How Child Support Is Calculated in Idaho

Support is set under the Idaho Child Support Guidelines (Idaho Rule of Family Law Procedure 120). Both parents' Guidelines Income (generally gross income, with adjustments) is combined, a basic support amount is figured as a declining percentage of combined income, and each parent's share is in proportion to income. If the child spends more than 25% of overnights a year with each parent, a shared custody adjustment applies. The guideline amount is presumed correct, and support generally runs to age 18, or up to 19 while the child is in high school.

Idaho Child Support Services (Department of Health and Welfare) offers enforcement services and non-enforcement (payment receipting) services. For enforcement services, download and complete an application (or request one by mail at 800-356-9868) and mail it with the $25 application fee to Idaho Child Support Receipting Services, P.O. Box 70008, Boise, ID 83707-0108; the application and fee are not required if you receive SNAP, Medicaid or cash benefits through DHW. Receipting-only services are free; call 800-356-9868. Other fees may apply, for example for establishing or modifying an order ($310–$575), genetic testing ($55 per person), tax offset ($25) and the $35 annual federal fee; legal and service fees are generally set in the support order and can be deducted from future collections.

A court may order child support until the child turns 18. If the child is still in high school after turning 18, the court may, in its discretion, continue support until the child stops attending high school or turns 19, whichever comes first.

A support order may be modified only for payments due after the motion to modify is filed, and only on a showing of a substantial and material change of circumstances. Through Child Support Services, an order can generally be reviewed after three years at either parent's request, or sooner if there has been a substantial change in circumstances that has lasted at least six months; call 800-356-9868 to request a review. Only the court can change the order, and fees may be charged.

Income withholding is ordered in most Idaho support orders and starts immediately when an employer is known. Other methods, most applied automatically when a case meets legal criteria, include garnishing accounts, credit reporting, intercepting lottery winnings and federal and state tax refunds, withholding federal benefits and retirement accounts, suspending licenses, filing liens, intercepting PERSI retirement benefits, passport denial, establishing judgments and contempt action. Child Support Services also enforces medical support by enrolling the child in a parent's employer insurance when available.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Child Support Services provides enforcement services and non-enforcement receipting for existing child support orders. To apply for enforcement services, download and complete the application (or call to have one mailed) and send it with the $25 application fee to Idaho Child Support Receipting Services, P.O. Box 70008, Boise, Idaho 83707-0108. For free receipting-only services, call. Payments to the parent receiving support are made by direct deposit or the Idaho Family Support Card. Phone: 800-356-9868.

The Idaho Court Assistance Office (Idaho Courts Self-Help Center) publishes child support worksheets rather than an online calculator: the Standard Child Support Worksheet (CAO FL 1-13) and the Shared or Split Custody Worksheet (CAO FL 1-12), with versions for cases where Health and Welfare is a party (CAO GCS 1-13 and 1-12), plus an Affidavit Verifying Income and a child support FAQ. Forms can also be completed and e-filed through Idaho Guide and File (guideandfile.idaho.gov).