Child support can be confusing for parents going through a divorce or separation. You might wonder exactly what those monthly payments are supposed to pay for. Are they just for food and clothes? What about school supplies or medical bills? Understanding what child support covers in Idaho helps both parents plan their budgets and make sure their children get everything they need.
Idaho’s Child Support Guidelines spell out what these payments should cover. The goal is to help children maintain the same standard of living they would have had if their parents stayed together. Both parents share the financial responsibility for raising their children, whether they live with the child full-time or not.
This guide explains what child support payments cover in Idaho, how the amount is calculated, and what happens when circumstances change.
The Basics of Child Support in Idaho
Idaho uses what’s called the income shares model to calculate child support. This means the state assumes children should get the same share of their parents’ income they would have received if the family stayed together.
The court adds up both parents’ gross monthly income to figure out how much support the child needs. Then each parent pays a portion based on their share of the total income. If one parent earns 60% of the combined income, they’re responsible for 60% of the support obligation.
This system tries to be fair to everyone while putting the child’s needs first. Child support takes priority over the needs of parents or creditors when the court looks at family finances.
What Child Support Payments Cover
Basic Living Expenses
The main child support payment covers your child’s everyday needs. These basic expenses include:
- Housing costs (rent or mortgage, utilities)
- Food and groceries
- Clothing and shoes
- Personal care items
- School supplies and fees
- Transportation
- Entertainment and activities
The Idaho Child Support Guidelines calculate this basic support obligation using a standardized chart. The chart shows how much money both parents together should spend on these everyday costs based on their combined income and number of children.
For example, if both parents together earn $6,000 per month, the guidelines might show a basic support obligation of $1,200 for one child. The parent who earns more of that combined income pays a larger share of the $1,200.
Healthcare and Medical Expenses
Medical costs are handled separately from the basic support payment. The parent providing health insurance for the child gets credit for the cost of those premiums. This amount gets factored into the final support calculation.
Out-of-pocket medical expenses get divided between parents too. These include:
- Doctor visits and co-pays
- Prescription medications
- Dental care
- Vision care and glasses
- Mental health services
- Physical therapy
Extraordinary medical expenses for serious health conditions or disabilities are typically shared proportionally between parents based on their incomes.
Childcare Costs
When a parent needs childcare to work or go to school, those costs get added to the basic support obligation. The court divides necessary childcare expenses between parents in proportion to their incomes.
This covers expenses like:
- Daycare facilities
- Before and after school programs
- Summer camps while parents work
- Babysitters for work-related needs
The key word here is “necessary.” Childcare costs must be related to a parent working or attending school to count in the calculation.
Educational Expenses
Standard school supplies and fees are part of the basic support obligation. But some educational costs may be treated separately, especially if they’re significant or unexpected.
These might include:
- Private school tuition (if both parents agree or the court orders it)
- College expenses (in some cases)
- Tutoring for learning difficulties
- Special education needs
- Educational therapy
The court looks at whether these expenses are reasonable and necessary for the child.
Transportation Costs
If parents live far apart, getting the child back and forth for parenting time can get expensive. The court may consider these travel costs when setting the support amount.
Transportation expenses might include:
- Gas for long-distance exchanges
- Airfare for out-of-state visits
- Hotel costs for overnight trips
- Vehicle wear and tear
The court decides whether to adjust the support amount based on these costs or have parents split them separately.
How Idaho Calculates Child Support
Step 1: Determining Gross Income
The court starts by figuring out each parent’s gross income. This includes more than just your regular paycheck. Gross income can include:
- Wages and salaries
- Bonuses and commissions
- Overtime pay
- Self-employment income
- Tips
- Retirement income and pensions
- Workers’ compensation benefits
- Social Security benefits
- Unemployment benefits
- Rental income
- Royalties
- Fringe benefits like free housing or company cars
If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court can assign them a potential income. This is based on their education, work history, and available jobs in the area. The court does this to prevent parents from intentionally earning less to avoid support payments.
Step 2: Combining Parental Income
After calculating each parent’s income, the court adds them together. This combined income determines the basic child support obligation using the guidelines chart.
The chart outlines how much both parents should contribute based on their total monthly income and the number of children. This figure represents the cost of basic needs like housing, food, clothing, and similar essentials.
Step 3: Accounting for Custody Arrangements
How much time the child spends with each parent affects the final support amount. The number of overnights each parent has matters.
When one parent is the custodial parent (the child lives with them most of the time), the non-custodial parent typically makes regular support payments.
If parents share custody and the child spends significant time with each parent, the court adjusts the support amount. When a child spends more than 25% of overnights with the non-custodial parent, Idaho considers this shared custody. The parent with more overnights directly pays for more daily expenses, so they receive more support or pay less.
Parents who split time equally may still have one parent paying support if their incomes are very different. The goal is to balance the child’s living conditions at both homes.
Step 4: Adding Additional Expenses
After determining the basic obligation, the court adds the extra costs we mentioned earlier:
- Health insurance premiums
- Childcare expenses
- Extraordinary medical costs
- Transportation expenses for custody exchanges
Each of these gets credited to the parent who pays them or divided proportionally between parents.
Step 5: Final Calculation
The court divides the total support obligation (basic amount plus additional costs) between parents based on each parent’s percentage of the combined income.
If one parent earns 70% of the combined income and the other earns 30%, the higher earner pays 70% of all child support costs. The actual payment from one parent to the other accounts for who has more parenting time and who pays for things like health insurance directly.
What Child Support Does Not Cover
It’s important to know that child support doesn’t cover everything. Some expenses typically fall outside the standard support calculation:
- Extracurricular activities (sports, music lessons, clubs)
- Cell phones for teenagers
- Car insurance for teenage drivers
- Class rings or senior portraits
- Prom expenses
- Birthday parties or gifts
- Holiday presents
- Name-brand clothing beyond basic needs
Parents may choose to share these costs voluntarily or include them in their parenting plan. But the court doesn’t automatically add them to the basic support obligation unless they qualify as extraordinary expenses.
Special Circumstances and Deviations
Idaho courts can deviate from the standard calculation when there’s a good reason. The court must explain in writing why it’s departing from the guidelines.
Situations where deviations might happen include:
- A child has extraordinary medical or educational needs
- One parent has unusually high transportation costs for long-distance parenting time
- A parent receives public assistance benefits
- The parents agree to a different support amount and the court approves it
- There’s been a material change in income, employment, or custody arrangements
The court wants to make sure the final amount truly meets the child’s needs while being fair to both parents.
When Child Support Can Be Modified
Once a child support order is in place, it’s legally binding. You can’t change it just because you think the amount is unfair. To modify child support, you must show a substantial and material change in circumstances since the order was issued.
Common reasons for modification include:
- Significant income change (job loss, major pay increase, change in employment status)
- Change in custody arrangements or the child’s parenting schedule
- New or unexpected medical expenses for the child
- Substantial change in childcare costs
- Changes to the Idaho Child Support Guidelines themselves
If the new calculation based on current finances results in a substantial change, the court may grant a motion to modify the order.
The parent requesting the change must file the proper legal documents and show proof of the changed circumstances. Both parents will need to provide updated financial information.
How Long Child Support Lasts
Child support payments typically continue until the child turns 18 years old. If the child is still in high school at 18, support may continue until they turn 19 or graduate, whichever comes first.
In cases where a child has a disability that prevents them from being self-supporting, support may continue beyond age 18.
Support obligations can also end if:
- The child gets married
- The child joins the military
- The child becomes legally emancipated
- The child passes away
- The custodial parent’s rights are terminated
What Happens If Support Isn’t Paid
When a parent doesn’t pay child support, Idaho has several ways to enforce the order:
- Wage garnishment (taking money directly from paychecks)
- Intercepting tax refunds
- Suspending driver’s licenses
- Suspending professional licenses
- Contempt of court penalties
- Reporting late payments to credit bureaus
The Idaho Child Support Services Division helps with collecting overdue payments. They can track down parents who aren’t paying and take action to get the money owed.
Can Parents Agree on What Support Covers?
Parents can reach their own agreement about child support and what it covers. But any agreement must be reviewed and approved by the court.
The judge will only approve an arrangement if:
- The final support amount adequately meets the child’s needs
- Both parents understand what they’re agreeing to
- The agreement follows Idaho law
Having a family law attorney review any support agreement protects your rights and makes sure the arrangement will hold up in court.
How an Attorney Can Help
The child support process involves detailed financial calculations and legal paperwork. A family law attorney can help by:
- Explaining how the Idaho Child Support Guidelines apply to your situation
- Calculating the correct support amount based on both parents’ finances
- Making sure all income and expenses are accurately reported
- Helping file or respond to a petition for support
- Representing you in court to protect your interests and your child’s needs
- Assisting with modifications when circumstances change
- Enforcing support orders when payments aren’t made
Child support affects your finances for years to come. Getting it right from the start saves money and stress down the road.
Get Help With Child Support in Idaho
Understanding what child support covers helps you budget for your child’s needs and know what to expect from the other parent. The Idaho system aims to be fair while making sure children get adequate financial support from both parents.
If you have questions about child support, need to establish a new order, or want to modify an existing arrangement, Foley Freeman, PLLC, can help. Our experienced family law attorneys know Idaho’s child support guidelines and will work to protect your family’s financial stability.
Call 208-888-9111 today for a consultation. We’ll review your situation, explain your options under Idaho law, and help you move forward with confidence.