Child Support by StateState guideline estimators

Louisiana · income shares

Louisiana child support calculator

Louisiana child support is the non-domiciliary parent’s income share of a basic obligation from the R.S. 9:315.19 schedule, based on both parents’ adjusted gross income, plus child care and insurance. With incomes of $6,000 and $4,000 a month and one child, that is about $817.20 a month under the 2025 schedule.

Child Support by State editorial teamUpdated 8 sources

La. R.S. 9:315.19 · schedule effective Jan 1, 2025

Louisiana child support calculator

La. R.S. 9:315 guidelines: the schedule in force since January 1, 2025, Worksheet A and the shared custody worksheet.

Parent A is the domiciliary parent (the children live mainly with them); Parent B pays. With shared custody, either parent may pay.

Children in this case
Monthly gross incomeFrom any source; self-employment net of ordinary and necessary expenses (R.S. 9:315(C)(3)).
of 365
Health insurance, child care and other children
Child or spousal support paid to othersPreexisting court-ordered support paid to a non-party.
Net child care costsMonthly, after the federal child care credit, in the column of the parent who pays.
Health insurance premium for these childrenThe children’s portion, in the column of the parent who pays.

Example

Estimated guideline child support

$817.20per month

Parent B pays Parent A · about $189 a week

Worksheet

  1. 01Combined adjusted monthly gross income$10,000.00
  2. 02Basic obligation, 1 child (interpolated)$1,362.00
  3. 03Parent B’s share (60.0%)$817.20
  4. 04Guideline child support$817.20

With more than 73 days a year in joint custody, the court may give the paying parent a credit; Louisiana sets no formula for it (R.S. 9:315.8(E)).

Estimate under La. R.S. 9:315–9:315.20. In joint custody with more than 73 days, the court may give a credit that has no formula; courts can also deviate with reasons. The DCFS estimator is the official tool.

Schedule 9:315.19 ($1,050–$50,000), interpolated between $50 rows. Adjusted income = gross − support paid to non-parties. Net child care, the children’s insurance premium and extraordinary costs are added and shared by income. Shared custody (approximately equal time): basic obligation × 1.5, each share × the other parent’s percentage of time, capped at the Worksheet A amount.

Try a common case:1 child · $6,000 + $4,000/mo2 children · $5,000 + $3,000/mo3 children · $9,000 + $5,000/moEqual time · 1 child · $6,000 + $4,000

How we checked it. All 980 schedule rows equal the enrolled Act 86 of 2024 text.

Known limits. The joint custody credit above 73 days is discretionary and not calculated.

Rules: Schedule since Jan. 1, 2025 · Last checked November 13, 2026 · Download the official table (CSV)

How the Louisiana child support calculator works

This Louisiana child support calculator follows R.S. 9:315.2 and Obligation Worksheet A, with the schedule reenacted by Act 86 of 2024 for orders from January 1, 2025.[1][2][3]

  1. Gross income from any source; self-employment income net of ordinary and necessary expenses.
  2. Adjusted gross income: subtract court-ordered child or spousal support paid to people outside the case.
  3. Basic obligation from the schedule for combined adjusted income, extrapolated between rows.[6]
  4. Add-ons: net child care (after the federal credit), the children’s health insurance premium and extraordinary costs.
  5. Shares: the non-domiciliary parent owes their income share, minus what they pay directly.[4]

The 2025 Louisiana schedule

The schedule runs from $1,050 to $50,000 of combined adjusted monthly gross income for one to six children and builds in a self-sufficiency reserve for low-income parents.[1][2]

Selected rows of the R.S. 9:315.19 schedule (monthly, effective January 1, 2025)
Combined adjusted income1 child2 children3 children4 children
$2,000$402$617$735$750
$4,000$761$1,167$1,421$1,587
$6,000$1,054$1,609$1,951$2,179
$8,000$1,210$1,845$2,234$2,495
$10,000$1,362$2,053$2,458$2,746
$15,000$1,767$2,636$3,121$3,486
$20,000$2,125$3,149$3,702$4,135

Below $1,050 the court sets support from actual income and ability to pay; above $50,000 it decides, but not less than the top amount in the schedule.[6]

Joint custody and shared custody

Louisiana distinguishes two situations.[4][5]

  • Joint custody with more than 73 days (a day is at least four hours) for the paying parent: the court may give a credit, but there is no formula.
  • Shared custody, when each parent has the children for an approximately equal amount of time: the basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each parent’s share is multiplied by the other parent’s percentage of time, and the parent who owes more pays the difference, but never more than under Worksheet A.

Tick the shared custody box in the calculator for the Worksheet B result.

Child care, insurance and deviations

Net child care costs, the children’s health insurance premium, uninsured medical costs above $250 per child per year and agreed extraordinary expenses such as special schooling are added and shared by income.[3] Courts may deviate when the guideline amount is not in the child’s best interest or is inequitable, giving reasons on the record.

Official Louisiana resources

The Department of Children and Family Services publishes the Louisiana Child Support Estimator and explains how support is calculated.[7][8]

Neighboring Texas uses a percentage of the payer’s income (Texas child support calculator) and Arkansas a chart with a $900 reserve (Arkansas child support calculator). See every state on the child support calculator page.

An estimate, not an order. The court decides the amount. Not legal advice; see our legal disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in Louisiana?

Both parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined, the R.S. 9:315.19 schedule gives the basic obligation, child care and insurance are added, and the non-domiciliary parent pays their income share.

How much is child support in Louisiana for one child?

At $10,000 of combined adjusted income the 2025 schedule gives $1,362 a month for one child, divided by income share.

Does 50/50 custody change child support in Louisiana?

Yes. With approximately equal time, the shared custody worksheet multiplies the basic obligation by 1.5 and offsets each parent’s share by time.

When did the Louisiana schedule change?

January 1, 2025, under Act 86 of 2024. The schedule now runs up to $50,000 of combined monthly income.

Sources

  1. La. R.S. 9:315.19, Schedule for support · Louisiana State Legislature, as reenacted by Acts 2024, No. 86, effective January 1, 2025
  2. HB 773 (2024), enrolled: Act 86 of 2024 (new schedule) · Louisiana State Legislature, effective January 1, 2025
  3. La. R.S. 9:315.2, Calculation of basic child support obligation · Louisiana State Legislature, as amended effective January 1, 2024
  4. La. R.S. 9:315.8, Calculation of total child support obligation (joint custody credit) · Louisiana State Legislature, current
  5. La. R.S. 9:315.9, Effect of shared custodial arrangement · Louisiana State Legislature, current
  6. La. R.S. 9:315.13, Amounts not set forth in or exceeding schedule · Louisiana State Legislature, as amended effective January 1, 2025
  7. Calculate Child Support · Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, checked November 13, 2026
  8. Louisiana Child Support Estimator · Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, checked November 13, 2026