In North Carolina and many other states, your income will be a significant factor in determining how much child support you’ll pay each month. The judge in your case will likely take into account your salary and any other compensation that you receive when determining your annual income.
What the law might consider as compensation
Almost any income that you receive in a given year can be used to determine how much you owe in child support each month. For instance, if you receive interest from stocks or bonds, that would likely count toward your annual income. Employer contributions to a retirement account or a signing bonus would also likely be used when considering how much you can afford to pay to support your child.
Income could be imputed
The judge overseeing your child support case may decide that you aren’t earning as much as you could or should be. In such a scenario, your child support payment may be based on the typical salary for someone who holds a similar job or for someone with your level of education. In most cases, the court will use information from your most recent tax return to get a better idea of your financial status. You may be asked to provide additional documents if your tax return is incomplete or doesn’t fully explain how you maintain your current lifestyle.
While your child support payment is largely based on your income, other factors might also be considered. These factors might include the income of the custodial parent as well as any special educational or medical needs that your son or daughter might have. An attorney may be able to help you prepare for a child support hearing or help you take steps to collect what you are already owed.
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