Most states have child support guidelines in their statutes—often in the statutes collected in the state’s family code. These child support guidelines provide percentages and methods of calculating child support payments based on the number of children; the parents’ incomes and financial resources; the income and needs of the custodial parent; the needs of the children, including any special needs; and the standard of living for the children before the parents’ divorce or separation. The child support guidelines are just guidelines, and the court generally has discretion to order more or less child support based on the best interest of the children.

In Louisiana (LA), child support guidelines are established by state statutes, specifically under the Louisiana Civil Code and the Louisiana Revised Statutes. These guidelines are designed to calculate child support payments based on various factors, including the number of children, the income and financial resources of both parents, the needs of the custodial parent, the needs of the children (including any special needs), and the standard of living the children experienced prior to the parents' divorce or separation. The guidelines use an 'income shares model' which aims to ensure that the child receives the same proportion of parental income that they would have received if the parents were not divorced. While these guidelines provide a framework for determining child support, Louisiana courts have the discretion to deviate from the guidelines when it is in the best interest of the children to do so. The court may consider factors such as extraordinary medical expenses, the presence of other dependents, and shared custody arrangements when adjusting child support obligations.