Divorce Guide

Australian Child maintenance calculator

There are a number of divorces taking place in Australia. The divorce rate in Australia is alarming and it has raised other issues like child maintenance and child custody. Child maintenance is the child support amount the non resident parent pays the resident parent who takes care of the child.

The child support Agency works on all the aspects of child maintenance. The child maintenance amount in Australia is calculated on the basis of:

1. Agreement between both the parents
2. Formula of child maintenance assessment
3. Court order regarding child maintenance

Agreement between both the parents

Some times the parents involved in child support work out the amount and mode of payment of child support mutually. They do not calculate the child support amount using any formula. They simply agree for the arrangements on the child maintenance and follow it. In such cases, the child support agreement is made for child maintenance and the parents accept it. The agreements may be:

1. Limited agreement
2. Binding agreement

Formula of child maintenance assessment

There are different formulas for different types of families. Some times there are more than two dependent children involved, you are not a parent and get child support, there is more than one claim for child support from the same person, etc. the child maintenance formula is in each of the cases. The formula for child maintenance is based on a number of factors.

1. Incomes of both the parents
2. Cost for raising children
3. Level of care the parents can provide
4. Number of kids

The liability of the parent is calculated in percentages. The self support amount of the parents is deducted from the income and then the child maintenance is calculated on that amount. It is 18% if there is one child and 27% for two. The liability reduces, if the parent paying the child maintenance has income more than average weekly income.

Child maintenance calculator

1. The income of the parent is calculated. It is the taxable income added to the rental loss, centerlink payment, etc. The self support amount is taken as 1/3rd of the total average earnings of a week for a male. The same amount is taken for both the parents while calculating the child maintenance amount.
2. The cost of children is calculated. It is different for children of different age groups as the requirements differ significantly. The expenditures and the facilities for children with different age groups and different levels of income are considered while calculating the cost of children.
3. The capacity of the parent to maintain the child is calculated. This is done by taking the child support amount of individual parent and then dividing it by the total child support income.

It is better to take help from a child support lawyer. He may help you to calculate the exact amount of child maintenance using the maintenance calculator. He may consider the important considerations in your case of child maintenance and work the amount accordingly.

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