Rhode Island Child Support Guidelines

Rhode Island calculates child support using the income shares model, which is based on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family stayed together. The Rhode Island Family Court Administrative Order establishes the child support guidelines schedule that governs most cases.

The guidelines consider both parents’ gross income, apply a schedule to determine the basic support obligation, and then adjust for healthcare costs, childcare expenses, and other factors. Understanding how these calculations work---and when courts can deviate from the guidelines---is critical for any parent involved in a Rhode Island child support case.

How the Income Shares Model Works

Rhode Island’s income shares model follows a straightforward process:

1. Calculate each parent’s gross income
2. Combine the two gross incomes
3. Look up the basic support obligation on the guidelines schedule based on combined income and number of children
4. Divide the obligation proportionally between the parents based on each parent’s share of combined income
5. Add mandatory adjustments for healthcare premiums, extraordinary medical expenses, and childcare costs
6. Apply the adjusted obligation --- the non-custodial parent’s share becomes the support order

The guidelines create a presumptive support amount. This means the amount calculated under the guidelines is assumed to be correct unless a party demonstrates that deviation is warranted.

Defining Gross Income

Rhode Island’s guidelines use gross income as the starting point for both parents. Gross income includes virtually all income from any source, whether earned or unearned:

Earned income

• Wages, salaries, and tips
• Commissions and bonuses
• Overtime pay (if regular and recurring)
• Self-employment income (gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses)
• Military pay and allowances

Unearned income

• Interest and dividend income
• Rental income
• Trust income
• Social Security benefits (excluding Supplemental Security Income)
• Workers’ compensation benefits
• Unemployment compensation
• Pension and retirement income
• Annuity payments
• Alimony or spousal support received from any source

What is not included

Certain items are generally excluded from gross income:

• Public assistance benefits (TANF, SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Income of a new spouse or partner (though the court may consider it in limited circumstances)

Imputing income

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income to that parent. This means the court assigns an income amount based on what the parent could reasonably be expected to earn, considering their education, work history, skills, and the local job market.

This prevents a parent from reducing their support obligation by deliberately choosing not to work, working part-time without justification, or accepting a lower-paying position without good cause.

The Guidelines Schedule

Rhode Island publishes a child support guidelines schedule that lists the basic support obligation based on the parents’ combined gross income and the number of children. The schedule covers a range of income levels and specifies the total dollar amount both parents should contribute.

How to use the schedule

1. Find the row that matches the parents’ combined gross weekly income
2. Find the column for the number of children
3. The intersection gives the total basic support obligation
4. Divide this amount between the parents based on each parent’s percentage of combined gross income

Example: If Parent A earns $800 per week and Parent B earns $600 per week, the combined gross weekly income is $1,400. Parent A’s share is 57% ($800 / $1,400) and Parent B’s share is 43% ($600 / $1,400). If the guidelines schedule shows a basic obligation of $300 per week for two children at the $1,400 income level, Parent A’s share is $171 per week and Parent B’s share is $129 per week.

If Parent B has primary physical placement, Parent A pays $171 per week. Parent B’s share is presumed to be spent directly on the children.

Healthcare Costs

Rhode Island requires mandatory consideration of healthcare costs in every child support calculation. Healthcare is not optional---it is built into the guidelines framework.

Health insurance premiums

The cost of health insurance premiums attributable to the children is added to the basic support obligation and divided between the parents based on their proportional income shares. If one parent provides health insurance through their employer and $200 per month of the premium is attributable to the children, that $200 is allocated between the parents.

Unreimbursed medical expenses

Extraordinary medical expenses---those not covered by insurance, such as copayments, deductibles, dental and orthodontic costs, vision care, mental health treatment, and prescription medications---are divided between the parents in proportion to their income shares. The court may establish a threshold below which unreimbursed expenses are considered part of the basic obligation and above which they are shared proportionally.

Childcare Costs

Work-related childcare expenses are added to the basic support obligation and divided between the parents based on their income shares. To qualify, the childcare must be:

• Necessary for the custodial parent to work or attend education or training that will lead to employment
• Reasonable in cost --- the court may consider whether the childcare arrangement is appropriate for the child’s age and needs

Common childcare expenses include daycare, before-school and after-school care, and summer camp when used as childcare while the parent works. The court considers the net cost after any tax credits or subsidies.

Shared Placement Adjustments

When both parents have substantial parenting time, the standard child support calculation may be adjusted. Rhode Island’s guidelines recognize that when a child spends significant time with each parent, both parents incur direct costs for the child (housing, food, transportation, activities).

If the non-custodial parent has the child for a substantial number of overnights (often 30% or more of the year), the support obligation may be reduced to reflect the direct costs that parent incurs. The adjustment accounts for fixed costs like maintaining a bedroom for the child and the custodial parent’s need for consistent support. Even in a 50/50 arrangement, the higher-earning parent typically pays some support to equalize the child’s standard of living in both homes.

Self-Employment Income

Calculating child support for a self-employed parent requires additional scrutiny. Self-employment income is gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses. However, the court closely examines what the self-employed parent claims as business expenses.

The court may add back deductions that are not genuinely necessary for the business, such as personal vehicle expenses claimed as business use or meals that are personal in nature. Depreciation reduces taxable income but does not reflect an actual cash outflow, so courts may add it back for support purposes. If a parent receives unreported cash income, the court may impute additional income based on the parent’s lifestyle or assets. When income fluctuates year to year, courts typically average income over two to three years rather than relying on a single year.

Deviation Factors

While the guidelines amount is presumptive, either parent can request a deviation if the guidelines result in an amount that is unjust or inappropriate. Common factors that may justify a deviation include:

• Extraordinary medical expenses of the child or a parent
• Special educational needs, including private school tuition
• The child’s independent income or assets
• Travel expenses for exercising parenting time when the parents live far apart
• Support obligations for children from other relationships
• Extreme financial hardship of either parent

The parent requesting a deviation bears the burden of proof. If the court deviates, it must state its reasons in writing.

Modification of Child Support

Either parent can petition to modify a child support order when there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the order was entered. Common grounds include a significant change in either parent’s income, a change in the custody arrangement, a change in the child’s needs, a change in healthcare or childcare costs, or emancipation of one child in a multi-child order. Rhode Island allows periodic review, and the court recalculates support using current income and the current guidelines schedule.

Duration of child support

In Rhode Island, child support generally continues until the child turns 18, or until the child graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. Support may continue beyond 18 for a child with a severe physical or mental disability that prevents self-support.

For a national overview of child support modification, see our guide on modifying child support.

What to Do Next

If child support is an issue in your Rhode Island case, take these steps:

1. Gather complete income documentation. Collect pay stubs, tax returns (at least the last two to three years), W-2s, 1099s, and records of all income sources for both parents. Accurate income figures are the foundation of the support calculation.
2. Document healthcare and childcare costs. Compile records of health insurance premiums attributable to the children, unreimbursed medical expenses, and work-related childcare costs. These amounts are added to the basic obligation and can significantly affect the final support figure.
3. Track parenting time carefully. If you have or are seeking shared placement, the number of overnights each parent has may affect the support calculation. Keep a detailed record of the actual parenting schedule.
4. Review the guidelines schedule. Familiarize yourself with Rhode Island’s child support guidelines schedule so you have a baseline understanding of what the presumptive support amount will be. This helps you evaluate any proposed amount or prepare for a hearing.
5. Consult a Rhode Island family law attorney. Child support calculations involve nuances---income imputation, self-employment analysis, deviation factors, and healthcare adjustments all require careful attention. Schedule a free consultation with an attorney experienced in Rhode Island Family Court to ensure the support amount accurately reflects both parents’ incomes and your child’s needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support calculated in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island uses the income shares model. Both parents’ gross incomes are combined, and the court looks up the basic support obligation on the guidelines schedule based on combined income and the number of children. The obligation is divided proportionally between the parents, and adjustments are made for healthcare premiums, unreimbursed medical expenses, and childcare costs.

Can child support be different from the guidelines amount?

Yes. The guidelines amount is a rebuttable presumption. Either parent can request a deviation by demonstrating that the guidelines amount is unjust or inappropriate. Common reasons for deviation include extraordinary medical expenses, special educational needs, travel costs for parenting time, and extreme financial hardship. The court must state its reasons in writing if it deviates.

What happens if a parent is self-employed?

The court calculates self-employment income as gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses. The court may add back excessive deductions, depreciation, and unreported cash income. If income fluctuates year to year, courts typically average income over two to three years.

How long does child support last in Rhode Island?

Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. Support may extend beyond 18 for a child with a severe disability that prevents self-support.

Can I modify a child support order in Rhode Island?

Yes. Either parent can petition for modification when there has been a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant income change, a change in custody, a change in the child’s needs, or a change in healthcare or childcare costs. The court recalculates support using current income and the current guidelines schedule.