Kansas Child Support Guidelines

Kansas calculates child support using the income shares model, which estimates how much parents at a given income level typically spend on their children and then divides that amount between both parents in proportion to their respective incomes. The Kansas Child Support Guidelines are established under Kansas Supreme Court Administrative Order and apply to all child support cases in the state unless the court makes specific findings justifying a deviation.

This article explains how Kansas’s guidelines work step by step. For a national overview, see our guide on how child support is calculated.

How the Income Shares Model Works in Kansas

Kansas’s income shares model follows the principle that children should receive the same share of parental income they would have received if the parents lived together. The basic calculation steps are:

1. Determine each parent’s domestic gross income
2. Calculate adjusted gross income by subtracting certain allowable deductions
3. Combine both parents’ adjusted gross incomes
4. Look up the child support obligation on the Kansas Child Support Schedule based on combined income and the number of children
5. Divide the obligation between the parents based on their proportional share of combined income
6. Add adjustments for health insurance, childcare, and other expenses
7. Apply any parenting time adjustment
8. The noncustodial parent’s resulting share becomes the child support order

The guidelines amount is a rebuttable presumption — it is presumed correct unless a party demonstrates that deviation is justified.

Domestic Gross Income

Kansas uses the term “domestic gross income” as the starting point for child support calculations. This is a broad definition that includes virtually all sources of income.

What Counts as Domestic Gross Income

Domestic gross income includes wages, salaries, tips, commissions, bonuses, overtime pay, self-employment income, interest, dividends, rental income, royalties, trust and estate income, pension and retirement payments, Social Security benefits (excluding SSI), workers’ compensation, unemployment and disability benefits, spousal maintenance received, military pay and allowances, and income from the use of property.

Adjustments to Reach Adjusted Gross Income

Kansas makes specific deductions from domestic gross income to arrive at adjusted gross income:

• Income taxes (federal, state, local, and FICA)
• Mandatory retirement contributions required by the employer
• Court-ordered child support for children from other relationships that is actually being paid
• Court-ordered spousal maintenance that is actually being paid
• Union dues and professional dues (if required for employment)

Voluntary retirement contributions, personal debt payments, and elective deductions are generally not subtracted.

The Kansas Child Support Schedule

Kansas publishes a Child Support Schedule — a table that specifies the total support obligation based on the combined adjusted gross income of both parents and the number of children. The schedule covers a wide range of income levels.

How to use the schedule:

1. Find the row that corresponds to the combined monthly adjusted gross income.
2. Find the column for the number of children.
3. The amount at that intersection is the total child support obligation for both parents combined.

Example: If combined monthly adjusted gross income is $5,500 with two children, the schedule might show approximately $1,150 per month. If Parent A earns $3,300 (60%) and Parent B earns $2,200 (40%), Parent A is responsible for $690 and Parent B for $460. If Parent B is the residential parent, Parent A pays their $690 share as child support. Parent B’s share is presumed spent directly on the children.

Health Insurance and Childcare

Health Insurance

The cost of health insurance premiums for the children is handled outside the basic support obligation. The parent who provides coverage pays the premium, and the children’s share of that premium is divided between the parents in proportion to their income shares.

Kansas law requires every child support order to address health insurance coverage. The court considers which parent can obtain coverage at a reasonable cost and typically orders that parent to maintain it.

Childcare Costs

Reasonable work-related childcare expenses are added to the basic support obligation and divided between the parents proportionally. To qualify, the childcare must be necessary because the parent is:

• Working
• Actively seeking employment
• Attending school or job training

The net cost of childcare is used — any childcare subsidies, tax credits, or dependent care flexible spending account benefits are subtracted before the expense is divided.

Unreimbursed Medical Expenses

Unreimbursed medical expenses for the children — copays, deductibles, prescriptions, dental and orthodontic work, vision care, mental health treatment, and other out-of-pocket costs — are divided between the parents. Kansas guidelines typically allocate these costs in proportion to each parent’s share of combined income.

Parenting Time Adjustment

The guidelines include a parenting time adjustment that can reduce the noncustodial parent’s obligation when they have the child for a significant number of overnights. The adjustment applies a multiplier based on overnight count to account for direct expenses that parent incurs.

In shared or equal parenting time arrangements, each parent’s obligation to the other is calculated and the amounts are offset. The parent with the higher income pays the net difference.

Imputed Income

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income — assigning earning capacity rather than actual earnings. The court considers the parent’s education, training, work experience, local job market, age, health, past earnings, and whether the decision to reduce income was made in good faith or to avoid support obligations.

Income is generally not imputed to a parent caring for a very young child (typically under age two), unable to work due to a genuine disability, or making a good-faith career change that will increase future earning capacity.

High-Income Cap

The Kansas Child Support Schedule covers combined incomes up to a specified maximum. When combined income exceeds the top of the schedule, the court can apply the highest table amount or set a higher amount based on the children’s actual needs and the family’s pre-separation standard of living. Courts require evidence of actual child-related expenses in these cases.

Deviation Factors

The court can deviate upward or downward if the guidelines amount would be unjust or inappropriate. Recognized deviation factors include the child’s special needs, the overall financial condition of the parties, long-distance parenting time costs, the needs of other children the parent supports, tax consequences, and agreement of the parties. The court must make specific findings on the record explaining why the deviation is warranted.

Modification of Child Support

Either parent can petition the court to modify a child support order when there has been a material change in circumstances. Kansas applies a specific numerical threshold: a modification is generally warranted when the recalculated amount differs from the current order by at least 10%.

Common grounds include a significant change in either parent’s income, a change in custody or parenting time, a change in the children’s needs, a change in health insurance costs, emancipation of one child in a multi-child order, or incarceration of the obligor parent.

Process for Modification

To modify child support, you file a motion with the court that issued the original order, demonstrating the material change and providing updated financial information. The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) can also review existing orders and initiate modifications. Changes take effect from the filing date, not retroactively — past-due support cannot be reduced after the fact.

Duration of Child Support

Kansas child support continues until the child reaches age 18, or if still in high school, until June 30 of that school year (not past age 19). Kansas does not require parents to pay for college, though parents can voluntarily agree to share those costs. Support may be extended for a child with a disability that prevents self-support.

What to Do Next

If child support is an issue in your Kansas case, these steps will help protect your interests and your children’s financial well-being:

1. Gather complete income documentation. Collect pay stubs, tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, business records, and documentation of all income sources. Kansas uses a broad definition of domestic gross income, so make sure everything is accounted for.
2. Track child-related expenses. Keep records of health insurance premiums, unreimbursed medical costs, childcare expenses, and any extraordinary costs. These are divided on top of the basic support obligation and can significantly affect the total amount.
3. Document your parenting time. If you have extended or shared parenting time, maintain a careful record of overnights. The parenting time adjustment can reduce the noncustodial parent’s obligation based on the actual schedule.
4. Run the numbers. Use the Kansas Child Support Schedule to estimate the guideline amount. Knowing the baseline figure helps you prepare for negotiations or a hearing.
5. Consult with a Kansas family law attorney. Child support involves important details — income imputation, deviation factors, parenting time adjustments, and the interplay with custody arrangements. An experienced attorney can make sure the calculation is accurate and fair.

Schedule a free consultation to discuss your Kansas child support questions with an experienced family law attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Kansas calculate child support?

Kansas uses the income shares model. Both parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the Child Support Schedule specifies a total obligation based on that combined income and the number of children. Each parent pays their proportional share. Adjustments are then made for health insurance, childcare, and parenting time.

What is the 10% rule for modifying child support in Kansas?

Kansas uses a 10% threshold for modification. If a recalculation based on current circumstances produces an amount that differs from the existing order by at least 10%, the change is considered material and the court will generally grant a modification. Either parent can file a motion requesting a review.

Can the court assign income to a parent who is not working?

Yes. If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court can impute income based on that parent’s education, work history, skills, and the local job market. This ensures that a parent cannot avoid child support by choosing not to work or by working below their capacity.

Does parenting time affect the child support amount?

Yes. Kansas applies a parenting time adjustment that can reduce the noncustodial parent’s support obligation when that parent has the child for a significant number of overnights. In shared or equal parenting arrangements, each parent’s obligation is calculated and the amounts are offset, with the higher-income parent paying the net difference.

How long does child support last in Kansas?

Child support typically continues until the child turns 18. If the child is still in high school at age 18, support may continue until June 30 of that school year or until the child turns 19, whichever comes first. Support may be extended for a child with a disability. Kansas does not require parents to pay support for college attendance, though parents can agree to share college costs voluntarily.