Kansas Child Support Laws: Guidelines and Calculations

How Kansas Calculates Child Support

Kansas uses the Income Shares Model to determine child support obligations. This model estimates what parents would have spent on their children if the family had stayed together, then divides that amount between both parents based on their proportional incomes.

The Kansas Supreme Court adopts and periodically updates the official Child Support Guidelines under K.S.A. 20-165. The most recent update took effect on July 1, 2025, through Administrative Order 2025-RL-121. Courts across Kansas must follow these guidelines when setting or reviewing support orders under K.S.A. 23-3002.

Kansas does not provide an official online child support calculator. Parents must use the fillable worksheets published by the Kansas Courts to calculate support manually. You can access the current guidelines and worksheets from the Kansas Courts Child Support Guidelines page.

Step-by-Step Calculation Process

The basic calculation follows these steps:

1. Determine each parent's gross income from all sources
2. Apply allowable deductions to arrive at each parent's Domestic Child Support Income (DCSI)
3. Combine both parents' DCSI to find the total combined income
4. Look up the basic child support obligation in the Child Support Schedule based on combined income, number of children, and children's age groups
5. Calculate each parent's proportional share of the obligation
6. Apply adjustments for parenting time, health insurance, child care, and other factors

The Child Support Schedule uses three age brackets: 0 to 5, 6 to 11, and 12 to 18. Older children carry higher support obligations because they typically cost more to raise.

Key Resources

• Child Support Worksheet (PDF)
• Apply for Child Support Services
• Kansas Judicial Council Divorce Forms

What Counts as Income for Child Support

Kansas starts with gross income from all sources and then makes specific adjustments to arrive at Domestic Child Support Income (DCSI).

Gross Income Includes

• Wages, salary, and tips
• Bonuses and commissions
• Overtime and shift differential pay
• Vacation pay
• Military or National Guard pay, including housing allowances when on active duty
• Disability payments
• Workers' compensation benefits
• Distributions from retirement plans
• Self-employment income after reasonable business expenses
• Interest, dividends, and investment income

What Is NOT Included

• Child support received for other children
• Public assistance based on financial need (Medicaid, SSI, TANF)
• Gifts and inheritances (generally excluded)

Adjustments to Gross Income

Several deductions reduce gross income to DCSI:

• Court-ordered child support actually being paid for children in other households
• Spousal maintenance (alimony) paid to a former spouse or to the other parent in the current case
• Cost-of-living differential when parents live in areas with significantly different living costs

Imputed Income

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, Kansas courts can impute income based on that parent's earning capacity. Judges consider the parent's assets, work history, job skills, education, age, physical health, mental health, and local employment opportunities.

Termination from employment for misconduct or quitting a job voluntarily does not ordinarily justify a reduction in child support. The court examines the full circumstances surrounding the job loss.

Adjustments to the Basic Support Obligation

Beyond the base amount from the schedule, the Kansas guidelines provide several adjustments that can increase or decrease the final support order.

Health Insurance and Medical Costs

The cost of providing health, dental, vision, and mental health insurance for the child is added to the basic support obligation and divided proportionally between parents. The premium must be reasonable in cost.

Both parents also share unreimbursed medical expenses for the child proportionally based on their incomes.

Child Care Costs

Work-related child care expenses necessary for a parent to maintain employment or seek a job are added to the support obligation. The guidelines reduce this amount by any available federal or state child care tax credit.

Parenting Time Adjustments

When the noncustodial parent has significant parenting time, the guidelines allow for a percentage reduction in support:

• 35 to 39% parenting time: Up to 10% reduction
• 40 to 44% parenting time: Up to 20% reduction
• 45 to 49% parenting time: Up to 30% reduction

For extended parenting time of more than 14 consecutive days (such as summer vacations), monthly support may be reduced by up to 50% for those months.

Other Adjustments

• Long-distance transportation costs for parenting time (such as airfare)
• Tax exemption allocation effects
• Special needs expenses
• Agreements to support a child past age 18
• Overall financial circumstances that justify a deviation from the guidelines

Shared Custody and Equal Parenting Time

Kansas provides two alternative formulas for shared custody situations where both parents have substantial time with the children.

Shared Expense Formula

This formula applies when parents need to divide direct expenses like enrollment fees, sports fees, and field trips but do not share time equally. It requires cooperation and careful record-keeping between both parents.

Equal Parenting Time Formula

The court may use this discretionary formula when:

• A shared residential custody arrangement serves the child's best interest
• Both parents share the child's time equally (50/50)

Under this formula, one parent pays all direct expenses (clothing, school costs, extracurricular activities) while the other parent's support obligation is adjusted to balance the financial arrangement.

2025 Legislative Changes: HB 2062

Kansas House Bill 2062, which took effect July 1, 2025, introduced several significant changes to child support law.

Pre-Birth Child Support

Courts can now order child support for unborn children beginning from the date of conception. Pre-birth support covers direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses of the mother. The maximum support amount is limited to these actual medical and pregnancy costs.

Retirement Account Collection

HB 2062 removed the exemption that previously protected pension and retirement funds from child support arrearages claims. Courts can now authorize a one-time collection from an obligor's qualified retirement plans and accounts to satisfy past-due child support under K.S.A. 23-3002.

This change gives enforcement agencies an additional tool to collect from parents who owe significant back support.

How to Modify Child Support in Kansas

To modify an existing child support order, you must file the following documents with the court:

• Motion to Modify Child Support
• Updated Child Support Worksheet
• Short-form Domestic Relations Declaration of Facts (affidavit) with supporting financial documents
• Notice of Hearing
• Request and Service Instruction Form

All required forms are available from the Kansas Judicial Council modification forms page.

When You Can Modify

Under K.S.A. 23-3005, the rules depend on how much time has passed since the last order:

After 3 years: Either parent can request modification without proving a material change in circumstances.

Within 3 years: You must show a material change in circumstances. The guidelines define this as a change that would increase or decrease the child support amount by at least 10%. Examples of qualifying changes include:

• Involuntary job loss
• Significant change in earnings
• A child moving to a different age bracket in the schedule
• Change in residential custody arrangements
• Change in parenting time percentages

Retroactive Modifications

The court can make modifications retroactive to the first day of the month following the filing of the motion to modify. Modifications are not applied further back than the filing date. This is why filing promptly matters when circumstances change.

You can also request a review through Kansas DCF Child Support Services if you receive services through their office.

When Child Support Ends in Kansas

Under K.S.A. 23-3001, child support ordinarily ends when the child turns 18. There are several exceptions.

High School Students

If the child turns 18 while still in high school, support continues until June 30 of the school year in which the child turned 18. If the child is still in high school after that date, the court may extend support through the school year in which the child turns 19, provided both parents participated in or knowingly accepted the decision that delayed the child's graduation.

Written Agreement

Parents can agree in writing, subject to court approval, to provide support beyond age 18. This commonly covers college expenses.

Children with Disabilities

Support may continue indefinitely for adult children who have physical or mental disabilities that prevent them from becoming self-supporting.

Emancipation

Under K.S.A. 38-108, a minor can petition the district court for emancipation. The court may grant the petition if the minor demonstrates the ability to manage their own affairs and that emancipation serves their best interest. Once emancipated, parents have no further legal obligation to provide support.

Termination of Parental Rights

Kansas recognizes three statutory methods for terminating parental rights:

• Formal petition to relinquish rights, approved by a state agency
• State determination that parents cannot adequately care for the child
• Adoption

A parent cannot simply give up parental rights to avoid paying child support. A judge must approve any termination of parental rights.

Enforcement of Child Support Orders

Kansas Child Support Services (CSS), operated by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), enforces child support orders. You can apply for enforcement services online at cssapply.dcf.ks.gov or by calling 1-888-757-2445.

If a parent falls more than 30 calendar days behind on payments, CSS can use the following enforcement tools:

• Income withholding orders: Automatic payroll deductions sent to the Kansas Payment Center for distribution to the recipient parent. Withholding cannot exceed 50% of the obligor's disposable income.
• Credit bureau reporting: Delinquent support is reported to credit agencies, affecting the obligor's credit score and borrowing ability.
• Liens on property: CSS can place liens against real estate, vehicles, and other assets.
• License suspension: Professional licenses, recreational licenses, and driver's licenses can all be suspended.
• Passport denial or revocation: If arrears exceed $2,500, the U.S. Department of State can deny or revoke the obligor's passport.
• Tax refund intercept: Federal and state tax refunds can be intercepted and applied to arrearages.
• Lottery and gambling intercept: Winnings from casinos, lottery, and sports betting can be intercepted.
• Contempt of court proceedings: A judge can hold a delinquent parent in contempt, which may result in jail time.
• Retirement account collection: Under HB 2062, courts can authorize a one-time withdrawal from the obligor's retirement accounts to pay arrearages.

Child Support Evaders List

Kansas maintains a public child support evaders web page where delinquent parents may be listed with their photo, last known location, and case information.

Criminal Nonsupport

Under K.S.A. 21-5606, criminal nonsupport is a severity level 10 nonperson felony. The offense applies when a parent fails, neglects, or refuses without lawful excuse to provide support and maintenance for a child in necessitous circumstances.

The sentencing range for a severity level 10 nonperson felony is 5 to 13 months in prison, depending on the offender's criminal history. Jail time is generally treated as a last resort because incarceration limits the parent's ability to earn income and make payments.

Paying Child Support in Kansas

Most child support orders include an income withholding provision. Employers deduct the support amount from the obligor's paycheck and forward it to the Kansas Payment Center (KPC). KPC then distributes the payment to the recipient parent.

For questions about payments, contact KPC at 1-877-572-5722.

What to Do If You Cannot Pay

If you lose your job or face a significant financial change:

• Contact CSS or the court immediately
• File a motion to modify child support as soon as possible
• If receiving unemployment benefits, CSS will collect from those benefits
• Work with the other parent to establish a temporary payment plan if possible

Do not simply stop paying. Arrearages continue to accumulate and interest may accrue on unpaid balances.

Paternity and Child Support

Before a court can order child support, legal paternity must be established. Kansas law presumes paternity for married couples. For unmarried parents, paternity can be established through:

• A signed Acknowledgment of Paternity
• Court-ordered genetic testing
• Judicial determination

Paternity must be established before the child turns 18. For paternity questions or to request testing, contact Kansas CSS at 1-888-757-2445.

Important: Do not sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity if you are unsure you are the biological father, if the mother is separated but not yet legally divorced, or if the mother was married at the time of conception or within 300 days before the child's birth.

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