If the parties in a child support dispute have been able to agree on an amount, then they enter into a consent order, the judge will enter it, and that's all there is to it. However, it gets a little more complicated if parties cannot agree on an amount. Then there is a hearing. The party requesting support will have to show what fair and reasonable expenses are for the child. This is usually done through a worksheet. Then the other party has the opportunity to show why the amount the worksheet shows is not fair or reasonable. This has to be some very solid evidence since this is considered a deviation from guidelines and typically isn't granted. A deviation could be up or down, a party could be asking to be paid more or to pay less, in either event, solid evidence needs to be presented for this to be granted. The key, and what the court is going to look at, is what is fair and reasonable for the child.