Child Support in Indiana: Know What the Law Says Before You Agree to Anything

When a child support number is on the table, it can feel like you're expected to accept whatever is proposed. You're not. Indiana law sets a specific formula for calculating support, and whether you're establishing an order, enforcing one that's being ignored, or asking the court to modify an amount that no longer fits your life, having an attorney who knows how that formula works makes a real difference. We represent parents in Lake County, Porter County, and throughout Northwest Indiana in all phases of child support proceedings.

Indiana uses the Income Shares Model to determine child support obligations. The basic idea is that a child should receive the same proportion of both parents' combined income that they would have received if the household were intact. The court looks at both parents' gross incomes, the number of overnights each parent has with the child, work-related childcare costs, and health insurance premiums.

From those figures, the Indiana Child Support Guidelines produce a presumptive support amount. That number is the starting point — not a ceiling or a floor. Deviations are allowed when the standard calculation would be unjust or inappropriate given the circumstances, but any deviation requires a written finding from the court explaining why.

What this means practically: the formula matters, and so does how it's applied. Income figures can be disputed. Parenting time credits can be miscalculated. Childcare and insurance costs need to be correctly attributed. We run the numbers accurately before any agreement is signed, so you know whether what's being proposed is actually in line with Indiana law.

Establishing a Child Support Order

Whether you're going through a divorce, a paternity case, or a custody proceeding, a child support order needs to be in place before the case closes. A verbal agreement between parents isn't enforceable — only a court order gives you the legal tools to act if support stops.

We help clients establish support orders that reflect accurate income information, appropriate parenting time credits, and all allowable expenses under Indiana's guidelines. If the other parent is underreporting income or the proposed amount doesn't reflect the actual cost of raising your child, we identify it and address it before the order is entered.

• Support calculations based on verified income for both parents
• Parenting time credit analysis to ensure overnights are correctly applied
• Childcare and health insurance cost attribution
• Representation in Lake County and Porter County courts
• Coordination with divorce and custody proceedings when cases overlap

What Happens When Child Support Isn't Being Paid

An order is only as useful as the enforcement behind it. If your co-parent has stopped paying support, you have legal remedies available — and we pursue them.

Indiana courts can enforce child support orders through several mechanisms, and we use whichever tools fit the situation. The goal is to get payments current and keep them that way.

Enforcement options we pursue on behalf of custodial parents include:

• Wage garnishment directly from the non-paying parent's employer
• Contempt of court filings, which can result in fines or jail time for willful non-payment
• License suspension, including driver's licenses and professional licenses
• Interception of state and federal tax refunds
• Liens on real property or bank accounts

If you're owed back support, that arrears balance doesn't disappear — it accumulates with interest and remains collectible. We help custodial parents understand what they're owed and take the steps to collect it.

Modifying a Child Support Order After Circumstances Change

Child support orders are not permanent. Indiana law allows either parent to petition for a modification when there has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances — typically defined as a change of at least 20 percent in the weekly support obligation.

Common grounds for modification include a significant increase or decrease in either parent's income, a job loss, a change in the child's needs, or a change in the parenting time arrangement. If you've had a meaningful income change and you're struggling to meet the current order, call before you fall behind. Arrears accumulate from the date of non-payment, not the date you file — getting the modification process started early matters.

We evaluate whether your situation qualifies, calculate what a revised order would likely look like under current guidelines, and file the petition on your behalf.

Indiana Child Support and Spousal Maintenance

Indiana does not have traditional alimony in most cases, but courts can award spousal maintenance in limited circumstances — including situations where a spouse is physically or mentally incapacitated, or where a spouse has been out of the workforce to care for a child with a disability. Rehabilitative maintenance is also available in some cases for a defined period following divorce.

If you have questions about spousal maintenance alongside a child support matter, we address both. For a fuller explanation of how Indiana handles spousal maintenance in the context of divorce, see our divorce page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support in Indiana