Louisiana Child Support — Calculator, Laws & Guide (2026)

Understanding Louisiana child support laws helps both custodial and non-custodial parents know their rights and obligations. This comprehensive Louisiana child support guide covers how payments are calculated, what income counts, when support can be modified, and how orders are enforced. Whether you are going through a divorce, seeking a modification, or dealing with non-payment, this guide explains Louisiana’s child support system in plain language.

Verified against Louisiana statutes and federal OCSE guidelines as of April 2026.

Louisiana Child Support Overview

Louisiana uses the income shares model for calculating child support. This model is based on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family were intact. Both parents’ incomes are combined, and the support obligation is divided proportionally.

Louisiana uses the Income Shares Model under La. R.S. 9:315 et seq. Both parents’ gross monthly incomes are combined, then the court looks up the basic child support obligation in a statutory schedule (R.S. 9:315.19) based on combined adjusted gross income and number of children. The schedule covers combined income up to 40000 per month. The basic obligation is then split between parents in proportion to each parent’s share of the combined adjusted gross income. Add-on expenses (net childcare costs, health insurance premiums, extraordinary medical expenses, and other extraordinary expenses) are added to the basic obligation and also split proportionally. For shared custody (each parent has the child at least 73 days per year), Worksheet B applies: the basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, then cross-multiplied by each parent’s percentage of time with the other parent.

How Louisiana Calculates Child Support

The Louisiana child support calculation considers multiple factors:

1. Determine each parent’s gross income — wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, investment income, and other sources.
2. Calculate combined parental income — add both parents’ adjusted gross incomes together.
3. Apply the guideline schedule — Louisiana’s guidelines provide a base support amount based on combined income and number of children.
4. Prorate between parents — each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined income.
5. Add healthcare and childcare costs — these are added to the base amount and divided proportionally.
6. Apply adjustments — parenting time credits, other child obligations, and special circumstances may adjust the final amount.

Online calculator: Use our child support estimator below to calculate your estimated obligation.

What Counts as Income in Louisiana

Gross income from any source. Includes: salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, recurring monetary gifts, annuities, capital gains, social security benefits, workers compensation benefits, military housing allowances (BAH), unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits, and spousal support received from a preexisting obligation. Does not include: benefits received from means-tested public assistance programs (TANF, SSI, food stamps), child support received for other children, or income of other household members who are not parties to the action.

Imputed income: YES. Under R.S. 9:315.11, if a party is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court calculates child support based on that party’s income earning potential. A party is not deemed voluntarily unemployed or underemployed if they are physically or mentally incapacitated, or if the unemployment or underemployment occurred through no fault or neglect of the party. A parent caring for a child of the parties under age 5 is also exempt from imputation. If no evidence of actual income or earning potential exists, there is a rebuttable presumption the party can earn a weekly gross amount equal to 32 hours at the higher of Louisiana or federal minimum wage.

Deviation factors: Under R.S. 9:315.1, the guideline amount is a rebuttable presumption. The court may deviate if applying the guidelines would not be in the best interest of the child or would be inequitable to the parties. The court must state the guideline amount and specific reasons for deviation on the record or in written findings. Deviation factors include: extraordinary medical or dental expenses of the child, the child’s own income or assets, the total household financial circumstances of the obligor, special educational needs of the child, the effect of extraordinary community property obligations, seasonal variations in one or both parents’ incomes, shared custody arrangements, the costs of visitation transportation, the obligation of either party for support of other dependents, and any other relevant factor the court deems appropriate.

Healthcare & Childcare in Louisiana Child Support

Health insurance: Under R.S. 9:315.4, the court may order either or both parents to maintain health insurance coverage for the child. The court considers each party’s available insurance options, work history, personal income, and other resources when deciding who should carry insurance. The cost of health insurance premiums attributable to the child (not employer-paid portions or coverage for non-subject persons) is added to the basic child support obligation and split proportionally between the parents. Ordinary medical expenses (unreimbursed medical costs up to 250 dollars per child per year, including orthodontia, dental, asthma treatment, physical therapy, chronic health problems, and counseling) are built into the basic schedule amount. Extraordinary medical expenses (unreimbursed costs exceeding 250 dollars per child per year) are added to the basic obligation under R.S. 9:315.5 and allocated between parents proportionally.

Childcare costs: Under R.S. 9:315.3, net childcare costs are added to the basic child support obligation. Net childcare costs are calculated by applying the Federal Credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses (IRS Form 2441) to the actual childcare costs to determine the net amount. This net amount is then allocated between the parents in proportion to their respective shares of combined adjusted gross income. Only work-related or education-related childcare costs qualify.

When Does Louisiana Child Support End?

In Louisiana, child support generally ends when the child reaches 18. However, child support continues automatically until age 19 if the child is unmarried, a full-time student in good standing at a secondary school (high school or equivalent), and dependent on either parent (R.S. 9:315.22). Support also continues indefinitely for a child who is mentally or physically incapable of self-support and requires substantial care and personal supervision, provided the disability manifested before age 18 and the request was filed before the child reached majority.. However, support may continue or end earlier based on:

• The child graduates from high school (if still a minor)
• The child becomes emancipated (marriage, military service, self-supporting)
• The child has special needs requiring ongoing support
• College support: NO. Louisiana does not have statutory authority to order parents to contribute to college tuition, room and board, or related higher education expenses as part of a child support obligation. Child support terminates at 18 (or 19 if still in high school). Parents may voluntarily agree to college support in a settlement, but courts cannot order it.

Modifying Louisiana Child Support

When to modify: Under R.S. 9:311, child support may be modified when there is a material change in circumstances that is substantial and continuing. Louisiana provides three grounds for requesting modification: (1) the child support order was established or last modified more than 3 years ago; (2) there is at least a 25 percent difference between the current monthly order amount and the amount that would result from applying the current child support guidelines; or (3) there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the order was last established or modified. Examples of qualifying changes include significant income increases or decreases, job loss, disability, changes in health insurance costs, the child moving to live primarily with a different parent, or major changes in the child’s needs.

How to modify: Either parent may request a modification through Louisiana DCFS Child Support Enforcement Services (for cases managed by DCFS) by contacting the local DCFS office or through the DCFS website. Alternatively, either parent may file a Rule to Modify Child Support directly with the district court that issued the original order. For DCFS cases, the agency will review the case and file a motion with the court if the review indicates a modification is warranted. For private cases (not through DCFS), a parent must file a motion or rule with the appropriate district court. An attorney is not required but is recommended.

Either parent can request a modification. Changes are typically not retroactive to before the date of filing the modification request.

Louisiana Child Support Enforcement

Louisiana has multiple tools to enforce child support orders when a parent fails to pay:

• Income withholding (wage garnishment) from employer effective from the first dollar owed; federal and state tax refund interception; suspension of driver’s license; suspension of professional licenses; suspension of recreational licenses (hunting and fishing); passport denial for arrears exceeding 2500 dollars; liens on real and personal property; seizure of financial accounts; credit bureau reporting of arrears; contempt of court proceedings (can result in fines or jail); interception of lottery winnings; referral to the U.S. Attorney for federal prosecution in egregious cases.

Contact Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Child Support Enforcement Services at https://dcfs.louisiana.gov for enforcement assistance.

Additional Louisiana rules: Louisiana incorporates a self-sufficiency reserve for low-income obligors — the schedule is adjusted using national averages calibrated to Louisiana’s status as a lower-income state to ensure the obligor retains enough income for basic needs. The shared custody threshold is specifically defined as each parent having physical custody for at least 73 days per year (R.S. 9:315.9), triggering the 1.5 multiplier Worksheet B calculation. Louisiana is a community property state, so extraordinary community property obligations may be considered as a deviation factor. The child support schedule in R.S. 9:315.19 covers combined adjusted gross income up to 40000 dollars per month; for incomes exceeding that amount, the court has discretion to set support. Ordinary medical expenses up to 250 dollars per child per year are already built into the basic schedule and are not added separately.

Official Sources & Resources

• Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Child Support Enforcement Services: https://dcfs.louisiana.gov
• Federal OCSE: acf.hhs.gov/css
• Cornell LII — Child Support: law.cornell.edu
• Louisiana Guidelines Statute: Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 9, Sections 9:315 through 9:315.22 (La. R.S. 9:315 et seq.). Key sections: R.S. 9:315 (definitions and principles), R.S. 9:315.1 (rebuttable presumption and deviation), R.S. 9:315.2 (calculation of basic obligation), R.S. 9:315.3 (childcare costs), R.S. 9:315.4 (health insurance), R.S. 9:315.5 (extraordinary medical expenses), R.S. 9:315.8 (total obligation worksheet), R.S. 9:315.9 (shared custody), R.S. 9:315.11 (imputed income), R.S. 9:315.19 (schedule of basic obligations), R.S. 9:315.21 (retroactivity), R.S. 9:315.22 (termination). Modification governed by R.S. 9:311.

Last verified April 2026. Contact us if you notice outdated information.

Estimate Your Child Support

Use our free child support estimator to calculate estimated monthly payments. Enter both parents’ incomes, number of children, and custody arrangement to see a personalized breakdown based on your state’s formula.

Related Guides

• Louisiana Divorce Process Guide
• Louisiana Child Custody Guide
• Louisiana Alimony Guide
• All Child Support Guides