The formula in outline
New York's formula works from both parents' incomes and the number of children, and each parent's share is generally proportional to income. Combined income above a statutory cap is handled with more discretion, and the court looks at the family's circumstances in deciding how far to apply the formula beyond it. The income cap is adjusted periodically, so figures found online may be out of date. The resulting amount is presumptive, which means it is the starting point rather than an automatic answer.
What counts as income
Most disputes are not about arithmetic but about what goes into it. Wages are straightforward, while self-employment income, business deductions, bonuses, rental income, and employer-paid perks can all be contested. A court can attribute income to a parent who is underemployed or whose lifestyle does not match reported earnings. Bring tax returns, recent pay stubs, business records if you are self-employed, and whatever financial information about the other parent you already have. If your income varies, bring records covering several years so the pattern is visible. When a parent has recently quit a job or turned down work, expect the court to ask why.
Add-on costs and departures from the formula
Beyond the basic amount, child care and health care costs are usually divided between parents, and educational expenses may be addressed as well. A court can depart from the formula when applying it would be unfair in the circumstances, after weighing factors the law identifies. Parents who agree on a different figure must state what the formula would have produced and why they chose otherwise. When we sit down together, we run through your income picture and the likely points of dispute instead of quoting a final number before the facts are known.
