When you are going through a divorce in Arizona, your child support obligations are calculated based not just on the income of each spouse but also on the amount of time each one spends with the children under a court-approved parenting plan.

In child support determinations, Arizona applies the "Income Shares Model," which is meant to give children the same level of financial support they would have if you and your spouse were still together. The model considers both your income and your co-parent's gross income, as well as other costs such as medical insurance and childcare. A significant factor in the support calculation is parenting time, sometimes referred to as physical custody.

The courts recognize that the more time a parent spends with a child, the more likely he or she is to be spending money on that child's needs. Under the Arizona child support guidelines, the child support calculation includes an adjustment for parenting time.

The court will determine the total number of days per year allotted to the non-custodial parent and apply a corresponding adjustment to their child support obligation. The more time the non-custodial parent has, the larger the reduction in their payment. This adjustment is designed to reflect the financial contributions they make while the child stays with them.

For the purpose of this calculation, a "day" of parenting time is not always a full 24-hour period. The hours the child is in school or daycare are not counted. The calculation is based on blocks of time the child spends with the non-residential parent. A period of 12 hours or more counts as one day, six to 11 hours as a half-day and three to five hours as a quarter-day.

When parenting time is split equally, or nearly equally, the child support calculation becomes more nuanced. If both parents have the children for a similar number of days and share the children's costs equally, and their incomes are also similar, it is possible that neither parent will owe child support to the other. However, if there is a marked difference in income, an equalization formula is applied to ensure the children's needs are met.

Navigating the complexities of child support and parenting time during a divorce can be challenging. An experienced child support attorney can help you understand your rights and obligations and work towards a fair resolution for you and your family.

Clark & Schloss Family Law, P.C. in Scottsdale offers reliable advice on child support and other family legal issues throughout Arizona. To schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled attorneys about your case, please call 602-789-3497 or contact us online.