Opinion ID: 2334045
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 21

Heading: part iii. total monthly support obligations

Text: Where a support obligor is also a custodial parent, the obligor retains that share of the support obligation owed to the child in his custody and pays the difference, if any, to the other custodial parent for the benefit of other children. This formula contemplates normal visitation arrangements. Where a parent establishes visitation or has physical joint custody significantly beyond the norm, then some adjustment in the amount derived from a formula calculation may result. This adjustment is allowable regardless of how the custodial arrangements are titled. Where parties share physical joint custody on an equal basis, each will be considered to have the child for six months during the course of a year. To avoid unnecessary transfers of funds, the pay out of each parent for the year should be determined by multiplying the monthly support obligation times six months. If one parent's yearly obligation is greater than that owed by the other, the excess amount shall be divided by 12 and paid monthly over the course of the year, unless the parties agree otherwise. See, e.g., Long v. Long, Del.Fam., Civil No. A-4228, Poppiti, J. (October 23, 1981).