Child support in Pennsylvania is payments that are made by the non-custodial parent to the primary custodial parent for the benefit of the involved biological or putative children. Generally, when two parents no longer live together, the parent who has the children more than 50% of overnights in a two-week period is entitled to child support. However, if the parents have “shared custody” and both have the children equally, then the parent who makes less money is entitled to receive child support.

 

In order to determine the amount of child support, the court uses an income guideline to determine how much a paying spouse needs to pay to a primary custodial parent. There is a rebuttable presumption that the income guideline calculation for child support is correct, however, this presumption can be overcome by showing that the guideline amount is unjust or inappropriate.  In addition, the court can look at:

• Uncommon needs or uncommon fixed obligation of the parties;
• Either party’s other support obligations;
• Other income in the household;
• Ages of the Children;
• Assets and liabilities of the parties;
• Medical expenses not covered by insurance;
• Standard of living of the parties and their Children.