§315.1. Rebuttable presumption; deviation from guidelines by court; stipulations by parties

A. The guidelines set forth in this Part are to be used in any proceeding to establish or modify child support filed on or after October 1, 1989. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the amount of child support obtained by use of the guidelines set forth in this Part is the proper amount of child support.

B.(1) The court may deviate from the guidelines set forth in this Part if their application would not be in the best interest of the child or would be inequitable to the parties. The court shall give specific oral or written reasons for the deviation, including a finding as to the amount of support that would have been required under a mechanical application of the guidelines and the particular facts and circumstances that warranted a deviation from the guidelines. The reasons shall be made part of the record of the proceedings.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1), as a direct result of either Hurricane Katrina or Rita, the court may deviate from the guidelines set forth in this Part if the application of the guidelines would not be in the best interest of the child or would be unjust, inequitable, or cause undue hardship to the parties. In determining the amount of the child support, the court may also consider that the parties may have been prevented from timely access to the courts for the exercise of their legal rights. However, the amount of the deviation shall not exceed the consideration the court would have given if the party were able to timely access the court.

C. In determining whether to deviate from the guidelines, the court's considerations may include:

(1) That the combined adjusted gross income of the parties is not within the amounts shown on the schedule in R.S. 9:315.19.

(a) If the combined adjusted gross income of the parties is less than the lowest sum shown on the schedule, the court shall determine an amount of child support based on the facts of the case, except that the amount awarded shall not be less than the minimum child support provided in R.S. 9:315.14.

(b) If the combined adjusted gross income of the parties exceeds the highest sum shown on the schedule, the court shall determine an amount of child support as provided in R.S. 9:315.13(B)(1) and may order the placement of a portion of the amount in a trust in accordance with R.S. 9:315.13.

(2) The legal obligation of a party to support dependents who are not the subject of the action before the court and who are in that party's household.

(3) That in a case involving one or more families, consisting of children none of whom live in the household of the noncustodial or nondomiciliary parent but who have existing child support orders (multiple families), the court may use its discretion in setting the amount of the basic child support obligation, provided it is not below the minimum fixed by R.S. 9:315.14, if the existing child support orders reduce the noncustodial or nondomiciliary parent's income below the lowest income level on the schedule contained in R.S. 9:315.19.

(4) The extraordinary medical expenses of a party, or extraordinary medical expenses for which a party may be responsible, not otherwise taken into consideration under the guidelines.

(5) An extraordinary community debt of the parties.

(6) The need for immediate and temporary support for a child when a full hearing on the issue of support is pending but cannot be timely held. In such cases, the court at the full hearing shall use the provisions of this Part and may redetermine support without the necessity of a change of circumstances being shown.

(7) The permanent or temporary total disability of a spouse to the extent such disability diminishes his present and future earning capacity, his need to save adequately for uninsurable future medical costs, and other additional costs associated with such disability, such as transportation and mobility costs, medical expenses, and higher insurance premiums.

NOTE: Paragraph (8) eff. until Aug. 1, 2016. See Acts 2015, No. 379, §3.

(8) Any other consideration which would make application of the guidelines not in the best interest of the child or children or inequitable to the parties.

NOTE: Paragraph (8) as amended by Acts 2015, No. 379, §§1, 3, eff. Aug. 1, 2016.

(8) That support awarded for an adult child with a disability, as defined in R.S. 9:315.22(E), may be a long-term and financially burdensome obligation that warrants the court's special consideration of the circumstances surrounding the manifestation of the disability and the financial burden imposed on the obligor.

NOTE: Paragraph (9) as enacted by Acts 2015, No. 379, §§1, 3, eff. Aug. 1, 2016.

(9) Any other consideration which would make application of the guidelines not in the best interest of the child or children or inequitable to the parties.

D. The court may review and approve a stipulation between the parties entered into after the effective date of this Part as to the amount of child support to be paid. If the court does review the stipulation, the court shall consider the guidelines set forth in this Part to review the adequacy of the stipulated amount and may require the parties to provide the court with the income statements and documentation required by R.S. 9:315.2.

Acts 1989, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 9, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 117, §1, eff. June 29, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 123, §1, eff. June 1, 1992; Acts 2001, No. 1082, §1; Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 59, §1, eff. Dec. 6, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 579, §1; Acts 2015, No. 379, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2016.