Figuring out how much child support you'll pay or receive in Wyoming doesn't have to be a mystery. The Wyoming child support calculator is a free online tool that helps parents estimate their child support obligations before going to court. While the calculator gives you a good starting point, it's important to know that the final amount of child support a judge orders might be different based on your specific circumstances.
What is the Wyoming child support calculator?
The Wyoming Child Support Program's online calculator estimates child support payments based on the Wyoming child support guidelines. The calculator is free to use and available to anyone through the Wyoming Department of Family Services website.
What does the calculator do?
The calculator takes information about both parents' incomes, the number of children, and custody arrangements, then applies Wyoming's official formula to estimate monthly child support payments. The tool shows you which parent pays child support and approximately how much.
Is the calculator result official?
No. The calculator provides an estimate for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or guarantee the amount a judge will order. Only a court has the final authority to determine the actual amount of child support in your case.
Think of the calculator as a preview, not a final decision. It helps you prepare for negotiations or court hearings by giving you a realistic expectation of what child support might look like.
What information do you need to use the calculator?
Before you start using the Wyoming child support calculator, gather specific information about both parents' financial situations and custody arrangements.
Income information for both parents
You'll need the net income (take-home pay after taxes and deductions) for both parents. This is your monthly income after these deductions:
- Federal and state income taxes
- Social Security and Medicare taxes
- Health insurance premiums paid for the children
- Mandatory retirement contributions
- Existing child support payments for other children
Your gross income (before deductions) includes wages, tips, commissions, self-employment income, retirement benefits, disability payments, and unemployment compensation.
Number of children
Enter how many children need support from these parents. The Wyoming child support guidelines account for families with one to six or more children, with the total support amount increasing as the number of children goes up.
Physical custody arrangement
The calculator needs to know how many overnight visits (or days per year) the children spend with each parent. This information is crucial because Wyoming uses different formulas depending on whether you have:
- Sole custody: One parent has the children less than 25% of the time (fewer than 92 overnights per year)
- Shared custody: Each parent has the children at least 25% of the time (92 or more overnights per year)
The more overnights a parent has, the lower their child support payments typically are, because they're directly paying for the children's expenses during that time.
Additional expenses
Some calculators also ask about:
- Child care costs
- Health insurance premiums for the children
- Extraordinary medical expenses
These factors can adjust the basic child support amount up or down.
How does the Wyoming child support calculation work?
Wyoming law uses the "income shares model" to calculate child support. This approach is based on the idea that children should receive the same share of parental income they would have received if the family had stayed together.
Step 1: Calculate each parent's net income
Start with your gross monthly income and subtract allowed deductions to get your net monthly income. This is the number you'll enter into the calculator.
Step 2: Add both incomes together
The calculator combines both parents' net incomes to get the total available for child support.
Step 3: Find the basic support obligation
Using combined income and the number of children, the Wyoming child support guidelines include a table showing the total monthly amount that both parents should contribute.
Step 4: Divide the obligation proportionally
Each parent's share gets calculated based on their percentage of the combined income. If Parent A earns 60% of the combined income and Parent B earns 40%, Parent A would be responsible for 60% of the basic support amount and Parent B for 40%.
Step 5: Apply custody adjustments
If you have shared custody (both parents have at least 92 overnights), the calculator applies a formula that credits each parent for the time they have the children. This typically reduces the amount the noncustodial parent pays.
Step 6: Check the self-support reserve
Wyoming law includes a "self-support reserve" to ensure the paying parent has sufficient funds to meet their basic needs. This is based on the federal poverty level (currently about $1,304 per month). If paying the calculated support would drop a parent below this level, the support amount gets reduced.
What are the different calculation formulas?
The Wyoming child support calculator uses different formulas depending on your custody situation.
Sole custody formula
When one parent has the children less than 25% of the time (fewer than 92 days per year), Wyoming uses the sole custody formula. In this scenario:
- The noncustodial parent pays child support to the custodial parent
- The amount is based on the noncustodial parent's income and the number of children
- There's no credit for parenting time since it's minimal
For example, if a noncustodial parent earns $4,000 per month net and has two children, they might pay around $1,078 per month if they have the children less than 92 days per year.
Shared custody formula
When both parents have the children at least 25% of the time (92 or more overnights each), the shared custody formula applies. This calculation:
- Considers both parents' incomes
- Gives credit for the time each parent has the children
- Usually results in lower payments than sole custody
The more time a parent has with the children, the less child support they pay. In 50/50 custody situations, the higher-earning parent typically still pays some support to ensure children have the same standard of living in both homes.
Split custody
If you have multiple children and each parent has primary custody of at least one child, Wyoming uses a split custody calculation. This is less common but accounts for the unique expenses of this arrangement.
How do you access the Wyoming child support calculator?
The official Wyoming child support calculator is available through the Wyoming Child Support Program website.
Where to find the calculator
Visit childsupport.Wyoming.gov and look for the calculator link. You can also access it through the Wyoming Department of Family Services website or by searching "Wyoming child support calculator" online.
The calculator is part of the Child Support Self-Service Portal, which also provides other tools and information for parents.
Using the calculator
Most Wyoming child support calculators work similarly:
- Enter Parent A's net monthly income
- Enter Parent B's net monthly income
- Enter the number of children needing support
- Enter how many days (or overnight visits) each parent has the children
- Add any special expenses like child care or health insurance
- Click "Calculate" to see the estimated child support amount
The result shows which parent pays and how much per month.
The calculator typically displays:
- The basic child support obligation (the total amount both parents would contribute)
- Each parent's share of that obligation
- The final monthly payment amount after custody adjustments
- Which parent makes the payments
Remember, this is an estimate. The court might order a different amount based on factors the calculator doesn't capture.
When might the actual court order differ from the calculator?
While the Wyoming child support calculator adheres to the official guidelines, judges may deviate from the calculated amount in certain situations.
Reasons for deviation
A judge might order more or less than the calculator shows if:
- The child has special healthcare or educational needs
- Daycare costs are unusually high or low
- One parent provides health insurance through work
- Transportation costs for visitation are high
- Either parent is responsible for supporting the other children
- One parent contributes valuable services (like staying home to provide childcare)
- Either parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed
Voluntary unemployment or underemployment
If the calculator shows a parent earning less than they realistically could, the judge might use "imputed income" instead. This means assigning an income based on the parent's earning potential rather than actual income.
For example, if a doctor claims they can only find work earning minimum wage, the court won't accept that. The judge will calculate support based on what a doctor typically earns.
Does the calculator guarantee you won't need a lawyer?
No. While the Wyoming child support calculator is a helpful tool, it doesn't replace legal advice or guarantee a specific outcome.
When you might need an attorney
Consider consulting with a family law attorney if:
- Your income situation is complex (self-employment, variable income, business ownership)
- You want to argue for a deviation from the guidelines
- The other parent has an attorney
- You're dealing with child support modification and the other parent disagrees
- Paternity hasn't been established yet
- You're facing enforcement issues or contempt proceedings
What the calculator can't do
The calculator provides estimates based on the information you enter. It can't:
- Give legal advice specific to your situation
- Account for every unique circumstance in your case
- Replace a court order
- Automatically change existing child support orders
- Guarantee what a judge will decide
Think of the calculator as one tool among many. Use it to prepare and educate yourself, but consult professionals when making important legal decisions about your children's financial support.
The Wyoming child support calculator is a free, accessible tool that provides parents with a realistic preview of their child support payments or receipts. By entering accurate information about both parents' net income, the number of children, and physical custody arrangements, you can estimate monthly child support obligations based on the Wyoming child support guidelines.
While the calculator provides valuable guidance and does not constitute legal advice, the court has final authority over child support orders. Use the calculator as a starting point, but be prepared for the actual court order to differ based on the specific circumstances of your case and any deviations the judge considers appropriate under Wyoming law.