New Hampshire Child Support FAQ's

1. How is Child Support calculated?
The amount the obligor parent will pay for the support of his or her children is arrived at by use of a statutory formula (the New Hampshire Child Support Guidelines) which considers the number of children to be supported as well as the adjusted income of each parent after taking certain allowable deductions. N.H. RSA 458-C:2.

2. What is the minimum amount of child support that the Court would order?
Where the obligor parent's gross income is less than what the Child Support Guidelines allows as a "self-support reserve" and the obligor parent is not found to be voluntarily unemployed or underemployed the child support payable will be fifty dollars ($50.00) per month. N.H. RSA 458-C:2.

3. Is there any way to pay an amount different than what the Child Support Guidelines calls for?
The Child support statute sets forth certain situations in which the Court may deviate from the amount the Child Support Guidelines calls for. They include the following:

1. Ongoing extraordinary medical, dental or education expenses of a child;
2. significantly high or low income of a party;
3. the presence of stepparents or stepchildren;
4. extraordinary travel expenses for visitation;
5. economic consequences to either party of the disposition of the marital home made for the benefit of the child;
6. optimizing both parties after-tax income by taking into account federal tax consequences of an order of support;
7. state tax obligations;
8. split or shared custody;
9. other special circumstances.

This list is not an exhaustive list as number "9" demonstrates. The Court may deviate for any justifiable reason that is alleged by one of the parties. The party requesting a deviation from the Guidelines must demonstrate their special circumstance by a preponderance of the evidence. N.H. RSA 458-C:5.

4. Once a child support order is entered can it later be changed?
The Child Support Statute allows for a review of the amount of child support being payed once every three years for any reason. Child support may be reviewed at any time based upon "a substantial change of circumstances." N.H. RSA 458-C:7.