New Child Support Formula To Go Into Effect October 2008

12/20/07

The State Court Administrative Office has updated the child support formula effective Oct. 1, 2008. The formula was developed by SCAO in cooperation with the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section and other concerned groups.

The new formula allows parents to come up with graduated schedules that are based on real parenting time. Under the previous formula, child support payments decreased sharply after 128 overnights with the non-custodial parent. As a result, parents often argued over the number of overnights on the basis of financial concerns.

Under the new formula, child support payments are adjusted gradually as a child spends more time with the non-custodial parent. "This will provide a better opportunity for parents to focus on their children rather than their pocketbooks," said Karen S. Sendelbach, chairperson of the SBM Family Law Section.

Other changes in the new formula include:

• More provisions for complicated and non-traditional family situations
• An equation that allows parents with low to moderate incomes to retain more of their income than before.

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