{
  "slug": "child-support-calculator-wisconsin",
  "title": "Wisconsin Child Support Calculator (percentage-of-income standard)",
  "heading": "Wisconsin Child Support Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/child-support-calculator-wisconsin",
  "summary": "Estimates guideline child support in Wisconsin using the state's percentage-of-income standard formula.",
  "description": "Estimates a guideline child support obligation in Wisconsin using that state's percentage-of-income standard model: the obligor's monthly gross income is capped at the statutory/editable cap, then multiplied by the guideline percentage for the number of children (1: 17%, 2: 25%, 3: 29%, 4: 31%, 5: 34%, 5+: same as 5). This is an estimate only, not legal advice — actual awards depend on the specific court, county guideline worksheets, and judicial discretion, and a judge may deviate from the guideline for good cause.",
  "formula": "Wisconsin guideline = min(monthly gross income, cap) × guideline % for the number of children (1 child: 17%, 2 children: 25%, 3 children: 29%, 4 children: 31%, 5 children: 34%), plus the child's health insurance premium.",
  "dateModified": "2026-01-15",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=child-support-calculator-wisconsin",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "monthlyResources",
      "label": "Obligor's monthly gross income",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": "Gross income before taxes",
      "default": 5000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "children",
      "label": "Number of children in this case",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 7
    },
    {
      "id": "cap",
      "label": "Income ceiling before the court may deviate (editable)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 999999,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "healthInsurance",
      "label": "Child's health insurance premium paid by obligor",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0,
      "unit": "$/mo",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "existingSupport",
      "label": "Existing court-ordered support for other children",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0,
      "unit": "$/mo",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Estimated monthly support (incl. health premium)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "guideline",
      "label": "Guideline percentage amount",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "pct",
      "label": "Guideline % applied (gross income)",
      "format": "percent",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "cappedResources",
      "label": "Gross income used (after cap)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Obligor's monthly gross income: 5000 $",
      "Number of children in this case: 1",
      "Income ceiling before the court may deviate (editable): 999999 $",
      "Child's health insurance premium paid by obligor: 0 $/mo",
      "Existing court-ordered support for other children: 0 $/mo"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Estimated monthly support (incl. health premium): $850",
      "Guideline percentage amount: $850",
      "Guideline % applied (gross income): 17%",
      "Gross income used (after cap): $5,000"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter obligor's monthly gross income ($) — Gross income before taxes.",
      "Enter number of children in this case.",
      "Enter income ceiling before the court may deviate (editable) ($).",
      "Enter child's health insurance premium paid by obligor ($/mo).",
      "Enter existing court-ordered support for other children ($/mo).",
      "Read your estimated monthly support (incl. health premium) on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "monthlyResources": 3000,
        "children": 1,
        "cap": 600000,
        "healthInsurance": 0,
        "existingSupport": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "monthlyResources": 5000,
        "children": 1,
        "cap": 1000000,
        "healthInsurance": 0,
        "existingSupport": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "monthlyResources": 8000,
        "children": 2,
        "cap": 1600000,
        "healthInsurance": 0,
        "existingSupport": 0
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How does Wisconsin calculate guideline child support?",
      "a": "Wisconsin uses a percentage-of-income standard: the obligor's monthly gross income, capped at the statutory/editable cap, is multiplied by a percentage that increases with the number of children (17/25/29/31/34%)."
    },
    {
      "q": "Wisconsin's percentage standard is applied to the payer's gross income alone (not combined with the other parent's)?",
      "a": "Wisconsin's percentage standard is applied to the payer's gross income alone (not combined with the other parent's), which is a key difference from income-shares states."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does this include childcare or extraordinary medical costs?",
      "a": "Not automatically — this estimate covers the base guideline percentage plus the health insurance premium you enter. Courts in Wisconsin can add childcare, uninsured medical, and extracurricular costs on top of the guideline amount."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is this figure binding on a Wisconsin court?",
      "a": "No. This is an estimate only, not legal advice — actual awards depend on the specific court, county guideline worksheets, and judicial discretion, and a judge may deviate from the guideline for good cause."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/alimony-calculator-wisconsin"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Wisconsin Child Support Calculator (percentage-of-income standard) (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/child-support-calculator-wisconsin)"
}