Our legislature enacted the child support guidelines to ensure that a uniform method of calculating support would be used when establishing or modifying child support in courts throughout the state. These guidelines set forth items which must be used in arriving at the correct amount of support. The law is specific in defining what is to be included in the parties’ gross incomes, the allowable deductions to be used in arriving at each parent’s net income and other factors required when determining the presumptively correct support for each child.

The guidelines were developed with the normal needs of children in mind. Any extraordinary needs such as ongoing medical expenses, special dietary requirements and other unusual costs must be added to the base guidelines amount. Child care and health insurance costs must be included as well.

While the guidelines are very specific as to the correct amount to be set, it does allow the courts flexibility to depart from them to arrive at a more just figure. A court may deviate from guidelines by 5% up or down without explanation. However, if the deviation exceeds 5%, the judge is required to explain his reasons for exceeding the limitation in writing.