Spousal and Child Support

Child support is a payment typically made to the parent who has primary custody of a child by the non-custodial parent to assist in the day-to-day care and expenses of the child.

The basic child support obligation is determined by the Rhode Island Family Court Child Support Formula and Guidelines, based on the parents' combined adjusted gross incomes and the number of minor children in the family.

Calculated for each case separately, based on the Income Shares Model, the amount of child support should cover the basic needs of the child. If the spouses can agree on a higher amount of child support, the court typically approves this decision. The court may deviate from the Guidelines after considering the financial resources of the child and parents, the standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the parents remained married, and the physical, emotional, and educational needs of the child.