Child Support in Alabama

Child support is often a source of conflict, whether parents are getting a divorce, are already divorced, or were never married. Parents who owe support usually think they're paying too much, while parents receiving support often think they should be getting more. Like all other states in the U.S., Alabama has guidelines that set out the basic rules for calculating child support. Here's how they work.

Who Pays Child Support in Alabama?

Both parents have a continuing legal duty to financially support their children. When parents are separated, divorced, or were never married, the parent who cares for their children most of the time (the custodial parent) usually receives support payments, because the law presumes these parents already spend their share of the support obligation directly on their kids. So the noncustodial parent typically pays child support.

Estimating Child Support Payments in Alabama

Unlike many states, Alabama doesn't provide an official, online state child support calculator. But the state does provide a worksheet to use for the calculations. You can download the worksheet from the Alabama Courts Child Support Forms page. Scroll down to find the most recent version of Form CS-42, "Child Support Guidelines." You can choose between a fillable PDF version or an Excel format. (If you don't already have Microsoft Excel on your computer, you might be able to download a free version.)

When you use the Excel worksheet, it will automatically calculate your "recommended child support order" after you've filled in your information. As we explain below, the judge may order a different amount of support in your case.

Before you start, however, it will help to know what information you'll need to gather and the steps you'll follow for the worksheet calculations.

Figure Each Parent's Adjusted Gross Income

The first step to estimating child support is to figure out each parent's "adjusted gross income" (AGI). To do that, start with income from all sources and then subtract any deductions that may apply.

For child support purposes, gross income includes (but isn't limited to):

• salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, and severance pay
• self-employment and business income (gross receipts minus ordinary deductions for business expenses)
• payments from pensions and annuities
• Social Security benefits
• unemployment compensation
• workers' compensation and disability insurance benefits
• periodic alimony received under a preexisting court order
• dividends, interest, and capital gains, and
• gifts and prizes.

Gross income does not include:

• child support payments received for other children, or
• benefits from means-tested public assistance programs, such as TANF, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and general assistance.

After adding up each parent's monthly gross income, subtract any of the following that each parent receives:

• child support actually paid for children from other relationships, and
• alimony payments being made to a former spouse.

Once you've done that, you're left with each parent's AGI. (Ala. Rules Jud. Admin., rule 32(B), (C)(1) (2024).)

Combine the Parents' Adjusted Gross Incomes

Because both parents have the obligation to support their children, you need to combine their AGIs to determine child support.

Find the Basic Child Support Obligation

Alabama's guidelines use a schedule of basic child support obligations that lists a dollar amount based on the parents' combined AGI and the number of children being supported. (The schedule changes periodically, but you can find a link to the most recent one on the Alabama Courts Child Support Information page.)

Generally, each parent contributes to child support based on their proportionate share of the combined AGI. Let's look at an example:

• The custodial parent (Parent A) and the noncustodial parent (Parent B) have one child. Parent A has a monthly AGI of $1,200, while Parent B has a monthly AGI of $2,800. That's a total combined AGI of $4,000.
• Because Parent B's income amounts to 70% of the total AGI, that parent would be responsible for paying 70% of the basic child support obligation shown on the current schedule.

That's just the basic amount of support. There's more to consider.

Adjustments to Child Support Under Alabama's Guidelines

Under the Alabama child support guidelines, the basic amount of support from the schedule must be adjusted for the following:

• child care costs that either parent has to pay in order to work or look for work (up to a limit), and
• the cost of health coverage for the children.

The total amount of those costs will be divided between the parents in proportion to their relative share of total AGI, just as with the basic support obligation. Then, each parent will receive credit for their actual payments toward those costs, so it won't change the actual support obligation.

In addition to these adjustments, the judge may order additional child support to cover extraordinary medical, dental, and educational expenses, if the parents agree or the judge finds that it would be in the children's best interests. (Ala. Rules Jud. Admin., rule 32(B)(7)-(8), (C)(4) (2024).)

Does Alabama Require a Minimum Amount of Child Support?

Alabama's child support guidelines include a "Self-Support Reserve" (SSR) to ensure that parents have enough income to sustain themselves after paying child support. The child support worksheet explains how to calculate the income available for support after subtracting the SSR. If that figure is less than the parent's adjusted AGI, the recommended child support will be the lower amount. When a parent's income available for support is $50 or less, the minimum child support obligation will generally be $50 a month.

However, the guidelines presume that the child support order should be zero for parents who have no gross income and:

• receive only means-based public assistance, or
• are incarcerated or institutionalized for more than 180 consecutive days.

(Ala. Rules Jud. Admin., rule 32(C)(5)-(6) (2024).)

How Shared and Split Custody Affect Child Support in Alabama

The standard child support calculations assume that one parent is the primary custodial parent, while the noncustodial parent has visitation. But Alabama's guidelines also include special calculations for two types of alternative custody arrangements:

• shared 50% physical custody, meaning that each parent has custody of the child or children approximately half of the time, and
• split custody, meaning that each parent is the custodial parent for at least one of the parents' children.

(Ala. Rules Jud. Admin., rule 32(B)(10), (C)(7) (2024).)

Deviating From the Alabama Guidelines

Alabama judges will presume that the amount of child support calculated under the guidelines (the recommended order shown on the worksheet) is the right amount in each case. But judges may order a different amount of support if the recommended amount would be unfair or inappropriate.

The guidelines include some examples of reasons for ordering a different amount, such as when:

• the parent who's paying support has significantly more time caring for the children than is typical
• the transportation costs for visitation with the child are extraordinarily high, and one parent is paying for most of those expenses
• a child has college expenses before turning 19
• a child has assets or unearned income
• a parent is paying child care costs (up to a reasonable limit) related to training or education that's needed to get a job or enhance the parent's earning potential, and
• any other facts or circumstances that the judge believes contribute to the child's best interests.

Parents may also agree on an amount of child support that deviates from the guidelines, as long as their written agreement is fair and the judge finds that applying the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in their case. (Ala. Rules Jud. Admin., rule 32(A)(1) (2024).)

What Is Imputed Income for Child Support?

Sometimes parents try to reduce or completely avoid paying child support by lowering or hiding their income. Not a smart move. If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, a judge may "impute" income when calculating child support. That means the judge will decide on an amount the parent should be making, based on things like employment history, education, and training. (Ala. Rules Jud. Admin., rule 32(B)(5) (2024).)

Of course, there could be legitimate reasons some parents are earning less than you'd expect. For example, they might become permanently disabled or might need to stay home to care for a child with disabilities. It's up to the judge to decide if the reasons are valid.

How to Apply for Child Support in Alabama

When married parents split up, one of them will normally request child support as part of the process of filing for divorce or legal separation in Alabama.

That said, there are other situations when the issue of child support comes up. An obvious example is when unmarried parents have a child. Whatever the marital status of parents, their children are entitled to support.

Outside of the divorce process, you may apply for child support services with the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR). To apply, you'll need to make an appointment with the DHR office in your county. But you can find the application forms and more information on DHR's Child Support Services webpage. (If you receive financial assistance through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF), you'll automatically be referred for DHR services.)

The DHR may also help establish your child's legal paternity or enforce your existing child support order.

Modifying a Child Support Order in Alabama

If you want to request a change (modification) in an existing child support order, you'll need to show that there's been a change in circumstances that's substantial, isn't temporary, and will affect the amount of support under the guidelines. Some examples of changes that might justify a modification include:

• a parent has involuntarily lost a job or has gotten a new job with a much higher salary
• the parents have permanently changed the amount of time each of them spends with a child
• the child's needs have significantly changed, or
• a parent has become permanently disabled.

Alabama judges will presume that a modification is appropriate if there's more than a 10% difference between the existing support order and the new calculation under the current guidelines and the parents' current financial circumstances. This isn't automatic, however, and even a 10% variation won't justify a change in the support order in every situation. (Ala. Rules Jud. Admin., rule 32(A)(3) (2024).)

Be aware that just because you've asked for a change in child support, there's no guarantee that a judge will grant your request—no matter how much you may think a modification is warranted.

How Long Do You Have to Pay Child Support in Alabama?

Generally, parents are obligated to support their children only as long as the kids are minors. In Alabama, children are no longer minors when they turn 19 or are legally emancipated before then. (Ala. Code § 26-1-1 (2024).)

Under some circumstances, however, parents might continue to be responsible for the support of a child beyond the age of majority, such as when an adult child is disabled. Also, some parents might agree to pay some form of child support—such as contributing to college expenses—after age 19. But that agreement will only become part of a court order if it's in writing and a judge approves it.

It's important to remember that even after the court ends your child support obligation, you'll still be held accountable for any past-due support payments (arrearages).