Louisiana Child Support Calculator

Louisiana uses the income shares model: both parents' incomes are combined, a basic support obligation is determined from the state's guideline schedule, and each parent is responsible for their proportional share. The parent without primary custody typically pays their share to the other household. The guideline is set by La. R.S. 9:315 et seq..

No — this is a guideline estimate. Courts start from the guideline amount but can deviate for factors like extraordinary medical costs, special needs, other support obligations, or agreements between parents. For an official figure, consult your court’s self-help center or a family law attorney.

In most states, including under most guideline models, substantial parenting time (often above roughly 20–30% of overnights) reduces the paying parent's obligation. Our calculator applies a simplified parenting-time adjustment; Louisiana's courts apply their own specific rules, so treat shared-custody results as rough estimates.

Generally all income: wages, self-employment, bonuses, commissions, and often investment income. Louisiana's guideline uses gross (pre-tax) income figures. Courts may also impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.