Spousal and Child Support

Both parents are required to provide their minor children with financial support. Usually, payments are made by the non-custodial parent, as it is considered that the custodial parent contributes to the child's day-to-day expenses. In South Dakota, the amount of child support shall be calculated based on the Income Shares Model. This model estimates the amount of support that would have been available if the couple did not break up based on the net income of both parents. The resulting amount must be divided in proportion to the income level of the spouses. There is nothing complicated in calculating the amount of support for a particular divorce case since it can easily be determined using the South Dakota Child Support Worksheet.