Wyoming Child Support Calculation Guide

Wyoming does not leave child support amounts to guesswork. The state uses a mathematical formula under Wyo. Stat. Title 20, Chapter 2, Article 3 that calculates each parent's obligation based on their income and the number of children. Here is how it actually works.

The Income Shares Model

Wyoming uses the Income Shares Model, built on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if their parents stayed together.

The calculation follows these steps:

Step 1: Determine each parent's net monthly income. Start with gross income from all sources — wages, salary, bonuses, self-employment, rental income, investment returns. Then subtract mandatory deductions: federal and state income taxes, Social Security contributions, Medicare, and health insurance premiums. The result is each parent's net monthly income.

Step 2: Combine both parents' net incomes. Add both figures together to get the combined monthly total.

Step 3: Look up the basic support obligation. Wyoming's statutory tables cross-reference the combined income against the number of children to produce a base support amount.

Step 4: Calculate each parent's proportional share. If one parent earns 60% of the combined income and the other earns 40%, they split the base obligation 60/40. The non-custodial parent's share typically becomes the monthly payment.

Both parents must exchange a Confidential Financial Affidavit along with recent tax returns and pay stubs to verify these numbers. The financial disclosure requirement under Rule 26(a)(1.1) is mandatory and cannot be skipped even if both parents agree on a support amount.

The Child Support Worksheet

Wyoming requires a completed child support calculation worksheet to be filed with the court. This is not optional — judges routinely reject settlement agreements that state a dollar amount without showing the underlying math.

The worksheet walks you through the income calculation step by step, including adjustments for:

• Health insurance premiums paid by either parent
• Childcare costs necessary for employment
• Extraordinary medical expenses
• Other children from prior relationships that a parent is legally obligated to support

When Income Gets Imputed

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or deliberately underemployed — working part-time when they could work full-time, or quitting a job to reduce their support obligation — the court can calculate support based on imputed income rather than actual earnings.

To impute income, the court estimates what the parent could reasonably earn based on their education, work history, skills, and local economic conditions. The parent requesting imputation files an Affidavit of Imputed Income (DIVCP 4) with supporting evidence.

This is a common flashpoint in contested divorces. If your spouse recently reduced their income and you suspect it was deliberate, the imputed income process is available — but it requires evidence, not just a suspicion.

Deviations From the Guidelines

Wyoming courts can deviate from the standard calculation in specific circumstances:

• A child's special medical, educational, or psychological needs
• Substantially shared parenting time that alters actual costs
• Income above or below the statutory table's range
• A parent's ownership of significant assets that do not generate regular income

Any deviation must be supported by written findings in the court order explaining why the standard amount would be unjust.

Modifying Child Support Later

Support orders are not permanent. Either parent can file a petition to modify child support by proving a "material and substantial change in circumstances" under Wyo. Stat. section 20-2-311. Common triggers include job loss, significant income changes, a child's evolving needs, or changes to the custody arrangement.

Modification requires filing a new petition with the court — support amounts do not change automatically, even if your income drops dramatically.

The Wyoming Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a child support calculation walkthrough and the financial documentation checklist you will need to complete the worksheet accurately.

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