Child Support Calculation Worksheet - South Dakota

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT WORKSHEET

The South Dakota Department of Social Services publishes official form SE-481A (Child Support Obligation Worksheet Based on Income Shares).
This template helps organize a proposed calculation. Follow the current official form and court instructions when submitting figures.
The official form is available at https://dss.sd.gov/formsandpubs/docs/CS/SE481A.pdf.
This document does not replace a court order or a form required in your case.

CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATION WORKSHEET

State of South Dakota

Court: [________________________________] Circuit Court
County: [________________________________]
Case No.: [________________________________]
Judge/Magistrate: [________________________________]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Party and Children Identification
2. Calculation Model
3. Gross Income Determination
4. Adjustments to Income
5. Child Support Obligation Formula
6. Healthcare Expenses
7. Childcare Expenses
8. Extraordinary Expenses
9. Deviation Factors
10. Duration and Termination
11. State-Specific Notes

1. PARTY AND CHILDREN IDENTIFICATION

Non-Custodial Parent (Parent 1):

• Full Name: [________________________________]
• Date of Birth: [__/__/____]
• Employer: [________________________________]

Custodial Parent (Parent 2):

• Full Name: [________________________________]
• Date of Birth: [__/__/____]
• Employer: [________________________________]

Children Subject to This Order:

Custody Type:
☐ Primary Physical Custody (one parent)
☐ Shared Parenting (review the court-ordered plan and statutory cross-credit criteria)
☐ Split Custody

2. CALCULATION MODEL

Model: Combined monthly net income and proportional shares under SDCL § 25-7-6.2
Number of Children: [____]

3. GROSS INCOME DETERMINATION

4. ADJUSTMENTS TO INCOME

5. CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION FORMULA

Step 1: Combined Monthly Net Income: $[________]

Step 2: Basic Support Obligation from SDCL § 25-7-6.2 Schedule (for [__] children): $[________]

Step 3: Each Parent's Percentage of Combined Net Income:

• Parent 1: [____]%
• Parent 2: [____]%

Step 4: Each Parent's Share:

• Parent 1: $[________] x [____]% = $[________]
• Parent 2: $[________] x [____]% = $[________]

Step 5: Non-Custodial Parent's Proportional Obligation: $[________]

Step 6 — Low-income comparison: If the noncustodial parent's own net income falls in an emboldened part of the current schedule, find the schedule obligation using that income alone: $[________]. Compare it with Step 5 and use the lesser amount: $[________]. If no emboldened row applies, carry forward Step 5: $[________]. Do not subtract a second self-support reserve.

6. HEALTHCARE EXPENSES

☐ Parent ordered to maintain health insurance: [________________]
☐ Uninsured additional reasonable health care expenses: parent with primary physical custody pays first $250 per calendar year for each minor child; excess is divided in proportion to the parents' support obligations.

The eight-percent reasonable-cost test applies after proportionate medical support credit. State the child's actual insurance cost, accessibility, and the proposed credit or reimbursement method: [________________________________].

7. CHILDCARE EXPENSES

SDCL § 25-7-6.18 permits a court allocation of reasonable child care costs due to employment, job search, or training or education for work. If the federal child care tax credit is available to the custodial parent, the statute calculates it at 25% of the eligible expense. Do not automatically add or proportionally divide child care costs without the applicable order.

8. EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES

9. DEVIATION FACTORS

☐ No deviation requested
☐ Deviation requested based on:

☐ Financial condition making the schedule inequitable
☐ Necessary educational or health care special needs of the child
☐ Parental agreement for extra support directly benefiting the child
☐ Voluntary and unreasonable unemployment or underemployment
☐ Subsequent-spouse income or third-party contribution, where schedule application causes financial hardship
☐ Obligation for subsequent natural, adopted, or stepchildren
☐ Federal income consequences of claiming the child as a dependent

Deviation Amount: $[________] per month
Justification: [________________________________]

A deviation raised by either party requires consideration; a granted deviation requires specific findings under SDCL § 25-7-6.10. A later child alone cannot support modification of an existing order.

10. DURATION AND TERMINATION

Under SDCL § 25-5-18.1, the parental duty of support generally runs until age 18, or age 19 if the child is a full-time student in a secondary school. Check the actual order and applicable law before stating an end date: [________________________________].

11. STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES

• Income Cap on Schedule: $30,000 combined monthly net income. Above this, court sets appropriate amount per SDCL § 25-7-6.9.
• Self-Support Reserve: The emboldened part of the schedule includes a reserve; apply the low-income comparison in Step 6.
• Shared Parenting: A court may allow a cross credit under SDCL § 25-7-6.27 when its detailed order gives each parent at least 180 nights per calendar year and meets the statute's other conditions. Attach the statutory 1.5-multiplier, income-share, overnight-share, and offset calculation if requested: [________________________________].
• Income Imputation: SDCL § 25-7-6.26 permits it on stated grounds and excludes a parent confined for more than 180 days or unable to earn because of physical or mental disability. Record the factual basis: [________________________________].

SUMMARY OF CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION

Net Amount to be Paid by [________________] to [________________]: $[________] per month

Prepared By: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
SD Bar No.: [________]

Sources and References:

• SD Child Support Obligation Calculator
• SDCL Chapter 25-7
• SDCL § 25-7-6.2 Obligation Schedule
• Official SE-481A worksheet