Oklahoma requires both parents to financially support their children together when a marriage or relationship ends. Understanding the state’s guidelines can give parents an idea of what to expect after divorce in terms of paying or receiving child support. Parents can also agree on their own child support arrangement as long as it supports the child’s best interests.
Review the factors that affect child support calculations in Oklahoma.
Determining gross income
The state first looks at each parent’s adjusted gross income. Depending on the family’s circumstances, the court may take the person’s past three years of average monthly income or the monthly income he or she would earn in a 40-hour week. If a parent does not regularly work, the court may use the estimated income of a person with similar education and skills or minimum wage for a 40-hour workweek.
Establishing parental obligation
The Oklahoma child support guidelines compare the parents’ total adjusted gross income to the base monthly average allocation for the number of children they have together. The court can adjust this allocation based on a variety of factors, including the amount of time the children spend in each parent’s household, whether either parent earns an exceptionally high income, and whether a child has any special education or health care needs. Oklahoma does not consider public assistance received or child support payments either parent receives for other children.
Child support ends in Oklahoma when the child turns 18 or 19 if he or she is still in high school. Either parent can request a modification of child support if financial circumstances substantially change.