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Email: Chapter 48, Article 13

ARTICLE 13. GUIDELINES FOR CHILD SUPPORT AWARDS.

PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

§48-13-101. Guidelines to ensure uniformity and increase predictability; presumption of correctness.

This article establishes guidelines for child support award amounts so as to ensure greater uniformity by those persons who make child support recommendations and enter child support orders and to increase predictability for parents, children and other persons who are directly affected by child support orders. There is a rebuttable presumption, in any proceeding before a court for the award of child support, that the amount of the award which would result from the application of these guidelines is the correct amount of child support to be awarded.

§48-13-102. Right of children to share in parents' level of living.

The Legislature recognizes that children have a right to share in their natural parents' level of living. Expenditures in families are not made in accordance with subsistence level standards, but are made in proportion to household income, and as parental incomes increase or decrease, the actual dollar expenditures for children also increase or decrease correspondingly. In order to ensure that children properly share in their parents' resources, regardless of family structure, these guidelines are structured so as to provide that after a consideration of respective parental incomes, child support will be related, to the extent practicable, to the standard of living that children would enjoy if they were living in a household with both parents present.

§48-13-103. Financial contributions of both parents to be considered.

The guidelines promulgated under the provisions of this article take into consideration the financial contributions of both parents. The Legislature recognizes that expenditures in households are made in aggregate form and that total family income is pooled to determine the level at which the family can live. These guidelines consider the financial contributions of both parents in relationship to total income, so as to establish and equitably apportion the child support obligation.

PART 2. CALCULATION OF CHILD SUPPORT ORDER.

§48-13-201. Use of both parents' income in determining child support.

A child support order is determined by dividing the total child support obligation between the parents in proportion to their income. Both parents' adjusted gross income is used to determine the amount of child support.

§48-13-202. Application of expenses and credits in determining child support.

In determining the total child support obligation, the court shall:

(1) Add to the basic child support obligation any unreimbursed child health care expenses, work-related child care expenses and any other extraordinary expenses agreed to by the parents or ordered by the court; and

(2) Subtract any extraordinary credits agreed to by the parents or ordered by the court.

(3) Deduct from a parent’s adjusted gross income the reasonable monthly amount of a student loan payment actually being paid to the lending institution that originally issued the loan by a parent for a student loan debt owed in his or her own name and for his or her own educational expenses; provided that the total amount of the student loan payment deducted may not exceed 25 percent of the parent’s total gross income determined before the deduction.  The family court shall have discretion to exclude all or a portion of the student loan deduction if the parent with the student loan debt is in child support arrears, if the parent is not current or is in arrears on the student loan payment, if the student loan is being paid by a third party and not the parent, or if the child is not receiving or expected to receive a financial benefit from the education associated with the student loan expenses incurred.  If the student loan deduction is awarded:

(a) The parent shall have a duty to immediately disclose to the court, the BCSE, and any other party any changes in the monthly amount of the student loan payment, including any payment deferrals or student loan forgiveness.

(b) The court may require a parent to annually disclose to the court, the BCSE, and any other party a statement showing a history of student loan payments for the prior year.

(c) Failure to timely make the disclosures above may be a basis for the court to modify child support to exclude the student loan deduction, including retroactively to the first of the month following any unreported change.

Part III. Basic child support order.

§48-13-203. Amount determined by guidelines presumed to be correct.

The amount of support resulting from the application of the guidelines is presumed to be the correct amount, unless the court, in a written finding or a specific finding on the record, disregards the guidelines or adjusts the award as provided for in section 13-702.

§48-13-204. Use of worksheets.

 The calculation of the amount awarded by the support order requires the use of one of two worksheets which must be completed for each case. Worksheet A is used for a basic shared parenting arrangement. Worksheet B is used for an extended shared parenting arrangement.

§48-13-205. Present income as monthly amounts.

To the extent practicable, all information relating to income shall be presented to the court based on monthly amounts. For example, when a party is paid wages weekly, the pay should be multiplied by fifty-two and divided by twelve to arrive at a correct monthly amount. If the court deems appropriate, such information may be presented in such other forms as the court directs.

Part 3. Basic child support order.

§48-13-301. Determining the basic child support obligation.

The basic child support obligation is determined from the following table of monthly basic child support obligations:

West Virginia Monthly Basic Child Support Obligations (Adjusted for West Virginia's Income Relative to U.S. Averages)
COMBINED GROSS MONTHLY INCOMEONE CHILDTWO CHILDRENTHREE CHILDRENFOUR CHILDRENFIVE CHILDRENSIX CHILDREN
550101153185207228247
600110167202226248270
650119181219244269292
700128195235263289314
750137208252281310337
800146222269300330359
850155236285319351381
900164250302337371403
950173264319356392426
1000182277335375412448
1050191291352393432470
1100200304368411452491
1150208316382427470510
1200216328397443488530
1250223340411460506549
1300231352426476523569
1350239365441492541589
1400247377455509563608
1450255389470525577628
1500263401485541595647
1550271413499558613667
1600279425514574631686
1650287437528590649706
1700295449543607667725
1750303461558623685745
1800311473572639703764
1850319485587656721784
1900327498602672739803
1950335510616688757823
2000342521630704774842
2050350533645720792861
2100358545659736809880
2150366557673752827899
2200373569687768844918
2250381580702784862937
2300389592716799879956
2350396604730815897975
2400404615744831914994
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3150520791956106811751277
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3250535814985110012101315
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§48-13-302. Incomes below the table for determining basic child support obligations.

If combined adjusted gross income is below $550 per month, which is the lowest amount of income considered in the table of monthly basic child support obligations set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the basic child support obligation shall be set at $50 per month or a discretionary amount determined by the court based on the resources and living expenses of the parents and the number of children due support.

§48-13-303. Incomes above the table for determining basic child support obligations.

If combined adjusted gross income is above $35,000 per month, which is the highest amount of income considered in the table of monthly basic child support obligations set forth in §48-13-301 of this code, the basic child support obligation shall not be less than it would be based on a combined adjusted gross income of $35,000. The court may also compute the basic child support obligation for combined adjusted gross incomes above $35,000 by the following:

(1) One child — $2,527 0.088 x combined adjusted gross income above $35,000 per month;

(2) Two children — $3,719 0.129 x combined adjusted gross income above $35,000 per month;

(3) Three children — $4,342 0.153 x combined adjusted gross income above $35,000 per month;

(4) Four children — $4,850 0.169 x combined adjusted gross income above $35,000 per month;

(5) Five children — $5,335 0.183 x combined adjusted gross income above $35,000 per month; and

(6) Six children — $5,799 0.196 x combined adjusted gross income above $35,000 per month.

Part IV. Support in sole custody cases.

PART 4. SUPPORT IN BASIC SHARED PARENTING CASES.

§48-13-401. Basic child support obligation in basic shared parenting.

For basic shared parenting cases, the total child support obligation consists of the basic child support obligation plus the child's share of any unreimbursed health care expenses, work-related child care expenses and any other extraordinary expenses agreed to by the parents or ordered by the court less any extraordinary credits agreed to by the parents or ordered by the court.

§48-13-402. Division of basic child support obligation in basic shared parenting.

For basic shared parenting cases, the total basic child support obligation is divided between the parents in proportion to their income. From this amount is subtracted the payor's direct expenditures of any items which were added to the basic child support obligation to arrive at the total child support obligation.

Part 4. Support in sole custody cases.

§48-13-403. Worksheet for calculating basic child support obligation in basic shared parenting cases.

Child support for basic shared parenting cases shall be calculated using the following worksheet:

Worksheet A: BASIC SHARED PARENTING

IN THE FAMILY COURT OF __________ COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA

CASE NO.____________

Mother: ______________ SS No.: _____________ Primary Custodial parent? [ ] Yes [ ] No

Father: ______________ SS No.: _____________ Primary Custodial parent? [ ] Yes [ ] No

ChildrenSSNDate of BirthChildrenSSNDate of Birth
PART I. CHILD SUPPORT ORDERMotherFatherCombined
1. MONTHLY GROSS INCOME (Exclusive of overtime compensation)$$
a. Minus preexisting child support payment--
b. Minus maintenance paid--
c. Plus overtime compensation, if not excluded, and not to exceed 50%, pursuant to W. Va. Code §48-1-228(b)(6)
d. Additional dependents deduction--
e. Minus student loan payment pursuant to W. Va. Code §48-13-202(3)
2. MONTHLY ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME $$$
3. PERCENTAGE SHARE OF INCOME(Each parent's income from line 2 divided by Combined Income)%%100%
4. BASIC OBLIGATION(Use Line 2 combined to find amount from schedule.)$
5. ADJUSTMENTS (Expenses paid directly by each parent)
a. Work-Related Child Care Costs Adjusted for Federal Tax Credit (0.75 x actual work-related child care costs.)$$
b. Extraordinary Medical Expenses (Uninsured only) and Children's Portion of Health Insurance Premium Costs.$$
c. Extraordinary Expenses (Agreed to by parents or by order of the court.)$$
d. Minus Extraordinary Adjustments (Agreed to by parents or by order of court.)--
e. Total Adjustments (For each column, add 5a, 5b, and 5c. Subtract Line 5d. Add the parent's totals together for Combined amount.)$$$
6. TOTAL SUPPORT OBLIGATION(Add line 4 and line 5e Combined.)$
7. EACH PARENT'S SHARE OF THE TOTAL CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION (Line 3 x line 6 for each parent.)$$
8. PAYOR PARENT ADJUSTMENT(Enter payor parent's line 5e.)$$
9. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER(Subtract line 8 from line 7 for the payor parent only. Leave payee parent column blank.)$$
PART II. ABILITY TO PAY CALCULATION(Complete if the payor parent's adjusted monthly gross income is below $2,600.)
10. Spendable Income(0.80 x line 2 for payor parent only.)
11. Self Support Reserve$997$997
12. Income Available for Support(Line 10 - line 11. If less than $50, then $50)
13. Adjusted Child Support Order(Lesser of Line 9 and Line 12.)
Comments, calculations, or rebuttals to schedule or adjustments if payor parent directly pays extraordinary expenses.
PREPARED BY:Date:

§48-13-404. Additional calculation to be made in basic shared parenting cases.

In cases where the payor parent's adjusted gross income is below $2,600 per month, an additional calculation in Worksheet A, Part II, §48-13-403 of this code, shall be made. This additional calculation sets the child support order at whichever is lower.

(1) Child support at the amount determined in Worksheet A, Part I, §48-13-403 of this code; or

(2) The difference between 80 percent of the payor parent's adjusted gross income and $997, or $50, whichever is more.

§48-13-501. Extended shared parenting adjustment.

Child support for cases with extended shared parenting is calculated using Worksheet B, §48-13-502 of this code. The following method is used only for extended shared parenting: That is, in cases where each parent has the child for more than 127 days per year (35 percent).

(1) The basic child support obligation is multiplied by 1.6 to arrive at a shared parenting basic child support obligation. The shared parenting basic child support obligation is apportioned to each parent according to his or her income. In turn, a child support obligation is computed for each parent by multiplying that parent’s portion of the shared parenting child support obligation by the percentage of time the child spends with the other parent. The respective basic child support obligations are then offset, with the parent owing more basic child support paying the difference between the two amounts. The transfer for the basic obligation for the parent owing less basic child support shall be set at $0.

(2) Adjustments for each parent’s additional direct expenses on the child are made by apportioning the sum of the parent’s direct expenditures on the child’s share of any unreimbursed child health care expenses, work-related child care expenses, and any other extraordinary expenses agreed to by the parents or ordered by the court less any extraordinary credits agreed to by the parents or ordered by the court to each parent according to his or her income share. In turn each parent’s net share of additional direct expenses is determined by subtracting the parent’s actual direct expenses on the child’s share of any unreimbursed child health care expenses, work-related child care expenses, and any other extraordinary expenses agreed to by the parents or by the court less any extraordinary credits agreed to by the parents or ordered by the court from their share. The parent with a positive net share of additional direct expenses owes the other parent the amount of his or her net share of additional direct expenses. The parent with zero or a negative net share of additional direct expenses owes $0 for additional direct expenses.

(3) The final amount of the child support order is determined by summing what each parent owes for the basic support obligation and additional direct expenses as defined in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section. The respective sums are then offset, with the parent owing more paying the other parent the difference between the two amounts.

Part 5. Support in extended shared parenting or split physical custody cases.

§48-13-502. Extended shared parenting worksheet.

Child support for extended shared parenting cases shall be calculated using the following worksheet:

Worksheet B: extended shared parenting

IN THE FAMILY COURT OF ______________ COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA

CASE NO. ____________

Mother: ___________________________ SS No.: __________

Father: ____________________________ SS No.: __________

Children

SSN

Date of Birth

Children

SSN

Date of Birth

PART I. BASIC OBLIGATION

Mother

Father

Combined

1. MONTHLY GROSS INCOME (Exclusive of overtime compensation)

$

$

 a. Minus preexisting child support payment

-

-

 b. Minus maintenance paid

-

-

 c. Plus overtime compensation, if not excluded, and not to exceed 50%, pursuant to W. Va. Code §48-1-228(b)(6)

d. Additional dependent deduction

e. Minus student loan payment pursuant to W. Va. Code §48-13-202(3)

 2. MONTHLY ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME

$

$

$

 3. PERCENTAGE SHARE OF INCOME (Each parent's income from line 2 divided by Combined

 Income)

%

%

100%

 4. BASIC OBLIGATION (Use line 2 Combined to find amount from Child Support Schedule.)

$

PART II. SHARED PARENTING ADJUSTMENT

 5. Shared Parenting Basic Obligation (line 4 x 1.6)

$

 6. Each Parent's Share (Line 5 x each parent's line 3)

$

$

 7. Overnights with Each Parent (must total 365)

365

 8. Percentage with Each Parent (Line 7 divided by 365)

%

%

100%

 9. Amount Retained (Line 6 x line 8 for each parent)

$

$

 10. Each Parent's Obligation (Line 6 - line 9)

$

$

 11. AMOUNT TRANSFERRED FOR BASIC OBLIGATION (Subtract smaller amount on line 10 from larger amount on line 10. Parent with larger amount on line 10 owes the other parent the difference. Enter $0 for other parent.

$

$

PART III. ADJUSTMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES (Expenses paid directly by each parent.)

 12a. Work-Related Child Care Costs Adjusted for Federal Tax Credit (0.75 x actual work-related child care costs.)

$

$

 12b. Extraordinary Medical Expenses (Uninsured only) and Children's Portion of Health Insurance Premium Costs.

$

$

 12c. Extraordinary Additional Expenses (Agreed to by parents or by order of the court.)

$

$

 12d. Minus Extraordinary Adjustments (Agreed to by parents or by order of the court.)

$

$

 12e. Total Adjustments (For each column, add 12a, 12b, and 12c. Subtract line 12d. Add the parent's totals together for Combined amount.)

$

$

$

 13. Each Parent's Share of Additional Expenses (Line 3 x line 12e Combined.)

$

$

 14. Each Parent's Net Share of Additional Direct Expenses (Each parent's line 13-line 12e. If negative number, enter $0)

$

$

 15. AMOUNT TRANSFERRED FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES (Subtract smaller amount on line 14 from larger amount on line 14. Parent with larger amount on line 14 owes the other parent the difference. Enter $0 for other parent.)

$

$

PART IV. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER

16. TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED (Line 11 line 15)

$

$

 17. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER (Subtract smaller amount on line 16 from larger amount on line 16. Parent with larger amount on line 16 owes the other parent the difference.)

$

$

Comments, calculations, or rebuttals to schedule or adjustments

PREPARED BY:

Date:

§48-13-503. Split physical custody adjustment.

In cases with split physical custody, the court shall use Worksheet A as set forth in section 13-403 to calculate a separate child support order for each parent based on the number of children in that parent's custody. Instead of transferring the calculated orders between parents, the two orders are offset. The difference of the two orders is the child support order to be paid by the parent with the higher sole-parenting order.

PART 6. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES OF SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS.

§48-13-601. Adjustment for child care tax credit.

(a) The amount of the federal tax credit for child care expenses that can be realized by the custodial parent shall be approximated by deducting twenty-five percent from work-related child care costs, except that no such deduction shall be made for custodial parents with monthly gross incomes below the following amounts:

(1) One child--$1,150;

(2) Two children--$1,550;

(3) Three children--$1,750;

(4) Four children--$1,950;

(5) Five children--$2,150; and

(6) Six or more children--$2,350.

(b) Work-related child care costs net of any adjustment for the child care tax credit shall be added to the basic child support obligation and shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted gross income.

§48-13-602. Adjustment for child health care.

(a) A child support order shall provide for the child's current and future medical needs by providing relief in accordance with the provisions of article 12-101, et seq., of this chapter.

(b) The payment of a premium to provide health insurance coverage on behalf of the children subject to the order is added to the basic child support obligation and divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted gross income. The amount added to the basic child support obligation is the actual amount of the total insurance premium that is attributable to the number of children due support. If this amount is not available or cannot be verified, the total cost of the premium should be divided by the total number of persons covered by the policy. The cost per person derived from this calculation is multiplied by the number of children who are the subject of the order and who are covered under the policy.

(c) After the total child support obligation is calculated and divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted gross income, the amount of the health insurance premium added to the basic child support obligation is deducted from the support obligor's share of the total child support obligation if the support obligor is actually paying the premium.

(d) Extraordinary medical expenses shall be added to the basic child support obligation and shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted gross income.

§48-13-603. Adjustment for obligor's social security benefits sent directly to the child; receipt by child of supplemental security income.

(a) If a proportion of the obligor's social security benefit is paid directly to the custodian of his or her dependents who are the subject of the child support order, the following adjustment shall be made. The total amount of the social security benefit which includes the amounts paid to the obligor and the obligee shall be counted as gross income to the obligor. In turn, the child support order will be calculated as described in sections 13-401 through 13-404. To arrive at the final child support amount, however, the amount of the social security benefits sent directly to the child's household will be subtracted from the child support order. If the child support order amount results in a negative amount it shall be set at zero.

(b) If a child is a recipient of disability payments as supplemental security income for aged, blind and disabled, under the provisions of 42 U.S.C. §1382, et seq., and if support furnished by an obligor would be considered unearned income that renders the child ineligible for disability payments or medical benefits, no child support order shall be entered for that child. If a support order is entered for the child's siblings or other persons in the household, the child shall be excluded from the calculation of support, and the amount of support for the child shall be set at zero.

PART 7. APPLICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES.

§48-13-701. Rebuttable presumption that child support award is correct.

The guidelines in child support awards apply as a rebuttable presumption to all child support orders established or modified in West Virginia. The guidelines must be applied to all actions in which child support is being determined including temporary orders, interstate (URESA and UIFSA), domestic violence, foster care, divorce, nondissolution, public assistance, nonpublic assistance and support decrees arising despite nonmarriage of the parties. The guidelines must be used by the court as the basis for reviewing adequacy of child support levels in uncontested cases as well as contested hearings.

§48-13-702. Disregard of formula.

(a) If the court finds that the guidelines are inappropriate in a specific case, the court may either disregard the guidelines or adjust the guidelines-based award to accommodate the needs of the child or children or the circumstances of the parent or parents. In either case, the reason for the deviation and the amount of the calculated guidelines award must be stated on the record (preferably in writing on the worksheet or in the order). Such findings clarify the basis of the order if appealed or modified in the future.

(b) These guidelines do not take into account the economic impact of the following factors that may be possible reasons for deviation:

(1) Special needs of the child or support obligor, including, but not limited to, the special needs of a minor or adult child who is physically or mentally disabled;

(2) Educational expenses for the child or the parent (i.e. those incurred for private, parochial, or trade schools, other secondary schools, or post-secondary education where there is tuition or costs beyond state and local tax contributions);

(3) Families with more than six children;

(4) Long distance visitation costs;

(5) The child resides with third party;

(6) The needs of another child or children to whom the obligor owes a duty of support;

(7) The extent to which the obligor's income depends on nonrecurring or nonguaranteed income; or

(8) Whether the total of spousal support, child support and child care costs subtracted from an obligor's income reduces that income to less than the federal poverty level and conversely, whether deviation from child support guidelines would reduce the income of the child's household to less than the federal poverty level.

§48-13-703. Restructuring of payments upon release of inmate.

Upon his or her release from the custody of the Division of Corrections or the United States Bureau of Prisons, a person who is gainfully employed and is subject to a child support obligation or obligations and from whose weekly disposable earnings an amount in excess of forty percent is being withheld for the child support obligation or obligations may, within eighteen months of his or her release, petition the court having jurisdiction over the case or cases to restructure the payments to an amount that allows the person to pay his or her necessary living expenses. In order to achieve consistency and fairness, one judge may assume jurisdiction over all the cases the person may have within that circuit of the court. In apportioning the available funds, the court shall give priority to the person's current child support obligations: Provided, That a minimum of $50 per month shall be paid in each case.

PART VIII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS.

§48-13-801. Tax exemption for child due support.

Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the court shall allocate the right to claim dependent children for income tax purposes to the payee parent except in cases of extended shared parenting. In extended shared parenting cases, these rights shall be allocated between the parties in proportion to their adjusted gross incomes for child support calculations. In a situation where allocation would be of no tax benefit to a party, the court need make no allocation to that party. However, the tax exemptions for the minor child or children should be granted to the payor parent only if the total of the payee parent's income and child support is greater when the exemption is awarded to the payor parent.

§48-13-802. Investment of child support.

(a) The court has the discretion, in appropriate cases, to direct that a portion of child support be placed in trust and invested for future educational or other needs of the child. The court may order such investment when all of the child's day-to-day needs are being met such that, with due consideration of the age of the child, the child is living as well as his or her parents.

(b) If the amount of child support ordered per child exceeds the sum of $2,000 per month, the court is required to make a finding, in writing, as to whether investments shall be made as provided for in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) A trustee named by the court shall use the judgment and care under the circumstances then prevailing that persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not in regard to speculation but in regard to the permanent disposition of their funds, considering the probable income as well as the probable safety of their capital. A trustee shall be governed by the provisions of the uniform prudent investor act as set forth in article six-c, chapter forty-four of this code. The court may prescribe the powers of the trustee and provide for the management and control of the trust. Upon petition of a party or the child's guardian or next friend and upon a showing of good cause, the court may order the release of funds in the trust from time to time.

§48-13-803. Reimbursement or arrearage only support.

When the payor is not paying any current support obligation but is required to pay for arrearages or reimbursement support, the court shall set a payment amount for the repayment of reimbursement support or of a support arrearage that is reasonable pursuant to the provisions of this article or section 6-301, but not to exceed the limits set out in section 14-408.

§48-13-804. Default orders.

(a) In any proceeding in which support is to be established, if a party has been served with proper pleadings and notified of the date, time and place of a hearing before a family court judge and does not enter an appearance or file a response, the family court judge shall prepare a default order for entry establishing the defaulting party's child support obligation consistent with the child support guidelines contained in this article.

(1) When applying the child support guidelines, the court may accept financial information from the other party as accurate, pursuant to rule 13(b) of the Rules of Practice and Procedure for Family Court; or

(2) If financial information is not available, the court may attribute income to the party based upon either:

(i) The party's work history;

(ii) Minimum wage, if appropriate; or

(iii) At a minimum, enter a child support order in a nominal amount unless, in the court's discretion, a zero support order should be entered.

(b) All orders shall provide for automatic withholding from income of the obligor pursuant to part 4, article fourteen of this chapter.

§48-13-901.

Repealed.

Acts, 2002 Reg. Sess., Ch. 18.

§48-13-902.

Repealed.

Acts, 2002 Reg. Sess., Ch. 18.