Portland, OR family law attorney Tate Justesen talks about how child support is determined in a divorce case. There are a number of factors that determine child support, which can frustrate individuals due to the complexity involved. The baseline factors used in the Oregon child support guidelines include a calculator that takes specific inputs to produce a monthly support amount. However, there are many deviations and Oregon administrative rules that govern these deviations, addressing various issues individuals may face regarding income and financial complications.

This complexity can be particularly challenging for those seeking clear answers about how child support is calculated. The calculation begins with baseline factors, including gross monthly income and the amount of parenting time each parent has with the children, which are major components of the calculation.

Income and parenting time are the two primary factors in determining child support. Additional considerations can include work-related daycare costs and medical insurance expenses for both the child and each parent. These factors are included in the calculation, which ultimately yields a support amount.

However, many deviations may arise based on individual circumstances, such as self-employment or specific needs of the child that require additional financial input from the parties involved. These factors may prompt the court to consider whether a deviation from the baseline child support calculation is necessary.