How is Child Support Calculated in Utah?

Child support in Utah can feel confusing and cold. You want to protect your child. You also want a fair plan that does not crush you. Utah uses set rules to decide who pays, how much, and for how long. You do not have to guess. You can learn how the numbers work. This guide explains how courts look at income, parenting time, health costs, and other needs. It also explains what happens if a parent hides money or refuses to work. You will see how worksheets, state guidelines, and court orders fit together. You will know what to expect before you walk into a courtroom or speak with a Utah child support attorney. You can use this knowledge to plan, ask clear questions, and push for a support order that feeds and shelters your child.

1. The basic rule: Both parents share support

Utah law treats child support as a shared duty. Both parents must support the child. The court looks at your incomes and your parenting time. Then it assigns a monthly amount that one parent pays the other.

Utah calls this the “income shares” model. The court asks a simple question. If you still lived in one home, how much of your combined income would go to your child. Then it splits that cost between you based on your share of the income.

You can read the state’s child support guide and worksheets at the Utah Courts site here. Utah Courts Child Support Information.

2. Step one: Count each parent’s gross income

The court starts with gross income. This is income before taxes and other deductions. It includes:

• Wages and salary
• Overtime and tips
• Bonuses and commissions
• Self employment income
• Unemployment and some disability payments
• Some pensions and investment income

The court may not count needs based public aid. For example, some cash help or food help.

If a parent works less by choice or quits work to avoid support, the court can “impute” income. That means the court can treat the parent as if they earn what they could earn with training and work history.

3. Step two: Use the Utah child support tables

Next, the court adds your gross incomes. Then it looks at the state support tables for your income level and number of children.

You can see the official guidelines and tables from the Utah Department of Human Services here. Utah Child Support Guidelines.

The tables show one combined support amount for the child. The court then splits that amount between you. The split is based on each parent’s share of the combined income.

Example. Income shares child support for one child

Item	Parent A	Parent B
Monthly gross income	$3,000	$2,000
Combined income	$5,000
Share of combined income	60 percent	40 percent
Guideline base support for one child at $5,000 combined income	$800
Share of base support	$480	$320

If the child lives most of the time with Parent A, then Parent B would pay their share. In this example, Parent B would pay $320 each month, plus possible extra costs.

4. Step three: Factor in custody and overnights

Utah child support amounts change with parenting time. The court looks at how many nights the child spends with each parent each year. Utah uses three main types of custody for support.

• Sole physical custody. One parent has the child more than 225 nights.
• Joint physical custody. Each parent has at least 111 nights.
• Split custody. Each parent has at least one child living with them most of the time.

For joint or split custody, the court uses different worksheets. The more overnights a parent has, the more costs they cover at home. That reduces what they pay to the other parent.

5. Step four: Add health insurance and child care

Child support in Utah also covers health care and work related child care. The court looks at:

• Which parent carries health insurance
• The cost to add the child to the plan
• Out of pocket medical and dental costs
• Child care needed so a parent can work or go to school

The court splits these costs in the same ratio as your incomes. One parent might pay the bill up front. The other parent then pays their share through support or direct pay.

6. What if a parent hides income or refuses to work

Some parents try to shrink support by working less or hiding money. Utah courts see this often. The judge can look at tax returns, bank records, and job history. The court can also look at living costs that do not match stated income.

If the court finds that a parent is underemployed by choice, it can set income based on what that parent could earn. The court may use past wages, job listings, or expert input.

If a parent does not pay, Utah can:

• Take wages
• Take tax refunds
• Place liens on property
• Suspend some licenses

7. When the court can change child support

Life changes. Jobs end. Health shifts. A child’s needs grow. Utah lets you ask the court to change support when there is a clear change in facts.

You can seek a change when:

• Income for one or both parents changes by a set percent
• Parenting time changes
• Health or child care costs change
• A child becomes an adult or moves out

You file a motion to adjust or modify support. You show proof of the change. The court then runs the numbers again with the new facts.

8. How to prepare before you meet with a lawyer or go to court

You can lower stress by preparing early. Gather:

• Pay stubs and tax returns
• Proof of health insurance costs
• Child care bills
• Any proof of other income
• A calendar of parenting time

Then you can use the online worksheets from the Utah Courts site to test different cases. That gives you a rough idea of the support range. It also helps you see where you and the other parent may disagree.

9. Key takeaways for Utah parents

Utah child support follows clear rules. The court:

• Starts with each parent’s gross income
• Uses state tables to find a base support amount
• Adjusts for custody, health care, and child care

Child support is about food, shelter, and safety for your child. When you understand the rules, you gain control. You can ask for what the law allows. You can respond when the other parent pushes for something unfair. You can stand in court with steady ground under your feet.