Do you have to pay child support if you have 50/50 custody in NC?
Asked by: Prof. Jevon Torp III | Last update: September 5, 2025Score: 5/5 (18 votes)
Parents can be obligated to pay child support even if they have joint custody of their children.
Who pays child support if you have 50 50 custody in NC?
Even Parents With Joint Custody May Owe Child Support
In North Carolina, all parents are responsible for supporting the reasonable needs of their children as long as they have parental rights.
What is the new child support law in North Carolina?
North Carolina Child Support Laws 2023
One modification is directly related to the current federal poverty level, $1150 per month. If a parent obligated to pay child support claims that he or she is too poor to pay, the court uses the base mark of $1150/monthly ($13,800/yearly) for 1 person.
Do dads with 50/50 custody pay child support?
It seems logical that if your custody is shared, you each cover costs for the child when the child is with you. However, in California, custody and child support are two separate components, and one parent may be required to pay child support to the other even in a 50/50 arrangement.
How does 50 50 custody work in NC?
The 50/50 Custody Arrangement
When it comes to child custody in North Carolina, the default arrangement is 50/50 custody. This means that both parents start on equal footing, assuming that no issues are preventing either parent from having custody of the child, such as being in jail or having a history of child abuse.
Why Do I Have To Pay Child Support If I Have 50/50 Custody!
What are the disadvantages of 50/50 custody?
- Potential for Increased Conflict: If the parents have a contentious relationship, the frequent exchanges required in a 50/50 custody arrangement can lead to increased conflict. ...
- Instability and Disruption: For some children, moving between two homes regularly can feel unstable and disruptive.
When you have 50/50 custody, who claims the child on taxes?
The one with 183 overnights is the parent who is entitled to federal and state tax deductions and exemptions. Under the IRS' regulations, there is no such thing as “dual-custodial parents” when you have equal or joint custody. Therefore, one or the other parent must claim the tax benefits, but not both.
Do you get more child support if you have full custody?
Generally, sole physical custody is awarded to allow a child to live in one home most of the time, and continue to attend their local school. Where joint legal custody and sole physical custody exist together, the amount of child support due will not change.
Is 50 50 custody easy to get?
With 50/50 physical custody, each parent spends an equal amount of time with the child. Since this arrangement requires a lot of cooperation between parents, judges won't approve it unless they believe it will work and is in the child's best interest.
How much child support will I pay if I make $1000 a week?
Using a standard calculation, an individual earning $1,000 a week might pay around $250 per month for one child, though this figure can vary significantly based on specific circumstances and local county guidelines.
How to avoid child support in North Carolina?
- Your child is 18 and finished their high school education.
- Your child is 20 years of age or older.
- Your child is not living with their other parent whom you pay to support to.
- Your child lives with you a majority of the time.
How much is child support for one kid in North Carolina?
There is no set amount of child support that is awarded in all cases. The amount of money in each child support payment will be primarily informed by each parent's income, so there is no flat “per child” rate.
Can parents agree to no child support NC?
Child support is not intended to be used as a bargaining tool in child custody cases. It is ordered for the benefit of the child involved, and so neither parent has the authority to decide that it is not necessary. Child support is often calculated based on the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines.
Should I pay child support if I have 50 50 custody?
Even if the parents are dividing physical custody down the middle, a judge may order the higher-earning parent to pay child support. You may have to pay child support even with a 50/50 custody agreement if you are the higher-earning parent.
How does child support work if the mother has no job in NC?
North Carolina's child support guidelines allow judges to use imputed income in the support calculation when a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed as a result of an attempt to minimize or avoid paying child support by suppressing their income deliberately or in "bad faith." When deciding whether a ...
Can back child support be forgiven in North Carolina?
In most cases, arrears cannot be forgiven in North Carolina. The only situation where arrears can be forgiven is if the custodial parent chooses to do so. The parent can do so through an order of the court or a negotiated consent order.
What are the dangers of 50 50 custody?
Cons of equal shared parenting:
Frequent exchanges mean that parents have regular in-person contact, which can create conflict that negatively impacts children. Some children may struggle to adapt to frequently moving between homes.
Do you still pay child support for 50/50?
However, sharing 50/50 custody in California does not mean the parents are not responsible for child support. Each parent must pay a portion of the child support obligation.
Why would a judge deny 50/50 custody?
Differences in parents' style of attachment to children contribute to the inadequacy of 50/50 custody plans. Parental personality differences influence ability to give emotional nurturance to children. Courts often fail to alter 50/50 custody arrangements when circumstances beg for a change.
How much do most dads pay in child support?
The average child support payment in California comes in at around $500 per month. Other estimates put the number at around $425 on the low end and approximately $800 for a high average. Of course, these numbers are just a rough estimate of what the average person pays monthly for child support.
What is the biggest factor in calculating child support?
Parental Income
Both parents' gross income is a critical starting point. Income includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, rental income, dividends, unemployment benefits, and more. Courts also consider non-monetary perks like housing or vehicles provided by an employer.
Does child support give the father rights?
A father is always the father. He has "rights to his child" whether or not he is paying child support because he has both moral and legal obligations to the child. If he wants visitation whether or not the child lives in the state he is in, all he need do is ask the courts to order.
What are the chances of a father getting 50/50 custody?
While it is not possible to provide an exact probability for a father obtaining 50/50 custody due to variations in individual circumstances and jurisdictional differences, research suggests that fathers who actively participate in their children's lives have better chances at securing equal or significant custodial ...
Is it better not to claim a child as a dependent?
Cons of claiming your child as a dependent
If your child is a student, they probably have an income that's low enough for them to qualify for education credits, and it's very likely that those credits would amount to more savings for them than the Child Tax Credit would for you if you claimed them as a dependent.
Who claims a child in 50 50 custody in Texas?
The custodial parent is the one who has primary physical custody of the child. However, in a true 50-50 physical custody arrangement, the IRS has introduced a sort of tie-breaker rule. According to the agency, the parent with the higher taxable income should claim the child.