How is income imputed for a parent who is a full-time student with no income?

A parent who is a full-time student with no income does not automatically have income imputed at a prior or hypothetical working level, since courts recognize that a genuine, reasonable decision to pursue education can be a legitimate reason for reduced current income, particularly where it's likely to improve long-term earning capacity. The analysis looks at whether the choice to study full-time was made in good faith, whether there was a reasonable plan for supporting the children during that period, how long the program is expected to last, and whether the parent could realistically have combined some work with their studies.

A parent who becomes a full-time student specifically to avoid a support obligation, with no credible plan for improved future earnings or interim support for the children, is treated very differently from one pursuing a genuine, time-limited program with a clear path to significantly better employment. Courts may also consider whether the parent could reasonably work part-time alongside their studies, since a genuine claim of "no income" is scrutinized against what income could realistically be earned even while studying. Because this is a balancing exercise, documenting the program's legitimacy, expected duration, and any interim income plan matters.