How is child support calculated in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin child support is one of the few remaining Percentage of Income states, governed by Wis. Stat. § 49.22(9) and the detailed DCF Chapter 150 administrative rules.

1. Standard Percentage of Income (DCF 150.03)

Applied to the obligor's gross income:

1 child — 17%

2 children — 25%

3 children — 29%

4 children — 31%

5 or more — 34%

2. Gross Income (DCF 150.02)

Includes wages, salaries, tips, commissions, bonuses, severance, royalties, dividends, interest, rental, military pay/allowances, pensions, Social Security, workers' comp, and may include imputed asset earnings.

3. Shared-Placement Formula (DCF 150.04(2))

Applies when each parent has the child for at least 25% of overnights (~92 days/year). Steps:

Determine each parent's monthly gross income.

Multiply each parent's income by the applicable percentage standard for the number of children.

Multiply the result by 1.5 (to reflect duplicated household costs).

Multiply by the percentage of overnights with the OTHER parent.

The lower amount is subtracted from the higher → that is the shared-placement payer's order.

4. Split-Placement Formula (DCF 150.04(3))

When each parent has primary placement of at least one child, each is treated as the obligor for the children placed with the other.

5. Serial-Family Payer (DCF 150.04(1))

A payer with prior-order child support obligations gets a credit reducing gross income before applying the percentages.

6. Low-Income Payer (DCF 150.04(4))

For payers with monthly gross income below the federal poverty level, reduced percentages apply on a sliding scale.

7. High-Income Payer (DCF 150.04(5))

Income from $7,000-$12,500/month: standard percentages on first $7,000, plus reduced percentages (14%, 20%, 23%, 25%, 27%) on income $7,000-$12,500.

Income above $12,500/month: standard percentages on first $7,000, reduced on next tier, and further reduced (10%, 15%, 17%, 19%, 20%) on income above $12,500.

8. Duration (Wis. Stat. § 767.511(4))

Support continues until the child:

Reaches age 18, OR

Reaches age 19 if pursuing an accredited high school course of instruction.

9. Modification (Wis. Stat. § 767.59(1f))

Modification permitted on a substantial change in circumstances. The 33-month rule creates a presumption of substantial change after 33 months without modification. Title IV-D agency conducts periodic reviews.

This is legal information, not legal advice.