How Much Is Child Support in Louisiana for Two Children?
Meta description: Learn how Louisiana child support for two children is calculated, what affects the monthly amount, and how to estimate support using state guidelines.
There is no single monthly amount for child support in Louisiana for two children. The court generally uses both parents’ incomes, the state’s child support schedule, custody arrangements, and qualifying expenses to calculate an obligation. As a result, two families with two children can receive very different support orders. The most reliable estimate comes from the Louisiana child support worksheet and current state schedule—not a flat per-child rate.
How Louisiana Calculates Child Support for Two Children
Louisiana follows an income-shares model. The basic idea is to estimate the amount parents would spend on their children if they lived together, then divide that obligation between them according to their shares of combined adjusted income. The parent with the greater share of income generally has the greater share of the basic obligation, though the final amount also reflects custody and other costs.
For two children, the court looks up a basic support amount using the parents’ combined adjusted monthly income and the number of children covered by the order. That figure is a starting point, not necessarily the amount one parent pays. The court then considers each parent’s income share, who pays certain expenses, and how much time the children spend with each parent.
Louisiana’s guidelines are set out in state law, including Louisiana Revised Statutes § 9:315.19, which contains the child support schedule. Courts generally apply the guidelines unless the facts justify a permitted deviation.
What Information Goes Into the Calculation?
Both parents’ income
The calculation begins with each parent’s gross income from sources recognized by the guidelines. This can include wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, and certain benefits or other income. For self-employed parents, the relevant figure may be income after appropriate business expenses rather than gross business receipts.
Income is usually considered on a monthly basis. When earnings vary, the court may review pay records, tax returns, and other evidence to determine a representative amount. A recent job loss, a regular bonus, seasonal work, or a change in work hours can affect the figure used.
Adjustments to income
Louisiana’s guidelines allow specified adjustments when calculating adjusted gross income. These may include certain existing support obligations and other items recognized by statute. The rules are specific: not every household expense or debt reduces income for child support purposes. A parent should not assume that rent, a car payment, or credit-card debt will be deducted from the calculation.
Health insurance, child care, and other expenses
After the basic obligation is determined, the worksheet can account for eligible costs related to the children. These commonly include the children’s portion of health insurance premiums and qualifying work-related child-care expenses. The court may also consider other child-related costs allowed under the guidelines, such as certain extraordinary medical expenses.
Only the portion attributable to the children should be included where a premium or expense also covers a parent or other family members. Documentation—such as insurance statements, invoices, and child-care receipts—helps establish the amount accurately.
A Simple Example of How the Shares Work
Consider a hypothetical family with two children. One parent has adjusted gross income of $4,000 per month, and the other has $2,000 per month. Their combined adjusted income is $6,000. The first parent earns two-thirds of the combined amount, while the second earns one-third.
The court would use the current Louisiana schedule to find the basic obligation for two children at the applicable combined income. If that scheduled amount were represented as “B,” the first parent’s initial share would generally be two-thirds of B and the second parent’s one-third. The worksheet would then account for eligible expenses and custody arrangements before arriving at the final result.
This example does not state a Louisiana support award. The exact schedule amount and worksheet treatment must be checked against the current law and the family’s facts. It also does not account for health coverage, child care, shared custody, or possible deviations.
How Custody Time Can Change the Amount
Custody affects how support is calculated, but it does not automatically eliminate an obligation. In a situation where one parent has primary physical custody, the court generally uses the worksheet applicable to that arrangement. The parent who does not have primary custody may owe support even when that parent has regular visitation.
When the parents share physical custody, Louisiana may use a different worksheet. The calculation can account for the time the children spend with each parent and the costs each household carries. The statutory definition and worksheet requirements matter; simply having frequent visits does not necessarily qualify as shared custody for calculation purposes.
For that reason, parents should provide an accurate custody schedule, including the number of days or overnights the children spend with each parent. If a parenting plan changes, the support amount may need to be reviewed through the proper legal process rather than informally changed between parents.
Why There Is No Fixed Amount for Two Children
Searches for an average or standard amount can be misleading. The monthly obligation depends on more than the number of children. Important factors include:
- Combined adjusted income: Higher combined income generally increases the basic scheduled obligation, while each parent’s income share affects how that obligation is allocated.
- Income balance: A parent who earns substantially more may owe a larger share, depending on custody and expenses.
- Custody arrangement: The applicable worksheet can differ based on whether one parent has primary physical custody or the parents share custody under the law.
- Health insurance and child care: Eligible costs can be added to the basic obligation and allocated between the parents.
- Other support obligations: Existing obligations may affect adjusted income when they qualify under Louisiana’s rules.
- Special circumstances: A court may consider a legally recognized reason to depart from the guideline result.
Statewide averages cannot capture these differences. A figure quoted for another family—or for one child—may not be a useful estimate for a particular two-child case.
Can a Louisiana Judge Set a Different Amount?
Louisiana’s guideline amount is presumed to be correct, but a court may deviate when applying it would be inequitable or not in the children’s best interest and the legal requirements are met. A deviation is not automatic. The court must have an adequate basis and generally must explain the reasons in the order.
Possible facts considered in a deviation request can include a child’s extraordinary medical or educational needs, unusual family circumstances, or other factors recognized by the guidelines. A parent’s general disagreement with the calculation, or a desire to pay less, is not by itself enough.
Courts may also address a parent’s earning capacity if the evidence shows that income is being voluntarily reduced or that a parent is underemployed. The treatment depends on the circumstances, including the reason for the employment change and the parent’s ability to earn. It is not safe to assume that a court will use either a parent’s current pay alone or a higher past income without reviewing the evidence.
How to Estimate Child Support in Louisiana
- Gather income records. Collect recent pay stubs, tax returns, records of bonuses or commissions, and business income documentation if applicable.
- Identify allowable adjustments. Review existing support orders and other items that the Louisiana guidelines permit to be considered.
- Confirm the custody arrangement. Use the actual parenting schedule and determine which state worksheet applies.
- Document children’s expenses. Obtain proof of the children’s health insurance costs, work-related child care, and other potentially eligible expenses.
- Use the current state schedule and worksheet. Apply the schedule for two children at the parents’ combined adjusted income, then complete the appropriate worksheet.
- Review the result before relying on it. A calculator provides an estimate; a court order depends on verified information and the court’s application of the law.
Louisiana’s official child support resources are available through the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Child Support Enforcement program. The current schedule and forms should be checked when estimating an amount because laws, schedules, and worksheets can change.
What Happens When Income or Custody Changes?
A support order does not usually change automatically when a parent changes jobs, a child’s expenses shift, or the custody schedule is revised. The existing order remains in effect until it is changed through the required process. Parents should not rely on a private agreement to replace a court order, particularly when payments are being enforced through the state.
A parent seeking a change generally needs to request a review or file the appropriate motion, depending on how the order was established and the case circumstances. The court or agency may require updated income information and other records. A change in income or custody can be relevant, but the legal standard and available procedure depend on the case.
Until a new order is entered, the existing amount remains important. Falling behind can create arrears even if the parents informally agreed to a smaller payment or one parent temporarily stopped working. Promptly seeking formal review is generally safer than waiting for the situation to resolve on its own.
Key Takeaway
Child support in Louisiana for two children is calculated from the parents’ combined adjusted income, the state’s two-child schedule, custody, and eligible expenses. There is no universal monthly figure. The best estimate uses current Louisiana forms and documented information for both parents; the final amount is set under the applicable guidelines and any court-approved adjustment.