Changes to the New Hampshire child support guidelines that take effect on July 1, 2013 will allow higher wage earners to pay less child support than under current guidelines.  Under the current guidelines, child support is payable at a consistent percentage of the parties’ net income solely based upon how many children were to be supported.  More specifically a parent paying child support under the current guidelines would pay:  25% of the net income for one (1) child; 33% for two (2) children; 40% for three (3) children; and 45% for four (4) or more children regardless of the paying parties’ income.  High wage earner parents have argued for years that these guidelines were unfair to them.  For example, if a parent earned $125,000 per year, he would pay approximately $30,360 per year (or $2,530 per month) in child support for two (2) children under the current guideline.  Parents in that position have argued that children do not require that much in child support especially if the other parent is also contributing to the children’s support.  Under the new guidelines set forth in the following chart, that same person would pay approximately $24,000 per year (or $2,000 per month), a decrease of almost $6,400 per year or $533 per month.

If you are currently under a child support order you should consider whether you might be entitled to obtain a reduction under this new statute.  If the existing child support order was more than three (3) years old or if there has been any substantial change of circumstances, in either party’s financial condition, you may be entitled to a modification based on these new guidelines.  Please note that the enactment of this new statute in and of itself does not provide a basis for modification of an existing child support order.

Please do not hesitate in calling Attorney Michael Fontaine to discuss whether you might be entitled to a reduction in your child support based upon these new guidelines.

Author: Attorney Michael Fontaineh