- a substantial change in the child’s needs
- a substantial change in the parenting plan,
- a substantial change in childcare or health related costs or
- if the original order was based on several children in the family and one or more of those children no longer qualifies for child support.
To modify a child support order, many parties return to mediation to address the issue of modification. If an agreement is reached, that agreement is then filed with the court.
What Expenses Are Not Covered by Child Support?
We all know that there are many child-related expenses that go beyond basic necessities. Although parties may not have any additional legal financial obligation to the child, they often choose to share other child-related expenses by agreement. These may include but are not limited to:
- School supplies and uniforms
- Sports and extracurricular activities
- Activity fees and equipment
- Tutoring or academic support
- Computers and cell phones
- Driver’s education
- Tuition, test preparation, and college application costs
Through mediation, parents often reach thoughtful agreements that address the specific needs of their individual children, rather than relying solely on what the Guidelines require.
At Connecticut Mediation Center, we help parents move beyond confusion and conflict to reach clear, workable child support agreements that comply with Connecticut law and reflect the real needs of their children. Mediation provides a respectful, cost-effective alternative to litigation, allowing parents to understand the Guidelines, explore options, and make informed decisions together—without the stress and expense of court. Our goal is not just to calculate a number, but to help families create thoughtful, sustainable agreements that support their children now and, in the years, ahead.
A PDF copy of the Connecticut Child Support Guidelines is available for your reference.
