How Child Support Is Calculated in Louisiana

Louisiana uses an income shares model: the parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined, each parent's percentage share is figured, and the basic obligation comes from the statutory schedule based on combined income and number of children. The guideline amount is presumed correct, but a court may deviate if applying it would not be in the child's best interest or would be inequitable, and must give reasons. The Department of Children & Family Services offers an online Child Support Estimator, which it describes as an estimate only.

You can apply for child support enforcement services from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) online or by mail with the paper application (form CSE 101). There is a non-refundable $25 fee for full services, which is waived if you receive FITAP, KCSP or Medicaid; no action is taken until the fee is paid. Locate-only service costs $10 ($14 without the other parent's Social Security number). A $35 annual fee applies once the state has collected at least $550 in a federal fiscal year for a person who has never received FITAP.

Child support for a child ends automatically, without any action by the paying parent, when the child reaches the age of majority or is emancipated. When one combined award covers two or more children, it ends when the youngest reaches majority. Support continues automatically for an unmarried child who is a full-time student in good standing in high school (or its equivalent), is under 19, and depends on either parent. On a motion filed before the child reaches majority, the court must continue support for a child with a developmental disability until age 22 while the child is a full-time secondary school student, and for a disabled child under the separate rules of R.S. 9:315.22.1. Parents can also agree to continued support.

A support award can be changed only if the person asking shows a material change in circumstances that is substantial and continuing since the last award. A judgment for past-due support is not, by itself, a reason to lower support. In cases where DCFS provides services, a change of at least 25% under the guidelines is presumed to be a material change (unless the original award was a deviation from the guidelines and those circumstances have not changed), and DCFS will request a review when the child's best interest requires it, with the court able to adjust the award every three years if it differs from the guidelines. You can ask DCFS for a review online, by phone at 1-877-752-3237, through the CAFE portal, or by mailing a Request for Review form, or you can file a Rule to Modify Child Support directly with the clerk of the court that issued the order.

DCFS Child Support Enforcement can collect support through income assignment (wage withholding); interception of state and federal tax refunds; interception of lottery, casino and sports betting prizes; suspension of occupational, professional, driver's, hunting and fishing licenses; suspension of motor vehicle registration; contempt of court hearings; and passport denial. DCFS says more than 65% of the support it collects comes through income assignment.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Child Support Enforcement program establishes, enforces and manages child support orders statewide and offers IV-D (state) and Non-IV-D (private) case services. Apply online through the LA CAFÉ self-service portal or the online application form, or by mail with the paper application (English or Spanish). LA CAFÉ also lets parents view case details, message their caseworker and check payment information. Customer service and payment/balance information: 1-877-7LA-DCFS (1-877-752-3237).

The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) offers the Louisiana Child Support Estimator, with two online worksheets: a standard Child Support Worksheet and a Child Support Worksheet (Shared Custody). DCFS says the tool gives "an idea of how much money you might need to pay or get," that what you see "are not the official court records and might not be correct," that it is not a replacement for talking to a lawyer, and that "the Judge has the power to decide how much money needs to be paid." Read the Louisiana Child Support Guidelines (R.S. 9:315 et seq.) as well.