Steps to Figure Child Support in Alabama

Figuring out your child support obligation in Alabama helps you plan your finances accordingly. Child support in Alabama is financial contributions for your child's monetary needs. Alabama bases the child support amount on the income of both you and the other parent involved in the proceedings. The needs of the child are considered, and additional amounts may be added for child care, medical expenses and other special needs.

Instructions

1

Collect current proof all of your sources of income. Include all items that are considered in Alabama child support calculation, like employment wages and disability payments. All sources of money you receive are generally used as a basis for child support, except child support you receive for other children and benefits from state welfare programs, like food stamps.

2

Calculate the monthly amount for each income item. Add the items together. Label the total as "gross income." Write down all of the exclusion amounts from gross income Alabama allows that apply to you, generally child support payments for other children and alimony payments. Add the exclusions together and subtract the total from your gross income. Mark the result as "adjusted gross income."

3

List the monthly income amounts for the other parent in the support case. Estimate where needed. Add the figures together and label the total as the "other gross income." Subtract any exclusions that apply to the other parent and mark the resulting figure as "other adjusted gross income."

4

Add your adjusted gross income and the other gross income together. Mark the result as the "combined adjusted gross income."

5

Get a copy of the Alabama child support guidelines. Visit the official website of the Alabama Judicial System. Select "Administrative Office of the Courts" near the top of the webpage. Scroll over "Child Support" from the Quick Menu to the left and select "Child Support Information." Scroll down the webpage to "Schedule of Basic Support Obligations" that applies to the age of your case for a copy of the support table. Print the table out or leave the webpage open for reference. Visit your local Child Support Enforecement Office and request a copy of the guidelines if you cannot view the information online.

6

Review the Alabama support guidelines. Locate the income range your combined adjusted gross income falls under on the left of the guidelines. Move right on the line of your income range to the column with the correct number of children on top. Write down the figure shown and mark as "support obligation."

7

Calculate your percentage of the combined adjusted gross income. Divide your adjusted gross income by the combined adjusted gross income. Multiply the answer by 100 and label as the "percentage."

8

Multiply your percentage by the support obligation. The answer is your basic support obligation per Alabama laws.