What Child Support Costs for One Child in Kentucky

Kentucky child support amounts depend on both parents' income, not a fixed dollar figure

Kentucky does not have a set amount you pay for one child. Instead, the state uses an income shares model, which means the court calculates what percentage of both parents' combined income should go toward the child, then divides that between them based on how much each parent earns. A parent earning $30,000 a year will pay less than a parent earning $60,000 a year, even if both have one child.

The actual number depends on the custodial arrangement (who has the child most of the time), whether either parent pays for health insurance or childcare, and how many other children each parent supports. Because of this variation, you cannot know the amount without running the calculation with real numbers.

Kentucky courts use a worksheet called the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet to do this math. You can request one from the Family Court clerk in your county, or you can work through the calculation yourself if you have both parents' income information and know the custody split.

Key Takeaways

• Kentucky calculates child support as a percentage of both parents' combined income, so the amount varies based on what each parent earns.
• The court uses the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, which accounts for custody time, health insurance costs, and childcare expenses.
• If one parent earns significantly more, they typically pay a larger share even if custody is split equally.
• You can request the worksheet from your county Family Court clerk or calculate it yourself using Kentucky's published guidelines.
• The amount can be modified if either parent's income changes by 10 percent or more, or if custody changes.

How Kentucky calculates the base amount

Start with gross monthly income for both parents. This includes wages, salary, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, and some types of benefits. Kentucky excludes certain income like TANF (Temporary information for Needy Families) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) for the child.

Add both parents' incomes together. Then look up that combined total on Kentucky's Child Support Guidelines table. The table shows what percentage of that combined income should go to child support. For one child, the percentage typically ranges from 17 to 20 percent of combined income, depending on the total amount and other factors.

Once you know the total amount, divide it between the parents based on their income ratio. If one parent earns 60 percent of the combined income, they pay 60 percent of the child support obligation. The other parent pays 40 percent. However, the parent with primary custody usually does not write a check — instead, the other parent's obligation is reduced by the amount the custodial parent is already spending.

What gets added or subtracted from the base amount

The worksheet does not stop at the base percentage. Several costs adjust the final number up or down. If one parent pays for the child's health insurance premium, that amount is added to the obligation and split between parents the same way income is. If one parent pays for childcare so they can work, that cost is also added and split.

If the parents share custody roughly equally — say, 50-50 or close to it — the calculation changes. Kentucky reduces the obligation when both parents have significant parenting time, because both are already spending money on the child when the child is with them. The exact reduction depends on how many overnights each parent has per year.

If either parent has other children they support (from other relationships), that reduces their available income for this child's support. The court subtracts those obligations before calculating the percentage.

Income thresholds and when the guidelines do not explore

Kentucky's Child Support Guidelines table has a cap. Once combined parental income reaches a certain level (currently around $180,000 per month, though this changes), the court can choose to follow the guideline percentage or deviate based on the child's actual needs and the parents' ability to pay. High-income cases often result in amounts higher than the guideline percentage would suggest.

The court can also deviate from the guidelines if following them would be unjust or inappropriate. This happens rarely, but examples include situations where one parent has minimal income due to disability, or where the guideline amount would be unreasonably high relative to the child's actual needs.

How to find your county's current worksheet

Contact your county's Family Court clerk — the phone number is on your county's court website. Ask for the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet and the current income table. Some counties provide these forms online; others mail them or require you to pick them up in person.

You can also find Kentucky's statewide guidelines on the Administrative Office of the Courts website. The guidelines are updated periodically, so make sure you have the current version. If you are working with a family law attorney, they will have the current forms.

If you want to calculate an estimate yourself, gather the most recent pay stubs or tax returns for both parents, the number of overnights each parent has per year (if custody is shared), and the monthly cost of any health insurance or childcare. Then follow the worksheet step by step. Your estimate may not match what a court orders, but it gives you a realistic range.

When and how child support amounts change

Once a court orders child support, the amount stays the same unless one parent requests a modification. Kentucky allows either parent to ask for a change if income has increased or decreased by 10 percent or more, or if custody has changed. A significant job loss, a raise, or a shift in parenting time can all trigger a modification.

To request a modification, file a motion in the Family Court that issued the original order. You will need to show the income change with recent pay stubs or tax returns, and explain how that change affects your ability to pay or the child's needs. The court will recalculate using the current guidelines and may adjust the amount up or down.

Child support continues until the child turns 18, or until they graduate from high school, whichever is later. If the child is still in high school after turning 18, support continues through graduation or age 19, whichever comes first.

What happens if you cannot afford the calculated amount

If the worksheet calculation results in an amount you cannot pay, you have options. You can request a deviation from the guidelines in court, showing that the amount is unjust or inappropriate given your actual income and expenses. The court will not automatically reduce it — you must file a motion and present evidence.

If your income has dropped since the order was issued, document it with recent pay stubs, tax returns, or a letter from your employer. If you are unemployed or underemployed, bring evidence that you are searching for work. The court considers whether the income loss was voluntary (you quit) or involuntary (you were laid off), and treats them differently.

If you fall behind on payments, the other parent can file for enforcement. This can result in wage garnishment, license suspension, or contempt charges. It is better to request a modification before you fall behind than to try to catch up later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Kentucky have a minimum child support amount?

No. If a parent's income is very low, the guideline percentage might result in a small amount or even zero. However, courts expect parents to contribute something if they have any income at all. If a parent claims zero income, the court may impute income based on full-time minimum wage work or their earning capacity.

What if one parent is self-employed or has irregular income?

Use average income over the past two or three years, usually shown on tax returns. If income is genuinely unpredictable, the court may order a base amount plus a percentage of income above a certain threshold, so the amount adjusts with actual earnings. Bring tax returns and business records to court.

Does child support change if I get a second job?

Income from a second job counts as gross income for child support purposes. However, you cannot request a modification based on a voluntary increase in income — the court assumes you chose to work more. If you lose the second job, you can request a modification based on the income decrease.

Can I reduce child support if I have a new child with someone else?

Yes, but only if the new child was born after the current support order. The court will subtract that obligation from your available income before calculating the percentage for the first child. You must file a modification request and provide proof of the new child's birth and your support obligation.

What if the other parent refuses to disclose their income?

File a motion in court asking the judge to compel income disclosure. If the other parent still refuses, the court can impute income based on their education, work history, and earning capacity. You may also request that the court order them to provide recent tax returns and pay stubs as part of the case.