Do I Get Child Support if I Have 50/50 Custody?

You have kids and you’re getting divorced.

If that’s your situation, let me start by saying I’m sorry you’re going through this. Divorce is not easy, especially for children. The worries are unavoidable. Worries about relationships, about housing, about money.

That last one is especially relevant to moms who will have their kids the majority of the time. How do they pay for normal things now that a good part of the family income is gone?

One answer to that question is child support. Child support is designed to pay for everyday costs for your kids. Clothes, food, household stuff, etc.

How Child Support Works in a Nutshell

The amount of child support you receive depends on a couple things.

First, it depends on your and your soon-to-be-ex’s gross monthly incomes (i.e., the amount you make before taking out taxes).

Second, it depends on the number of parent-time overnights you share with your ex.

More or less it works like this. The more your soon-to-be-ex makes, the more he’ll pay. Also, the closer to 50/50 parent-time you share, the less you’ll receive in child support.

How Child Support Works with 50/50 Custody

Like I wrote above, the closer you get to 50/50, the less you’ll receive in child support.

Honestly, you’ll need a pretty big income difference to get much of anything at 50/50.

For example, if a mom makes $36,000 per year ($3000 per month) and her husband makes $100,000 per year ($8333 per month), and they share 50/50 custody, mom would get $273 per month in child support.

If, by contrast, mom had primary physical custody, she’d receive $820 per month in child support.

(You can run your own numbers here.)

In the end, you need to do what’s best for your kids. If that means 50/50 custody, then go with it. Keep in mind, however, that you won’t get much child support.

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I would give them 10 stars if I could. Clay was professional and super organized. He took the time to explain everything. I would highly recommend him for any family law needed. Melanie was a godsend. She not only kept me continually informed of the progress, she sent texts of encouragement and support throughout the entire process. I would give her 100 stars for going above and beyond to make this experience less stressful. Her encouragement and genuine caring were comforting and calming. The entire staff at Brown Law are on your side and if you are lucky enough to get Clay and Melanie on your team you will not be disappointed. Thanks! Mack M.

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Nathaniel was an incredible partner throughout the divorce process. He was organized, responsive and respectful of my wishes while simultaneously giving me guidance and advice. I would recommend him to anyone.

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I couldn’t have made it through my divorce without Clay and his team! I am forever thankful for the hours and time spent with me to help navigate an extremely difficult time in life. They’re reliable, knowledgeable, and know how to get things moving in an efficient manner. Nothing but good to say here!!

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Working with Daniel Young at Brown Family Law was a truly positive experience during one of the most difficult times of my life. From the start, Daniel was knowledgeable, compassionate, and incredibly responsive.
If you need a family law attorney who combines expertise with empathy, I cannot recommend Daniel Young enough. He is a true advocate and a credit to Brown Family Law.

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Nathaniel and Carren have been absolutely incredible to work with. They kept me informed and in the loop throughout each step of the process. They always answered every question I had in a very quick and timely manner. I could not recommend them more.

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This 5-star review is for Nathaniel Garrabrandt at Brown Family Law. Nathaniel was just what we needed. He helped guide us with a level of professionalism, efficiency, and genuine care that made a real difference during a challenging time. He is always thoughtful and respectful, and he never makes you feel like just another case. His communication was clear (with regular check-ins), his advice was solid and uncomplicated, and I always felt that he had his client's best interest at heart as he made suggestions. I’m grateful to have had such a capable and compassionate attorney to work with. You hope you never need these kind of services, but when you do, you want the best... and someone with high integrity. Nathaniel truly deserves all 5 of these stars, in every way.

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Russell Yauney was my attorney at Brown Family Law. Throughout the process, Russell and his paralegal Conor, were extremely helpful and patient. They were highly responsive, thorough, and most importantly: did not make me feel insignificant or embarrassed for asking clarifying questions. Russell made himself available and whenever he wasn't, Conor was. The Friday Phone Calls were reliable and I knew I could expect an update each week. The firm's texting abilities also made it easy to send a quick question/concern if I ever needed it. Russell was a fantastic attorney and guide to have throughout my situation. I highly recommend this firm.