Everything You Need to Know About Missouri Child Support Laws

Basics of Child Support Laws in Missouri

Child support is a payment one parent makes to another after a divorce. Child support payments are meant to cover the expenses of raising a child or children they have together.

Determining a monthly payment is complicated and no two cases are alike. Missouri has a Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations they use to calculate child support payments based on the parent’s income (i.e. salary, annuities, social security, unemployment, and so on).

According to statista.com, the average child support in Missouri in 2017 that was paid by noncustodial parents to custodial parents was $3,431, which is less than $300 per month.

The lowest child support payment is $50 per month and for each additional $50 the parent earns, the payment increases. For each additional child, the payment will increase as well. For more information, visit our practice areas page or learn about Divorce Cost in Missouri.

Child Support Guidelines

Child support guidelines are a fee schedule. However, parents don’t have to follow the guidelines and can agree to more than the suggested amount.

Sometimes, the guidelines suggest a child support amount that can be seen as unjust. If that occurs, the court has a right to adjust the child support amount. Extraordinary medical or educational expenses, as well as travel costs if parents live too far apart, are just some of the reasons that courts may deviate from the Missouri child support guidelines.

Child support is covered under Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 452 and enforced by Chapter 454. Here is a brief look at important information regarding this.

Who is responsible?

Both parents are responsible for supporting the child’s needs. However, usually, the parent who spends less time with the child or children has to make the child support payments, because it’s assumed that the parent who spends more time with the child already spends the money on his or her needs and therefore should receive child support.

If the parents of the child aren’t married, the first step is determining the father of a child or children. If a father’s name is on the birth certificate, it’s presumed that paternity has been established. But, a judge can also order a DNA test, in case a father disputes paternity.

How is it calculated?

Using the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations and the parent’s gross income.

What expenses might a parent be required to pay?

Child support is for food, housing, clothing, transportation, and health care. Sometimes, the non-custodial parent will be required to pay for daycare, extracurricular activities, and private school expenses.

How long is a parent required to pay?

In MO, it is paid until the child reaches the age of eighteen. But, there are certain exceptions. It can continue until the child graduates high school, reaches the age of twenty-one, graduates from college or attends college less than full-time, enters active military duty, becomes self-supporting, or marries.

How to File for Child Support in Missouri

Child support in the State of Missouri is under the control of the Missouri Department of Social Services, Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program. If you want to apply for child support services, complete the appropriate application, visit your local CSE office or call the information line at 1-800-859-7999.

A child support request can be made during legal separation or divorce proceedings, as well as during child custody proceedings. You have to file documents with the Missouri Circuit Court in the county where your former spouse or you live. You can also request child support modification, if needed due to a change in circumstances, by filing the right motion with the court.

However, if your spouse refuses to pay child support until your divorce is final or you can’t agree on the amount that should be paid, the court will determine a temporary child support order.

What Is Missouri’s Child Support Calculator?

There are many factors that are taken into account when calculating child support payments Missouri. The Missouri Courts provide a child support calculator you can use to estimate the amount of child support owed to you or the other parent. If you take a brief look at the guidelines you may get an idea of how much child support would be. However, there are other factors that have to be taken into consideration in order to get a more accurate amount.

Child support calculations depend on the following factors:

• The income of the parties.
• The number of children they have.
• The number of overnight stays the child has with the non-custodial parent.
• Other costs paid for by the non-custodial parent, like daycare and health insurance.

Form No. 14 establishes a “presumed amount of child support” and the judge determines if the amount is reasonable based on the parties’ circumstances and may adjust it accordingly.

Factors to Think About for an Accurate Child Support Calculation

The three factors that go into calculating an accurate calculation are income, basic child support amount, and additional child-rearing costs. Once child support orders are issued, it can only be adjusted when circumstances would cause the support to increase or decrease by 20%.

Stay up-to-date with information from the Masterson Law website, as we continue to publish helpful insights about divorce.

How are Child Support Payments Missouri Calculated?

Child support is calculated using the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations and the parent’s gross income. Gross income usually includes wages, salaries, commissions, tips, as well as retirement and pension plans. In case a non-custodial parent is not employed, other incomes are taken into consideration, such as social security benefits, unemployment compensation, and prizes like lottery winnings. 

In addition, if a parent refuses to work to avoid paying child support, the court can impute income or establish an amount a parent should be making based on her or his work history, experience, and education, and use that amount to determine child support. 

The MO child support calculator is actually a Form No. 14, which has to be filled with other information besides parents’ incomes, including percent of custody, child-raising expenses, and other information. 

MO Child Support Enforcement Payments

If a custodial parent is not receiving child support payment, she or he can request that it be deducted from the other parent’s paycheck or initiate income withholding by filing a Federal Income Withholding Order. 

The MO Department of Social Services handles child support related issues through Child Support Enforcement (CSE). They can enforce orders by withholding income, reporting delinquent payors to the credit bureau, intercepting tax refunds, placing liens on personal property, and requesting Contempt of Court or criminal Non-Support charges be brought up against the non-custodial parent. If you have questions about the status of a child support payment, the CSE website has a portal where you can confirm payment status.

Common Questions/Answers Around Child Support Enforcement

Can I have payments automatically withdrawn from my bank account if I am under an Income Withholding Order?

• Yes. Your Income Withholding Order status will remain, though.

How long will it take CSE to receive my payment once it is withdrawn from my account?

• You will receive a payment confirmation email the same day.

What happens after I register an account and establish a payment schedule?

• Your bank account information must be verified. Once it’s verified, your payments will be withdrawn as scheduled. If the verification is unsuccessful, you will receive an email and no payment will be processed.

What if I don’t have sufficient funds to cover a child support payment?

• You must cancel your scheduled payment at least two days prior to withdrawal.