Does having joint custody of kids have any impact on the amount of child support required?
It depends on whether you are talking about joint physical custody or joint legal custody. If it is joint physical custody, there often isn’t a child support order in place. Both parents contribute to the financial needs of the child(ren), and the child(ren) physically spend equal time with each parent. If it is joint legal custody, each parent has an equal say in major decisions made on behalf of the child(ren)… such as what church or school to attend, major medical procedures, etc. The children live primarily with one parent, though. In this case the parent who has primary physical custody of the child(ren) will receive child support from the other parent. Generally speaking, there isn’t a difference in the amout of support that will be awarded to a parent who has joint legal custody and one who has full legal custody.
