LOUISIANA SUPPORT GUIDELINE
Louisiana child support calculator & worksheet
Louisiana Revised Statutes section 9:315 uses a combined adjusted-gross-income schedule. Between-row interpolation and Worksheet A allocation are part of the ordinary case.
Current module status
| State | Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Status | Active base worksheet module |
| Guideline model | income shares monthly table |
| Primary income field | Combined adjusted monthly gross income |
How Louisiana child support law works
Legal starting point. Louisiana Revised Statutes section 9:315 and following use a combined adjusted-gross-income schedule. The guideline begins with a basic obligation but adds the costs and adjustments identified in the statute before it becomes a proposed support order. Read Louisiana R.S. 9:315–315.20.
How the guideline is calculated
Worksheet A allocates the total obligation according to each parent’s adjusted-income percentage. The statute addresses between-row income, child care, insurance, extraordinary medical expenses, and other adjustments; amounts outside the schedule need a court-specific determination.
What this site’s worksheet covers
Uses Louisiana R.S. 9:315.19 schedule of basic child support obligations. R.S. 9:315.13 requires extrapolation when combined adjusted gross income falls between two schedule amounts. Worksheet A in R.S. 9:315.20 allocates the total support obligation by each party’s percentage share of adjusted gross income after adding child care, health insurance, extraordinary medical expenses and other worksheet adjustments. Below the lowest schedule level and above the highest schedule level, Louisiana requires court-specific determination or discretion under R.S. 9:315.13.
Documents that make the worksheet more useful
Louisiana Worksheet A or B and supporting income statements. Gather the records that support the income, parenting-time, insurance, child-care, and other adjustment entries that apply to the family. The calculator applies the guideline formula described above and identifies any listed worksheet line it does not compute.
For a filing or agreement, complete the official court forms linked on this page. They use the same guideline structure explained here, and the court applies it to the facts of the case.
Before you enter your numbers
Why are Louisiana business income and tax income different?
Louisiana defines self-employment income using receipts less allowed ordinary and necessary expenses. It specifically excludes accelerated depreciation and other inappropriate business deductions from that allowance. Significant reimbursements or in-kind payments that reduce personal living expenses may also count as income.
Prepare this: Bring the business return and depreciation details, and separate business-only spending from personal benefits such as housing or a company vehicle. Explain each proposed adjustment.
Read the relevant official instructions: Louisiana R.S. 9:315–315.20.
These preparation notes explain one part of the state guideline. A new estimate does not change an existing order; a modification request does.
How Louisiana cases actually get to a number
Find combined adjusted gross income, interpolate if the income falls between schedule rows, then allocate the total obligation by each parent’s percentage. Child care, insurance, and extraordinary medicals are statutory add-ons.
Louisiana Revised Statutes section 9:315 uses a combined adjusted-gross-income schedule. Between-row interpolation and Worksheet A allocation are part of the ordinary case. That is a different path from neighboring states that use another model, so do not import a table, percentage, or overnight credit from somewhere else.
Parenting time in Louisiana
Shared-custody worksheets exist in Louisiana practice. A primary-domicile schedule should not be used when the decree is true shared custody. Count physical-custody days the way the worksheet defines them.
Costs Louisiana usually treats separately
- Net child-care costs
- Health-insurance premiums
- Extraordinary medical expenses
- Private-school expenses only with findings
When Louisiana courts leave the guideline
Income above the schedule, a child’s own income, and other dependents are classic 9:315.1 deviation topics. Interpolation between rows is required math, not a deviation.
Official Louisiana forms to keep beside this guide
Louisiana Worksheet A or B and supporting income statements. The calculator applies the guideline formula described above and identifies any listed worksheet line it does not compute. The primary authority is the published Louisiana source. Fill the official form from source documents. Use this page only to check that you chose the right Louisiana path—primary versus shared, table versus percentage, add-ons versus basic support.
Where this is typically filed
District Court or family-court divisions hear cases; DCFS support enforcement handles IV-D. Use the current 9:315.19 schedule.
Questions specific to Louisiana
What if income falls between two schedule rows?
Louisiana interpolates. Picking the lower or higher row by convenience is not the statute.
Is this net or gross income?
The schedule is combined adjusted gross income after the statute’s adjustments.
Are private-school fees automatic add-ons?
No. Extraordinary educational expenses need a basis in the order or findings.
Run the calculator
Open the free support calculator, select Louisiana, complete the state worksheet, and print or export the output for review.