| Guideline Economics offers
an alternative to the Income Shares and Percentage
of Obliger Income methods of calculating child support
that are commonly used in U.S. states and many countries.
Our 
method is based on the actual costs of children and sound
economics.
The principles of
are also used to vary a presumptive award in individual cases.
This site provides a wide array of
information and research on the many methods of calculating
child support. Some are fair and reasonable, many are not.
You decide how child support should be calculated.
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CLE Seminars
on GA Child Support Deviations
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News
Georgia
Changes from Percentage of Obligor to Income Shares
Georgia takes a small step forward
January 1, 2007 when it replaces its child support guidelines
based on percentage of obligor's income (which fails to take
into account the custodial parent's income), with an Income
Shares model. Many child support amounts will change. For
FAQs on the new law, click here.
North
Dakota Considers Joint Legal/Physical Custody
[PDF]
North Dakota is considering a presumption of joint legal and
physical custody. (14-09-06.7) This is a summary of the provisions
with an analysis of its implications to child support. Further
analysis of the child support implications is in PDF
or MSWord.
Tennessee Dumps
Obligor Only Guidelines for Income Shares
On November 5, 2004, the Tennessee
Department of Human Services announced a change in its child
support guidelines. Effective January 18, 2005, Tennessee
will begin using Income Shares child support guidelines, developed
by Policy Studies, Inc., with some state-specific changes
developed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services. More
information can be found at the
Tennessee site, which includes tutorials on how to use
the new guidelines. For a PDF of the new guidelines click
here.
Virginia Backs
Off on Child Support Increases
The 2003 Virginia state Senate Bill
1312 would have increased child support throughout the state.
It was quietly tabled at the end of the year (will not be
submitted for debate) after detailed testimony by R. Mark
Rogers at a special hearing before the Joint Legislative Ad
Hoc Committee on Child Support on November 19, 2003. In collaboration,
constitutional law consultant John Remington Graham submitted
a legal critique in January 2004. Both suggested the bill
contained numerous flaws that would make it difficult to uphold.
See Mr. Roger’s testimony
and Mr. Graham’s critique,
both in PDF |
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Features |
A primer for child support guidelines
Prepared independently for  Montana’s
child support review panel. For more details and comments
by R. Mark Rogers go to Montana. |
The
Economics of Child Support Determination
These presentation slides in PDF
show the factors that need to go into child support guidelines
and awards. Given by R. Mark Rogers to the Fathers and
Families Conference in Detroit, June, 2005. |
Reservists
Many reservists have a sudden loss
in income and need to modify child support obligations
or face heavy arrearage. For details go to News
& Information and select “Reservists.” |
Law
Professor Admits No Economic Basis for Child Support (PDF)
University of Texas law professor Jack Sampson, coauthor
of The Sampson & Tindall Family Code Book,
admitted to the July 12, 2006 hearing of the Texas House
Juvenile Justice Committee that the state’s child
support guidelines are totally arbitrary. No economic
data was used to set the guidelines. He was forced to
admit this after listening to this testimony. |
Child
Support Schedule and Parenting: Time Adjustment Issues
(PDF)
Though a submission to the Georgia Child Support Commission,
this paper's examination of allowances in child support
awards for the division of parenting time is relevant
and useful to any jurisdictions. |
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Why
Would a Custodial Parent Hire a Child Costs Expert?
A PDF document. |
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High
Income Families
Those who earn more than $60,000 a year, or where both
parents' combined income is over $100,000, are at greatest
risk for excessive child support awards. |
Critique
of PSI's Income Shares
(PDF)
This thorough critique of Policy Studies Inc.’s
Income Shares model for child support was presented on
March 31, 2006 by R. Mark Rogers to the Alabama Administrative
Office of the Courts and the Alabama Guideline Review
Panel. Also available as a PDF
of the PowerPoint presentation. |
The Law And
Economics Of Child Support Payments
This recent book is a collection
of papers by R. M. Rogers, Sanford Braver, and others
and provides important citation material. They find that
child support guidelines currently in use in the U.S.
typically generate awards three to four times what they
would be if based on economically sound cost tables and
a true equal duty of support for both parents. See the
full
description [MSWord.] Available at the publisher's
web site and (least costly) Barnes
and Noble. |
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