Child Support in Utah How It’s Calculated Step by Step
A plain-English guide to income, parenting time, health insurance, childcare, the official calculator, and when you can modify orders
Utah Law Explained breaks down how Utah calculates child support so you can file confidently and avoid mistakes.
Utah uses a formula that balances both parents’ financial responsibilities with the child’s best interests. The key inputs are each parent’s income, the number of overnights in each home, and add-ons like health insurance and work-related childcare. Below we explain each factor, link to the official calculator and forms, and flag common pitfalls.
The Core Inputs
Utah’s guidelines apply the same framework to every case, then tailor results to your numbers.
Gross Monthly Income
Includes wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, and other income. Courts may “impute” income if a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed without good cause.
Parenting Time (Overnights)
Support adjusts based on annual overnights: Sole (<111), Joint (≥111 each), or Split (each parent has at least one child).
Health & Childcare Add-Ons
Premiums and work-related childcare are added to base support and divided by each parent’s share of combined income.
Official Worksheets
Numbers are entered into Utah’s worksheets/calculator, generating an official form to file with the court.
Income Definitions
Gross monthly income covers wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, and sometimes rental or self-employment income. The court may impute income if a parent’s earning capacity is higher than what they report and there is no good reason for reduced earnings.
Common mistake: forgetting irregular income like bonuses or seasonal overtime. Gather pay stubs, W-2s/1099s, and recent tax returns before you calculate.
Parenting Time & Overnights
Custody Categories
Why Overnights Matter
Health Insurance & Childcare
Documentation
Using Utah’s Child Support Calculator
Utah provides free worksheets and an online calculator. Enter each parent’s income, the number of children, and overnights to generate an official worksheet you can file with the court.
Common mistakes: forgetting bonuses, miscounting overnights, or omitting childcare/insurance costs. Double-check before filing.
Modifying a Child Support Order
Orders can be modified when there’s a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant change in income, a shift in custody/overnights, or new childcare or health-related costs. In many cases, orders can be reviewed every three years to ensure they remain fair.
Tip: Gather documentation for the change and re-run the calculator before you file a modification request.
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Key Takeaways
Utah calculates support using gross income, parenting-time overnights, and add-ons for health insurance and work-related childcare.
Accurate overnight counts can significantly change the result. Track nights precisely.
Use the official calculator and current forms. Modify orders if circumstances change.
This page is legal information, not legal advice. When in doubt, get counsel before you file.
Next Step
Ready to calculate or update support? Gather income documents, count overnights carefully, and generate your worksheet with Utah’s calculator.
Talk to a Utah Family Law AttorneyA short consult can help you avoid common errors, set expectations, and decide if a modification makes sense.