How does child support work when parents have split custody of multiple children?

Split custody occurs when parents have more than one child and each parent has primary care of at least one child — for example, one teenager lives mainly with Mom and a younger child lives mainly with Dad. In this situation, the Child Support Guidelines direct the court to calculate support in both directions and then take the difference.

Each parent's table amount is calculated as though they were the payor for all the children the other parent is primarily raising. So if Dad would owe $1,000 per month for the two children and Mom would owe $700 per month for the same two children, the net payment would be $300 per month from Dad to Mom.

The set-off approach is the default, but courts retain discretion to adjust. If the resulting net amount seems insufficient given the children's actual needs, a judge can order more. Courts also look at whether the arrangement is genuine or designed to minimize support. Financial disclosure for both parents is mandatory. Given the complexity of calculating support across multiple children in different homes, getting legal advice early avoids misunderstandings and helps ensure the final order reflects everyone's real circumstances.