Simple Child Support Calculator
For a simple and easy calculation of child support in Kentucky, we suggest trying the All Law calculator. Kentucky appears to lack an official, government calculator that is easy to use.
The All Law calculator is quite simple and easy to use. But note that the estimator may not always be accurate and up to date for 2024. For a more reliable assessment, you can try the official version.
In the state of Kentucky, the result of an online calculation should be interpreted carefully. You should treat the estimate as just a preliminary indication of the child support amount you could receive or be required to pay.
Kentucky Parenting Time Calculator
While Kentucky child support guidelines focus on which parent is the "custodial parent", parenting time shares have the potential to affect child support. Actual parenting time percentages could influence the order a judge makes or how much parents agree to.
Use this overnights calculator to work out your parenting time percentage. Most states measure parenting time based on overnight stays.
Calculate annual overnight stays
Regular nights
Vacation nights each year*
183 overnight stays per year.
50.0% of parenting time.
* Vacation nights are all nights when the regular schedule does not apply.
How Child Support is Calculated in Kentucky
Child support payments in Kentucky are calculated using the income shares only method. Payments depend on the combined income of the parents as well as the number of children eligible for support. A bigger combined income or extra children typically means higher payments.
The amounts transferred also depend on each parent’s income share or income percentage. Kentuckians paying the most support are non-custodial parents with high incomes. The biggest receivers are low-income parents with primary physical custody and a high-earning payer.
We refer to the method as "income shares only" since Kentucky lacks a well-defined way of adjusting payments for the exact amount of parenting time each parent contributes. A parent’s share of care time is not a detailed part of the guidelines, as is usually the case with income sharing models.
Kentucky calculates child support amounts using an income shares formula that includes gross monthly income and health care premiums for children. The guidelines do not mention parenting time as a valid claim for deviating from the state guidelines. Any decision to adjust child support is up to the particular family court.
The Kentucky legislature enacted Child Support Guidelines for calculating child support payments. Judges may deviate from the guidelines for good cause, but a judge must include the reason for the deviation in the child support order. Once a judge signs a child support order, the court only changes the obligation of the supporting parent if a party can prove a material change in circumstances.
River Braun, J.D.
Kentuckian child support guidelines apply to the whole state, including the cities of Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro and Covington. Variations in support payments may be made by the agreement of parents or at the discretion of a judge presiding over your case.
Payment Calculators by State