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 Utah, child support guidelines are established by state statutes and are primarily found in the Utah Code, specifically in Title 78B, Chapter 12, known as the Utah Child Support Act. These guidelines are designed to calculate child support obligations based on a set of factors including the gross incomes of both parents, the number of children, and the number of overnights each parent has with the children. The state uses an income shares model, which means that the child support amount is determined by combining both parents' incomes to estimate the total amount that would have been spent on the children if the household were intact. The guidelines take into account the financial needs and resources of both parents and the children, including any special needs. They also consider the standard of living the children would have had if the marriage or relationship had not ended. While these guidelines provide a framework for determining child support, Utah courts have the discretion to deviate from the guidelines if it is found to be in the best interest of the children. Such deviations may be based on factors like the custody arrangement, the needs of the children, the ability of the parents to pay, and other relevant circumstances.