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 Wisconsin, child support guidelines are established under Wisconsin Statutes, specifically in Chapter 767, which governs actions affecting the family. These guidelines provide a formula for calculating child support payments that take into account the number of children and the income of both parents. The guidelines aim to ensure that children receive a fair amount of support that reflects the parents' financial abilities and the children's needs. The calculation considers factors such as the time each parent spends with the children and the standard of living the children would have enjoyed had the family remained intact. While these guidelines serve as a standard framework for determining child support, Wisconsin courts have the discretion to deviate from the guidelines if it is found to be in the best interest of the children. This means that a court may order a different amount of child support if the standard calculation does not adequately address the needs of the children or if there are other relevant circumstances.