Child support as a concept refers to the obligation parents owe their children over the course of their childhood and adolescence, in both economic and non-economic terms. The economic aspects of child support in Wisconsin is governed by Wisconsin Statute 767.511, along with the Administrative Code DCF 150. These two laws create a framework to how child support works, determining how much is child support in Wisconsin, and how long you pay child support in the state of Wisconsin. In this article we provide an overview of the current child support laws in the state, as well as a look at recent changes that have materially changed how child support is calculated.
It depends on which round of stimulus is at issue. It was possible for first round COVID Stimulus checks under the CARES Act to be seized to pay child support debt if Wisconsin had informed the federal government of the late payment before the stimulus checks had been issued. The entire stimulus check could be forfeit, depending on the value of the outstanding debt. For the second round, and now the third round under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, legislators took steps to specifically prevent this from happening, with language stating the payments were protected from state and federal debt.
How long do you pay child support in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, child support is required until the child turns 18. An exception is made if the child turns 18 and is still pursuing their high school diploma through a qualifying program, at which point the age is raised to 19. Note that a child moving out of the other parent’s home does not end the responsibility to pay child support, it will still be owed until the above circumstances have been met.
How can a child support order be enforced in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin takes child support payments very seriously, and failure can result in the arrest of the offending party for contempt of court. If payments have entered arrears and no acceptable explanation has been forthcoming, courts have a host of tools they can employ to obtain payment. If the offending party has property in their name, the court subject the property to a legal lien. The court can also garnish wages up to the amount owed in child support.
What are some recent changes to child support law in Wisconsin?
In 2018, Wisconsin child support law went through an overhaul, with a few key calculations being updated to provide more equity to shared parenting scenarios. The crux of this renovation was a change to how variable costs are calculated going forward. Variable costs are defined as reasonable costs incurred above basic support, such as childcare, tuition for a private school, and any special needs the child has. In the previous system, the parent with the most custody time would have the most say over these purchases, and then be compensated by the parent paying child support. This system provided little opportunity for the paying parent to have a say in how variable costs would be incurred. In the interest of equity, variable costs will now be defined by the parents going into the child support scenario. If the parents are unable to come to an agreement, the court will define variable costs with input from both the parents. Note that certain items will be mandatory, including transportation costs.
The changes also saw an expansion of what courts consider “overnights,” for the purposes of calculating a shared-placement plan. Under the old rule, overnight was a literal designation, this has been eased. Now the day will be broken down into 6-hour intervals that include a meal. If a child is with a parent for at least 2 of these intervals, and the child has received two meals, this will qualify as an “overnight.” This has implications for who will qualify for shared-placement and how costs will be divided, moving towards a more equitable assessment.
Request a consultation with an Wisconsin Family Law lawyer.
If you are facing a child support question it is critical that you be informed and well advised. Working with a qualified Wisconsin family law attorney can make the difference. Call our office at (630) 324-6666 or schedule a consultation with one of our experienced family law lawyers today. You can also fill out our confidential contact form and we will get back to you shortly.
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