Child Support Calculations in Kansas

Kansas uses the Income Shares model under the Kansas Child Support Guidelines (effective May 1, 2025). Whether you're navigating an uncontested or contested divorce, understanding how Kansas calculates support is essential—the system combines both parents' incomes and considers factors like parenting time and child age brackets.

The Income Shares Model

Kansas calculates child support by combining both parents' incomes and allocating the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) proportionally based on each parent's share of total income:

• Step 1: Calculate each parent's child support income
• Step 2: Determine each parent's percentage share of combined income
• Step 3: Look up the BCSO in the Child Support Schedules (Appendix II) based on combined income, number of children, and child ages
• Step 4: Multiply the BCSO by each parent's percentage to get their share
• Step 5: Add child care and health insurance costs proportionally
• Step 6: Apply parenting time adjustments if applicable

Combined income cap: The schedules run up to approximately $18,000/month combined income. Above this, courts have discretion to extrapolate or cap at the table maximum.

Child Age Brackets

Kansas schedules use three age categories, reflecting that child costs change as children grow:

• 0-5 years: Younger children (infant through preschool)
• 6-11 years: Elementary school age
• 12-18 years: Middle and high school age

For multiple children in different age brackets, look up each child's amount separately and sum them to get the total BCSO.

What Counts as Income

Kansas broadly defines child support income to include:

• Employment income: Wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, overtime, severance
• Self-employment: Gross receipts minus reasonable business expenses
• Investment income: Dividends, interest, trust income
• Benefits: Pensions, annuities, Social Security
• In-kind benefits: Employer-paid housing, vehicle, meals that reduce living expenses

Excluded from income: Public assistance (SSI, TANF, Medicaid), child support received for other children, and new spouse's income.

Adjustments: Subtract court-ordered support paid for other children and court-ordered maintenance paid; add maintenance received.

Parenting Time Adjustments

When the nonresidential parent has significant parenting time (excluding school/daycare hours), Kansas allows adjustments:

• 35-39% parenting time: 10% reduction in support obligation
• 40-44% parenting time: 20% reduction
• 45-49% parenting time: 30% reduction
• 50% or more: Use the Direct Expense Formula (see below)

Important: School and daycare hours are excluded when calculating parenting time percentages. Courts retain discretion to adjust based on actual circumstances.

Equal Parenting Time: Direct Expense Formula

The 2024-2025 Kansas guidelines introduced the Direct Expense Formula for 50/50 or near-equal custody:

• Default method: One parent pays all "direct expenses" (school fees, activities) except clothing
• Balancing transfer: Support is calibrated so each parent bears costs proportional to their income share
• Add health insurance/childcare: These costs are allocated proportionally on top
• Not zero support: Even with equal time, the higher earner typically pays support

Alternative - Shared Expense Formula: If parents agree, they can split direct expenses proportionally and make periodic true-ups, with support covering remaining indirect costs.

Need a Deeper Analysis?

The calculator above gives you a quick estimate. For a comprehensive analysis covering income shares calculations, parenting time adjustments, and age bracket impacts, use the official worksheets from the Kansas Judicial Branch or get your full Kansas child support analysis here.

Add-Ons and Deviations

Kansas adds certain costs to the basic obligation:

• Work-related childcare: Added and allocated proportionally to income shares
• Health/dental/vision insurance: Child's share of premium is added proportionally
• Unreimbursed medical expenses: May be allocated with periodic reimbursement requirements

Deviation factors: Courts may deviate from the guidelines (with written findings) for long-distance parenting travel costs, special needs, income tax considerations, overall financial condition, or when the presumptive amount would be unjust.

Duration of Support: Age 18 with High School Extension

Kansas uses age 18 as the age of majority, with important extensions:

• Standard termination: Support ends at age 18
• High school extension: If the child turns 18 before finishing high school, support continues until June 30 of that school year
• Extended high school: Court may continue support through the school year when the child turns 19 if both parents participated in decisions that delayed graduation
• No college support: Kansas does not require post-majority college support unless parents agree in writing
• No adult disability duty: Kansas has no general duty to support adult disabled children absent agreement

Modification Standards

Either parent may request modification under these rules:

• Before 36 months: Must show a material change in circumstances—a 10% change in the presumptive guideline amount is typically sufficient. Check if you qualify for a modification
• After 36 months: Either parent may seek modification without proving a material change
• Retroactivity: Modifications apply only from the first day of the month after filing—file promptly if circumstances change

Qualifying changes: Significant income changes, parenting time shifts crossing PTA brackets, childcare/insurance cost changes, child aging into a new bracket, or new support obligations for other children.

Enforcement and Arrears

Kansas uses multiple enforcement tools through DCF Child Support Services:

• Income Withholding Order: Primary tool—employers must withhold up to 50% of disposable earnings
• License suspension: Driver's, recreational, and professional licenses may be restricted
• Passport denial: Federal denial at specified arrears threshold
• Tax refund intercept: State and federal refunds may be seized
• Credit bureau reporting: Delinquencies reported to credit agencies
• Liens: Against real estate and certain personal property
• Contempt: Willful nonpayment may result in court contempt proceedings

Payment processing: All payments go through the Kansas Payment Center (KPC). A case becomes delinquent 30 days after the due date.

Interest on Arrears

Kansas applies the annual judgment interest rate to unpaid support:

• Current rate (July 2025 - June 2026): 8.25% per year
• Previous rate (July 2024 - June 2025): 9.50% per year
• Interest type: Simple (not compounding)
• Rate updates: The Secretary of State publishes new rates each July 1

Common Calculation Mistakes

• Counting school/daycare hours: These are excluded when calculating parenting time percentages
• Using old EPT worksheet: The 2024-2025 guidelines replaced the Equal Parenting Time worksheet with the Direct Expense Formula
• Assuming zero support for 50/50: Even equal time typically results in support from the higher earner
• Extrapolating automatically: Above $18,000/month combined income, extrapolation is discretionary, not required
• Ignoring age brackets: Each child's age affects the schedule amount
• Delaying modification filing: Relief is retroactive only to the first day of the month after filing

Key Takeaways

• Income Shares model: Both parents' incomes combined, obligation split proportionally
• Age brackets: 0-5, 6-11, 12-18 affect BCSO amounts
• $18,000 combined cap: Courts have discretion above schedule maximum
• 35% parenting time threshold: Adjustments range from 10-30% reduction
• Direct Expense Formula: New method for equal/near-equal custody
• Age 18 majority: With high school extension to June 30 (or age 19 in some cases)
• 10% modification rule: Change in presumptive amount = material change before 36 months
• 8.25% arrears interest: Simple interest, updated annually each July 1

For more information about Kansas divorce processes, see our Kansas divorce timeline and filing checklist. For property division information, review our Kansas marital property guide.