Kentucky Child Support Laws: Guidelines and Calculations

How Kentucky Calculates Child Support

Kentucky uses the income shares model to determine child support obligations. This model is based on the principle that a child should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if both parents lived together.

The governing statute is KRS 403.212, which was most recently amended by 2024 Kentucky Acts Chapter 219 (HB 244), effective July 1, 2025.

Under this model, the court follows these steps:

1. Determine each parent's gross monthly income
2. Combine both parents' gross incomes
3. Look up the base child support obligation on the guidelines table based on combined income and number of children
4. Divide the obligation proportionally based on each parent's share of combined income
5. Apply the parenting time credit if applicable
6. Add each parent's proportional share of health insurance and child care costs

For example, if Parent A earns $4,000 per month and Parent B earns $6,000, the combined income is $10,000. Parent A is responsible for 40% of the obligation, and Parent B is responsible for 60%.

What Counts as Income in Kentucky

Kentucky defines gross income broadly under KRS 403.212. The court considers income from virtually all sources, including:

• Wages, salaries, and commissions
• Bonuses and severance pay
• Self-employment income (minus ordinary business expenses)
• Pensions, annuities, and retirement benefits
• Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Disability and workers' compensation benefits
• Unemployment insurance benefits
• Dividends, interest, and investment income
• Rental income and royalties
• Gifts and prizes of recurring value
• Alimony received from a previous relationship

What is excluded: Means-tested public assistance such as SNAP (food stamps), TANF, and similar benefits are not counted as income.

Adjusted gross income is calculated by subtracting court-ordered alimony payments and child support obligations for children from other relationships.

The Child Support Obligation Table

Kentucky's child support guidelines include an obligation table built into KRS 403.212. This table lists the base monthly child support obligation based on the parents' combined monthly gross income and the number of children.

The table covers combined monthly incomes up to approximately $30,000. For parents whose combined income exceeds the top of the table, the court uses judicial discretion to set an appropriate amount based on the child's needs and the parents' financial resources.

The Kentucky Attorney General's office publishes the official guidelines table and worksheet. As of July 1, 2025, the Attorney General's office also provides a manual with examples on its website to help parents understand how the guidelines apply.

Kentucky also provides an online child support calculator that estimates obligations based on the information you enter. Keep in mind that this tool provides an estimate only, and a judge may adjust the final amount.

Minimum Child Support and the Self-Support Reserve

The minimum guideline amount of child support in Kentucky is $60 per month per child. A judge may deviate from this amount only if specific findings support a different figure.

Kentucky also applies a self-support reserve for low-income parents. When the paying parent's income falls below a certain threshold, the calculation adjusts to use that parent's individual adjusted gross income rather than the combined parental income. This protects low-income obligors from support orders that would push them below subsistence level.

Parenting Time Credit (KRS 403.2122)

One of the most significant changes to Kentucky child support law came through House Bill 501 (signed April 8, 2022, effective March 31, 2023), which introduced a parenting time adjustment. This was further refined by HB 244 in 2024, which created KRS 403.2122, effective July 1, 2025.

Under these provisions, a parent who has the child for at least 73 days per year qualifies for a shared parenting time credit that reduces their child support obligation. A "day" is defined as more than 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period under the care, control, or direct supervision of one parent.

The credit percentages are:

Parenting Time (Days Per Year)	Credit Percentage
73 to 87 days	10.5%
88 to 115 days	15%
116 to 129 days	20.5%
130 to 142 days	25%
143 to 152 days	30.5%
153 to 162 days	36%
163 to 172 days	42%
173 to 181 days	48.5%
182 to 182.5 days	50%

The parenting time must be court-ordered or approved by both parties and must be consistently exercised. Under KRS 403.2122, the court may also consider whether a parent has consistently followed the time-sharing schedule when evaluating a modification request.

Important limitation: The parenting time credit does not apply if the child receives public assistance.

Imputed Income for Unemployed or Underemployed Parents

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income to that parent. This means child support will be calculated based on what the parent could reasonably earn given their education, skills, work history, and the availability of jobs in the community.

The court considers the following when imputing income:

• The parent's employment history and recent earnings
• Education, training, and professional skills
• Physical and mental health
• Job availability in the local area
• The parent's efforts to find employment

The court cannot impute income if the parent is:

• Physically or mentally incapacitated
• Caring for a child under the age of 3
• Incarcerated

The court may find a parent voluntarily unemployed even without evidence that the parent intended to avoid child support. If you have lost your job or taken a lower-paying position, consult a family law attorney about how this may affect your support obligation.

2025 Changes: Transfer to the Attorney General's Office

Effective July 1, 2025, Kentucky's child support program transferred from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office, Department of Child Support Services. This change was enacted through HB 244 (2024 Acts Chapter 219).

Key changes that took effect on July 1, 2025:

• The Attorney General's office now administers child support enforcement statewide
• The Attorney General is required to promulgate an administrative regulation establishing the child support obligation worksheet
• The Attorney General's website hosts a manual with examples illustrating how the guidelines and worksheet apply
• The shared parenting time credit provisions were codified under the new KRS 403.2122
• Medical expense allocation was clarified, establishing which parent is responsible for the initial $250 in medical expenses

If you have an existing child support case, it was automatically transferred to the Attorney General's office. You can access services through the Kentucky Child Support website or by calling (800) 248-1163.

How to Modify Child Support in Kentucky

Kentucky allows either parent to request a modification of child support when there is a material change of circumstances that is substantial and continuing.

Under KRS 403.213, if a new calculation differs from the existing order by at least 15%, there is a presumption that modification is warranted. If the difference is less than 15%, there is a presumption against modification.

Common grounds for modification include:

• Significant change in either parent's income (job loss, new employment, promotion)
• Change in the parenting time arrangement
• Change in the child's medical or educational needs
• Significant change in health insurance or child care costs
• Changes in the law (such as the 2023 or 2025 amendments)

To request a modification:

1. Submit a written request to your local child support office or the Attorney General's Department of Child Support Services
2. Provide current income documentation (pay stubs, tax returns, W-2 forms)
3. Include evidence of the changed circumstances
4. If both parents agree, submit a proposed modified order for court approval

If parents cannot agree, a judge will hold a hearing and make the determination. Modifications are not retroactive in Kentucky. The new amount takes effect only from the date the modification is filed or ordered.

Enforcement of Child Support in Kentucky

Kentucky has multiple tools to enforce child support orders. The Department of Child Support Services under the Attorney General's office handles enforcement statewide.

Enforcement actions include:

• Income withholding: Wages, salary, bonuses, and commissions can be garnished directly from the paying parent's employer
• Unemployment and benefit interception: Unemployment insurance, disability benefits, and retirement payments may be intercepted
• Tax refund interception: State and federal tax refunds can be seized when arrears exceed $500 (state) or $500 (federal, for non-public assistance cases)
• Passport denial: The U.S. State Department will deny or revoke a passport when child support arrears exceed $2,500
• Property liens and seizure: Liens can be placed on real estate, vehicles, boats, and other property after one month of unpaid support
• License suspension: Driver's licenses, professional licenses, and recreational licenses may be suspended after six months of unpaid support
• Bank account levy: Financial accounts can be frozen and funds seized to satisfy arrears
• Credit reporting: Unpaid child support may be reported to credit bureaus, affecting the parent's credit score

Criminal Penalties for Failure to Pay

Under KRS 530.050, persistent failure to pay child support can result in criminal charges.

Nonsupport (Class A Misdemeanor)

A parent commits nonsupport when they fail to provide support that they can reasonably provide and know they have a duty to provide. Penalties include:

• Up to 12 months in jail
• Fines up to $500
• For a second offense: minimum 7 days in jail
• For a third or subsequent offense: minimum 30 days in jail

Flagrant Nonsupport (Class D Felony)

A parent commits flagrant nonsupport when they persistently fail to provide support they can reasonably provide and know they have a duty to provide, and the failure results in:

• Arrears of $2,500 or more, or
• Six consecutive months without any payment, or
• The dependent being placed in destitute circumstances

Penalties for a Class D felony include:

• 1 to 5 years in prison
• Fines of $1,000 to $10,000

Incarceration is typically a last resort because it limits the parent's ability to earn income and make payments.

Interest on Arrears and Statute of Limitations

Kentucky charges 12% annual interest on unpaid child support arrears. This interest compounds and can significantly increase the total amount owed over time.

The statute of limitations to enforce child support arrears in Kentucky is 15 years from the date the child emancipates (turns 18, or 19 if the order extends through high school). After this period, the custodial parent loses the ability to use the judgment to collect.

Paternity must be established before the child's 19th birthday for a support obligation to be created.

Important: Emancipation of the child does not eliminate existing arrears. Any unpaid child support that accumulated while the child was a minor remains enforceable for 15 years after emancipation.

When Does Child Support End in Kentucky?

Child support in Kentucky automatically terminates when the child turns 18. However, the court may order support to continue until the child turns 19 if the child is still enrolled in and attending high school at age 18. In that case, support continues until the end of the school year in which the child turns 19.

If you are paying support for multiple children under one order, the obligation does not automatically decrease when one child ages out. You must petition the court for a modification to adjust the amount.

Emancipation Before Age 18

Kentucky law allows minors to become emancipated before turning 18 under certain conditions. A minor may be emancipated if they:

• Are at least 16 years old
• Get married with parental consent
• Enlist in the United States military
• Are financially self-supporting
• Do not live with a parent or guardian
• Have a lawful source of income
• Can demonstrate that emancipation serves their best interest

Once a child is legally emancipated, the parent's child support obligation ends. However, terminating parental rights or emancipation does not erase any child support arrears that accumulated before the emancipation date.

Health Insurance and Medical Expenses

Kentucky requires both parents to share the cost of health insurance for the child. The parent who carries the insurance receives a credit on the child support worksheet for the cost of adding the child to their plan.

Under the 2025 amendments (HB 244), the allocation of medical expenses was clarified. One parent is responsible for the initial $250 in annual uninsured medical expenses, with costs above that amount divided proportionally between the parents based on their share of combined income.

Work-related child care costs, such as daycare or after-school care needed for a parent to maintain employment, are also divided proportionally and factored into the support calculation.