Is a spouse's income considered in child support in Alabama?

Asked by: Adam Bode  |  Last update: June 18, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (4 votes)

The court won't directly include the new wife's income with the father's income when calculating child support, but the judge may assume that the wife's income pays for some of the household bills, leaving more of the father's income available to pay child support.

What is considered income for child support in Alabama?

(a) "Gross income" includes income from any source, and includes, but is not limited to, salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, Social Security benefits, veteran's benefits, workers' compensation benefits, unemployment-insurance ...

Can a spouse's income be included in child support?

Under California law, for the most part, a new spouse's income is not used in the calculation for child support. It may only be considered when not doing so would cause extreme and severe hardship to the child involved. Usually, the calculation is made strictly using the parents' gross income.

Does getting married affect child support in Alabama?

If Either Parent Remarries, Will it affect the Child Support Order? Under Alabama law, a parent's remarriage itself will not impact child support. However, if there is a substantial change in the financial situation of a parent due to the remarriage, it may have an effect on the child support order.

What is the rule 32 for child support in Alabama?

Rule 32 was amended effective June 1, 2023, to provide a method of calculating child support in cases in which a court order provides for shared 50% physical custody, i.e., when each parent retains physical custody of a child 50% (or approximately 50%) of the time.

Daily Tip: Is My New Spouse’s Income Included for Child Support?- Brad Micklin

28 related questions found

What is adjusted gross income for child support?

To determine your adjusted gross income, start with your gross income. This includes wages or salary from a job, bank account interest, stock dividends and rental property income. If you reported self-employment business income on Schedule C, you would include that in your gross income as well.

What is the cut off for child support in Alabama?

In Alabama, child support typically ends when a child turns 19, but there are certain specific circumstances that can change this. For example, if your teen gets married or joins the military before they're 19, you might be able to stop paying sooner.

What is the new child support law in Alabama?

As a result of the new Rule 32 revisions, however, beginning June 1, 2023, a 150% multiplier is to be applied to the basic child-support obligation in cases where a court order provides for shared 50% physical custody.

Can I go after my ex-husband's new wife for child support?

Your new spouse's income may not be garnished by your ex to satisfy your outstanding child support amount.

How long do you have to be married to get spousal support in Alabama?

However, as a rule of thumb, Alabama courts do not usually award permanent alimony for marriages under ten years long, unless there is a compelling reason to do so. The courts normally do award permanent alimony for marriages that are longer than twenty years unless there is a compelling reason not to order it.

Does money from spouse count as income?

California and federal tax laws about spousal support are the same. If you pay support, you can deduct the payments on your federal or state income tax forms. If you receive support, you must report the payments as income on your federal and state tax forms.

How do I protect myself from my husband's child support?

Child support cannot touch your income if you keep it separate from his. Put your income in a separate bank account, and it is yours. Do not use a joint bank account. This will protect you.

What is the most money child support can take?

A: The most money child support can take in California is up to 60% of a person's wages if they are only responsible for one child. If they are responsible for two or more children, then up to 50% of their wages can be garnished. Wage garnishment can sometimes be mandated by a court order.

What is the rule 32 in Alabama?

It's called a “Rule 32 petition” because it's filed under Rule 32 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure. Generally speaking, someone would use a Rule 32 petition to attack their conviction once they've been convicted and once their appeals have gone final. A Rule 32 petition is how someone can get back into court.

What is the average child support in Alabama?

Alabama couple fares

Their Basic Child Support Obligation is $1,356 per month for one child or $2,288 per month for three children. Add child care and health insurance costs — $500 per month per child for child care and $1,000 per month for health care.

How can I pay child support with no income?

Child Support Modification on Imputed Income

You can request an adjustment to your child support order, but the court will base new child support amounts on your opportunity and ability to find similar-paying work using your previous employment as a benchmark for what you may be able to earn in the future.

Does spouse income count in child support?

Although the new spouses' incomes cannot be considered, remarriage of the parents can have some effect on child support payments, because some of the factors considered when making an order may change, such as new children, different tax filing status, etc.

Can I go after ex-husband's new wife's income for child support in Florida?

Remarriage, by itself, does not affect a parent's obligation to support their child financially. But, a remarriage can bring about other factors that do affect child support. In Florida, a new spouse's income does not directly factor into a child support determination, but it can still have an impact.

Can my husband's ex-wife come after my money?

No. You have no obligation to her. You might want to keep your finances separate just in case the ex-wife tries to renegotiate her alimony, but that seems incredibly unlikely.

Does Alabama consider both parents income for child support?

The court uses statewide guidelines to make fair and consistent support orders. Copies of the guidelines are available on-line at www.alacourt.gov. The first step in getting a support order is to collect financial information from both parents. This includes wages and other income, as well as some expenses.

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.

Does child support increase if salary increases in Alabama?

Child Support Automatically Changes Child support does not automatically adjust with changes in income or circumstances. A formal request and court approval are required.

How can I get out of paying child support in Alabama?

If all children in the court order have reached the age of majority (19), you can terminate the Income Withholding Order for Child Support, if no arrearage is owed. Complete and return to the Clerk's Office a Motion to Terminate the Income Withholding Order (Affidavit for Termination of Withholding Order for Support).

Why does child support go off gross income?

The guidelines usually allow deductions from gross income for certain expenses, such as: taxes. mandatory union dues and other required payroll deductions, and. support payments for children from another relationship.

Do you have to pay child support if you have 50 50 custody in Alabama?

The General Rule: Higher Obligation is Reduced By Lower Obligation. In Alabama, when parents share 50/50 custody, child support calculations adjust to reflect the balanced parenting time. The general rule applied is that the higher income parent's obligation is reduced by the lower income parent's obligation.