Note: For example, a parent working 3rd shift who is generally unable to provide overnight care may be eligible to receive credit for equivalent care provided during the day.
Note: The exception clarifies that Parent A may be eligible for equivalent care credit for care provided on Monday morning after providing overnight care on Saturday night if Parent B is providing overnight care on Sunday and Monday nights.
Note: The 150% accounts for household maintenance expenditures duplicated by both parents, such as a bedroom, clothes, and personal items.
Note: The following example shows how to calculate the child support obligations of shared-placement parents.
Number of children: Two
Parent A: $2,000 monthly income available for child support
Court-ordered placement of the child for 219 days a year or 60%.
Parent B: $3,000 monthly income available for child support
Court-ordered placement of the child for 146 days a year or 40%.
Parent A | Parent B | |
1. Monthly income available for child support | $2,000 | $3,000 |
2. Monthly income available for child support X percentage standard for two children | $2,000 X 25% = $500 | $3,000 X 25% = $750 |
3. Amount in 2. X 150% | $500 X 150% = $750 | $750 X 150% = $1125 |
4. Amount in 3. X the proportion of time that the child spends with the other parent | $750 X 40% = $300 | $1125 X 60% = $675 |
5. Offset | $675 - $300 = $375 | |
6. Court also assigns responsibility for payment of the child's variable costs. | Manner of payment is between the parents or from a parent to a third-party service provider. |
Example of equivalent care:
Number of children: Two
Parent A: $2,000 monthly income available for child support
Parent A has court-ordered placement of the child 271 days a year or 74%.
Parent B: $3,000 monthly income available for child support
Parent B has court-ordered placement of the child 94 days a year or 26%.
Parent B also provides day care 4 days a week from 3 pm - 9 pm and
Provides dinner to the children 46 weeks per year.
(4) 6 hour blocks per week = 2 overnights X 46 weeks= 92 overnights per year
Total number of overnights = 457 (271 + 94 + 92)
Parent A = 59%
Parent B = 41%
Time with Parent A = 59% (271/457 = .59)
Time with Parent B = 41% (94 = 92/457 = .407)
Parent A | Parent B | |
1. Monthly income available for child support | $2,000 | $3,000 |
2. Monthly income available for child support X percentage standard for two children | $2,000 X 25% = $500 | $3,000 X 25% = $750 |
3. Amount in 2. X 150% | $500 X 150% = $750 | $750 X 150% = $1125 |
4. Amount in 3. X the proportion of time that the child spends with the other parent | $750 X 41% = $307.50 | $1125 X 59% = $663.75 |
5. Offset | $663.75 - $307.50 = $367.50 | |
6. Court also assigns responsibility for payment of the child's variable costs. | Manner of payment is between the parents or from a parent to a third-party service provider. |
Note: See Appendix A which indicates the amount of child support at various levels of income using the percentage standard.
Wis. Admin. Code Department of Children and Families § DCF 150.035
This section is shown as affected eff. 12-1-21 by 2021 Wis. Act 35.