Missouri Child Support Guidelines – Form 14

The State of Missouri has adopted by statute guidelines for determining the presumptive amount of child support that should be paid by the non-residential parent in a child support proceeding. The overarching standard, which isn’t much in terms of a standard to be honest is “what is in the best interest of the child.” Importantly, it is not what is in the best interest of the parent paying support or the parent receiving support. 

Many times a parents think it’s in the best interest of the child for the parents to split the financial responsibility 50/50. Usually it is not. Look at it this way. Let’s say you do start at 50/50 then one parent needs to persuade why it shouldn’t be 50/50. For example, she makes 70 percent of the income or he pays for 100 percent of the costs of health care, or she pays for all of day care, or the children will be spending 10 out of 14 days with him. All of these situations mean that there will be some costs that are not equally divisible. Form 14 is an attempt to equalize the disparity but it is only a starting point.

One parent will always be spending a little less or more on the child, due to taking the child to the doctor, extra-curricular activities or feeding the child more. One parent might be working so much that they are forced to eat out with the child more often than the other. Making sure both parents pay exactly the same amount is not what may be in the best interest of the child.

In my opinion it is not that parents have a problem with helping with the financial needs of the child it is that they dislike the idea of having to provide the money to someone that they no longer trust to use it for the child’s benefit. Don’t forget, the law requires that the support amount is set  “in the best interest of the child.” I doubt there would be any judge that would think it is in the best interest of the child for one parent to be left destitute because the child support amount was too high or too low. 

Remember that there is more to providing for your family and children than just earning the money. If you think you are paying too much or receiving too little financial support in raising your children with your spouse call today for a free consultation. Call (314) 456-9632.