Wyoming uses the income shares model to calculate child support under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304, combining both parents' net incomes to determine a total support obligation that is then divided proportionally. The Wyoming child support calculator provided by the Department of Family Services applies the statutory guidelines tables to produce a presumptive support amount based on combined net income and number of children. For a family with two children and combined net monthly income of $5,000, the total presumptive obligation is approximately $1,148 per month, split between parents according to each parent's income share. Wyoming courts finalized approximately 2,700 divorce cases involving minor children in recent years, making the child support worksheet one of the most commonly filed family law documents in the state.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Calculation Model | Income Shares (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304) |
| Filing Fee | $70 to $160 depending on county (as of March 2026) |
| Waiting Period | 20 days from filing to final decree |
| Residency Requirement | 60 days continuous residency |
| Grounds for Divorce | No-fault: irreconcilable differences (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104) |
| Property Division | Equitable distribution |
| Child Support Terminates | Age 18 (or age 20 if still in high school full-time) |
| Official Calculator | childsupport.wyoming.gov/calculator |
| Court Form | DIVCP-13 (Child Support Computation Form and Net Income Calculation) |
What Is the Wyoming Child Support Calculator and How Does It Work?
The Wyoming child support calculator is a free online tool provided by the Wyoming Department of Family Services that estimates monthly child support obligations using the income shares model codified in Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304. The calculator requires both parents' net monthly incomes, the number of children, and custody arrangement type to produce a presumptive support figure. Wyoming courts treat this calculated amount as presumptive, meaning judges must follow it unless specific deviation factors under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-307 justify a different amount.
The income shares model is based on the economic principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have enjoyed if the family remained intact. Wyoming adopted this approach because research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and economic studies demonstrate that intact families spend a predictable percentage of combined income on children. The statutory guidelines tables embedded in Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304 convert combined net income and number of children into a specific dollar obligation.
To use the Wyoming child support calculator effectively, you need to gather several pieces of financial information before you begin. Both parents must calculate their net monthly income, which starts with gross income from all sources and subtracts allowable deductions. The calculator then applies the statutory support table to your combined net income and divides the obligation proportionally. Wyoming's official calculator is available at the Department of Family Services website and produces results consistent with the DIVCP-13 court computation form.
How Do You Calculate Net Income for the Wyoming Child Support Worksheet?
Wyoming calculates net income by starting with gross income from all sources and subtracting federal income tax, state income tax (Wyoming has no state income tax, giving residents a calculation advantage), Social Security tax (FICA at 7.65%), mandatory retirement contributions, and union dues required as a condition of employment. Wyoming is one of only 7 states with no state income tax, which means the net-to-gross ratio is higher than in most other states, potentially resulting in higher child support obligations compared to states with similar gross incomes.
Gross income under Wyoming law includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, Social Security benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, veteran's benefits, and income from self-employment. Wyoming courts include virtually every source of recurring income in the gross income calculation.
Income specifically excluded from the child support calculation includes means-tested public assistance benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), food stamps (SNAP), and child support received for other children. These exclusions exist because means-tested benefits are designed to meet the recipient's basic needs and should not be redistributed through support orders.
Self-employment income requires special attention in the Wyoming child support worksheet. Self-employed parents must report gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses. Wyoming courts scrutinize self-employment deductions carefully and may disallow expenses that appear to reduce income artificially, such as excessive vehicle depreciation, personal expenses categorized as business costs, or income shifted to related entities.
What Are the Three Custody Calculation Methods in Wyoming?
Wyoming law under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304 provides three distinct formulas for calculating child support based on custody arrangements: sole custody, shared custody, and split custody. The sole custody formula applies when one parent has the children fewer than 92 overnights per year (less than 25% of the year). The shared custody formula applies when each parent has at least 92 overnights per year, and it multiplies the base obligation by 150% before dividing proportionally.
| Custody Type | Overnight Threshold | Calculation Method | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole Custody | Fewer than 92 overnights for non-custodial parent | Basic guidelines table divided by income share | 1.0x |
| Shared Custody | Each parent has 92+ overnights (25%+ of year) | Guidelines table multiplied by 150%, then divided by income and time shares | 1.5x |
| Split Custody | Each parent has primary custody of at least one child | Separate calculations for each household, then offset | Varies |
The sole custody calculation is the most straightforward application of the Wyoming child support calculator. Combined net income determines the total obligation from the statutory table, and the non-custodial parent pays their proportional share. For example, if combined net monthly income is $6,000, Parent A earns $4,000 (67%), and Parent B earns $2,000 (33%), and there is one child, Parent B (the non-custodial parent) would owe their 33% share of the total table obligation.
Shared custody calculations in Wyoming are more complex because the 150% multiplier accounts for the fact that both households maintain living arrangements for the children. Under shared custody, each parent's obligation is calculated by multiplying the total support obligation by 1.5, then by each parent's income share, and then by the percentage of time the child spends with the other parent. The parent owing the greater amount pays the difference to the other parent. This formula recognizes that shared parenting arrangements create duplicate fixed costs for housing, furniture, and other essentials in two homes.
Split custody applies when each parent has primary physical custody of at least one child from the marriage. Wyoming courts calculate separate support obligations for each parent based on the children in the other parent's care, then offset the amounts. The parent with the higher obligation pays the net difference to the other parent.
What Is the Self-Support Reserve and How Does It Affect Calculations?
The self-support reserve in Wyoming equals the current federal poverty guideline for one person, which is $1,255 per month ($15,060 annually) in 2026. If the difference between the obligor's net income and the self-support reserve is less than the calculated support obligation, Wyoming courts reduce the support amount to the difference between net income and the poverty line. This protection ensures that paying parents retain enough income to meet their own basic living expenses.
The self-support reserve operates as a floor, not a ceiling. Wyoming courts will not order child support that pushes the paying parent below the poverty line for a single individual. For a parent earning $2,000 net per month, the maximum possible support obligation would be $745 ($2,000 minus $1,255 self-support reserve), regardless of what the guidelines table would otherwise require. The federal poverty guidelines update annually, typically in January, so the self-support reserve amount adjusts each year.
This provision is particularly relevant for parents earning minimum wage or working part-time. Wyoming's minimum wage is $5.15 per hour (the lowest state minimum wage in the country, though the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour applies), which translates to approximately $1,257 gross monthly income for full-time work at the federal rate. After tax deductions, a minimum-wage worker's net income barely exceeds the self-support reserve, significantly limiting their child support obligation.
When Can Wyoming Courts Deviate from the Child Support Calculator Amount?
Wyoming courts may deviate from the presumptive child support amount only when a judge makes a specific finding that applying the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-307. Deviation requires written findings on the record, and the party seeking deviation bears the burden of proof. If a party unsuccessfully seeks deviation, the court may order that party to pay the other side's attorney fees and court costs for the deviation proceedings.
Statutory deviation factors under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-307(b) include:
- Responsibility for supporting other children from different relationships
- Value of services contributed by either parent (such as stay-at-home parenting)
- Expenses related to the mother's pregnancy and confinement
- Transportation costs for visitation (significant in Wyoming, where distances between cities often exceed 100 miles)
- Availability of health, dental, and vision insurance through employment benefits
- Amount of time the child spends with each parent
- Other necessary expenses for the child's benefit
- Whether either parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed
Voluntary underemployment is one of the most commonly litigated deviation factors in Wyoming family courts. When a court finds that a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, it may impute income based on that parent's earning capacity, considering education, work history, job opportunities in the local labor market, and any physical or mental limitations. Wyoming's economy relies heavily on energy, agriculture, and tourism, so imputed income calculations often reflect wages in these sectors.
Extraordinary medical expenses for a child that are not covered by insurance also provide grounds for deviation. Wyoming courts consider ongoing therapy costs, orthodontia, prescription medications, and specialized care needs when determining whether the standard guideline amount adequately addresses a child's actual expenses. A parent requesting upward deviation for medical costs must document the expenses and demonstrate that they are recurring rather than one-time charges.
How Do You File the Child Support Worksheet with a Wyoming Court?
Filing a child support computation in Wyoming requires completing the DIVCP-13 form (Child Support Computation Form and Net Income Calculation), which is available from the Wyoming Judicial Branch Self-Help Forms under the "Family Law" section in Packets 5 through 8, 11, and 12. The filing fee ranges from $70 to $160 depending on the county, and the court requires both parents to submit financial affidavits disclosing all income sources, assets, and debts. As of March 2026, verify the exact fee with your local clerk of district court.
To file for divorce with a child support determination in Wyoming, you must meet the 60-day residency requirement under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-107. Either spouse must have resided in Wyoming continuously for at least 60 days immediately before filing, or the couple must have married in Wyoming with one spouse residing there continuously since the marriage. Wyoming's 60-day residency requirement is one of the shortest in the United States.
After filing, Wyoming imposes a mandatory 20-day waiting period before any divorce decree can become final. During this period, both parties exchange financial disclosures and attempt to reach agreement on child support, custody, and property division. Uncontested divorces where both parties agree on all terms, including the child support calculation, can be finalized shortly after the 20-day waiting period expires. Contested cases involving disputes over income calculations, custody arrangements, or deviation requests typically take 3 to 12 months to resolve.
The DIVCP-13 form requires line-by-line completion of each parent's gross income, allowable deductions, net income, combined income, the applicable table amount, and each parent's proportional share. Completing this form accurately is essential because Wyoming courts rely on it as the primary document for establishing child support orders. Many parents use the online Wyoming child support calculator first to estimate their obligation, then transfer those figures to the DIVCP-13 form for official filing.
How Is Child Support Enforced in Wyoming?
Wyoming enforces child support orders through income withholding (wage garnishment), contempt of court proceedings, tax refund intercepts, license suspensions, and federal enforcement tools under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-310. Income withholding is the primary enforcement mechanism, with federal law limiting garnishment to 50% of disposable income when the obligor supports another spouse or child, 60% when the obligor has no other dependents, and up to 65% when the obligor is 12 or more weeks in arrears.
The Wyoming Child Support Program, administered by the Department of Family Services, provides enforcement services at no cost to custodial parents. The program can locate non-paying parents through state and federal databases, establish paternity, and pursue enforcement actions including:
- Automatic income withholding through employers (National Medical Support Notice)
- Federal and state tax refund intercepts
- Passport denial for arrearages exceeding $2,500
- Professional, occupational, and driver's license suspension
- Credit bureau reporting of unpaid support
- Contempt of court proceedings with potential jail time of up to 6 months
- Liens on real and personal property
Contempt of court is the most serious enforcement remedy available in Wyoming. A parent who willfully fails to pay court-ordered child support can be found in civil or criminal contempt, with civil contempt carrying potential incarceration until the parent complies ("purge" payment), and criminal contempt carrying a fixed jail sentence of up to 6 months per violation. Wyoming courts typically use contempt as a last resort after other enforcement mechanisms have failed.
When Does Child Support End in Wyoming?
Child support in Wyoming terminates when the child reaches age 18, which is the state's age of majority under Wyo. Stat. § 14-1-101. However, if the child is still enrolled full-time in high school or an equivalent program at age 18, support continues until the child graduates or turns 20, whichever occurs first. Wyoming also requires continued support for children who are mentally or physically disabled and incapable of self-support, regardless of age.
Emancipation before age 18 terminates the support obligation. Wyoming recognizes emancipation through marriage, active military service, or a court declaration of emancipation. A child who marries at age 16 or 17 (with parental consent as required by Wyoming law) is considered emancipated, and the support obligation ceases on the date of marriage.
Support obligations do not terminate automatically. The paying parent must file a motion to terminate or modify support when a terminating event occurs. Until a court order modifies the existing support order, the obligation continues to accrue. Wyoming courts have consistently held that arrearages accumulated before a termination order remain enforceable, even after the child reaches adulthood. Parents should file for modification promptly when a child turns 18 or a terminating event occurs to avoid unnecessary arrearages.
How Can You Modify a Wyoming Child Support Order?
Wyoming permits modification of child support orders when there has been a material change in circumstances since the last order under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-311. A change of 20% or more in the calculated support amount generally constitutes a material change. Either parent may petition for modification by filing a motion with the district court that issued the original order, and the Wyoming Child Support Program conducts automatic reviews every 3 years upon request.
Common grounds for modification include:
- Substantial increase or decrease in either parent's income (job loss, promotion, retirement)
- Change in custody or parenting time arrangement
- Change in the number of children requiring support
- Significant change in child care or medical expenses
- Change in the child's needs (disability, educational requirements)
- Incarceration of the obligor for more than 180 days
The modification process requires filing updated financial disclosures and a new DIVCP-13 computation form reflecting current incomes. Wyoming courts apply the current guidelines tables to the updated income figures and compare the result to the existing order. If the recalculated amount differs by 20% or more from the current order, the court generally grants the modification. Modifications take effect from the date of filing, not retroactively, so parents experiencing financial hardship should file for modification promptly rather than simply stopping payments.
How Does the Wyoming Child Support Calculator Handle Health Insurance Costs?
Wyoming requires both parents to provide health insurance for their children when coverage is available at a reasonable cost through an employer or other group plan under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-401. The cost of health insurance premiums attributable to the children is typically added to the basic child support obligation and divided between parents in proportion to their incomes. If neither parent has access to employer-sponsored coverage, the court may order parents to obtain private insurance or allocate uninsured medical expenses.
The Wyoming child support calculator accounts for health insurance in a separate line item on the DIVCP-13 worksheet. The parent providing insurance receives a credit for the portion of the premium covering the children (not the parent's own coverage). For example, if a parent pays $600 per month for a family health plan and the marginal cost of adding the children is $250 per month, only $250 is included in the support calculation.
Uninsured medical expenses (co-pays, deductibles, orthodontia, therapy, prescriptions) are typically divided between parents in proportion to their incomes, separate from the base child support amount. Wyoming courts commonly order a 67/33 or 60/40 split of unreimbursed medical expenses based on the parents' respective income shares. These expenses are handled outside the standard child support calculator and must be addressed separately in the court order.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Wyoming Child Support Calculator
Where can I find the official Wyoming child support calculator online?
The official Wyoming child support calculator is available free at childsupport.wyoming.gov/calculator, operated by the Wyoming Department of Family Services. This calculator applies the statutory guidelines tables from Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304 and produces results consistent with the DIVCP-13 court form that judges rely on when setting support orders.
What income is included in the Wyoming child support calculation?
Wyoming includes gross income from all sources: wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment, dividends, interest, pensions, Social Security benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, disability benefits, and capital gains. Excluded sources include means-tested benefits such as SSI, TANF, and SNAP. Wyoming has no state income tax, so net income calculations differ from most other states.
How does shared custody (50/50) affect child support in Wyoming?
Shared custody applies when each parent has 92 or more overnights per year (25%+ of the year) under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304. Wyoming multiplies the base obligation by 150% to account for duplicate household costs, then divides by each parent's income share and time share. Even in a true 50/50 arrangement, the higher-earning parent typically pays support to the lower-earning parent because the income-share calculation creates an offset.
What is the minimum child support payment in Wyoming?
Wyoming does not set a fixed minimum dollar amount for child support. However, the self-support reserve (equal to the federal poverty guideline for one person at $1,255 per month in 2026) prevents orders from pushing the obligor below the poverty line. For very low-income parents, the support obligation equals the difference between net income and the self-support reserve, which can be as low as $50 to $100 per month.
Can Wyoming child support be modified if I lose my job?
Yes. Job loss constitutes a material change in circumstances under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-311, and you should file a modification petition immediately with the district court. Modifications take effect from the filing date, not retroactively, so delaying the petition means you remain obligated at the original amount. Courts may impute minimum-wage income if the job loss appears voluntary.
How long does child support last in Wyoming?
Wyoming child support continues until the child turns 18, or until age 20 if the child is enrolled full-time in high school or an equivalent program at age 18. Support also continues indefinitely for children with mental or physical disabilities who cannot support themselves. Emancipation through marriage, military service, or court order terminates the obligation before age 18.
Does the Wyoming child support calculator account for multiple families?
Yes. Wyoming allows a deduction for pre-existing child support obligations when calculating support for subsequent children. The paying parent's existing court-ordered support for other children is subtracted from gross income before applying the guidelines tables. This ensures that parents supporting children from multiple relationships are not overburdened, though the deduction only applies to court-ordered obligations, not voluntary payments.
What happens if someone refuses to pay child support in Wyoming?
Wyoming enforces child support through wage garnishment (up to 65% of disposable income for parents 12+ weeks in arrears), tax refund intercepts, passport denial for arrearages over $2,500, license suspensions, and contempt of court proceedings under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-310. Civil contempt can result in incarceration until the parent pays, while criminal contempt carries up to 6 months in jail per violation.
How much does it cost to file for child support in Wyoming?
Filing fees for a divorce action that includes child support range from $70 to $160 depending on the county, as of March 2026. Parents who cannot afford the filing fee may request a waiver by filing an Affidavit of Indigency. The Wyoming Child Support Program provides enforcement and modification services at no cost to custodial parents. Verify current fees with your local clerk of district court.
Can I use the Wyoming child support calculator before filing for divorce?
Yes. The Wyoming child support calculator at childsupport.wyoming.gov/calculator is publicly available and free to use without filing any court documents. Running the calculator before filing helps both parents understand the likely support obligation and can facilitate settlement negotiations. The calculator estimate is not legally binding but produces the same result as the DIVCP-13 court computation form when identical inputs are used.