The determination of child support is different for every family and even for each child within a family. Courts will look to set child support in an amount sufficient to provide for a child’s necessary expenses, which include food, shelter, clothing, education, and health care. Courts will use the Code of Virginia’s Child Support Guidelines to set the amount of support based upon the parent’s income, time with the child, and other financial matters. Additionally, the court is permitted to consider the following factors when determining the final obligation amount: the needs of the child; the child’s age; the ability for the noncustodial parent to pay the support obligation; any special needs the child may have; costs for child care; monetary support for other family members; and, other factors that necessary to provide a fair Child Support Order for the child.
The amount of support calculated by using the Child Support Guidelines is presumptively correct thus, if the court wishes to set a different amount based upon the previously mentioned factors, it must give a justification, in writing, stating the reasons for the deviation. Above all, when setting the child support amount, the court will always do what is in the best interest of the child.