Child Support
Under Oklahoma law, all parents have an obligation to provide support to their children. Child support in Oklahoma is calculated pursuant to the Oklahoma Child Support Guidelines, which take into account the parties’ gross incomes, the number of children subject to the order, the number of overnights each parent exercises with the children under the controlling custody order, and health insurance premium costs. The child support computation can also include the cost of education or employment-related child care expenses, educational expenses, medical costs for the child, and visitation-related transportation costs.
In certain circumstances, parents may agree on a child support figure without following the Oklahoma Child Support Guidelines. However, the alternate support arrangement must be in the child’s best interest and meet all statutory factors in order to be approved by the court.
Child support can be modified if there is a material change in circumstances, which can include a positive or negative change in either party’s income or a change in the child’s needs.
In the eyes of the court, child support is a parent’s most important monthly expense, and there are serious consequences for failing to make timely child support payments, including up to six (6) months in jail and a fine of $500.
