Indiana Child Support Guidelines 2026: What Hamilton County Parents Need to Know

Indiana parents have watched a series of updates to child support rules since 2024. Those changes reshaped how weekly support is calculated, how parenting time credits are applied, and how medical and childcare costs are divided. As 2026 approaches, the practical question for families in Hamilton County is simple. What stays the same, what might shift, and how do you prepare so your order matches your child’s needs?

The core framework remains the Income Shares Model. Courts start with the combined weekly income of both parents, consult the schedule of basic child support obligations, and then layer in adjustments for parenting time, health insurance, and work related childcare. The worksheet is mandatory in every case, which keeps decisions consistent from Noblesville to Fishers and Carmel.

The mechanics still matter most if you want a realistic number. Indiana courts rely on a standardized worksheet and a schedule that reflects current economic data. Each parent’s share is proportional to income. That base figure then moves up or down with certain credits and add ons that reflect real life expenses.

What counts as income in Indiana child support

Income is broader than a pay check. It can include wages, overtime that is reasonably expected, bonuses, commissions, self employment draws, and certain recurring benefits. Courts look for a steady pattern rather than one unusual month. The goal is to land on a weekly number that reflects what a parent can actually earn over time.

Parenting time credit and overnights

Indiana uses overnights to measure parenting time for credit purposes. When a parent has more time, more daily costs shift to that home, and the credit reflects that. The 2024 revision adjusted how courts calculate and round this credit, and those methods carry forward unless the Supreme Court issues another update.

Health insurance, uninsured expenses, and childcare

If one parent pays for the health insurance premium for the child(ren’s)’s health insurance, that parent gets a credit on the child support worksheet. Likewise, if one or both parents are paying for childcare that enables that parent to work, then a credit is also applied to the child support worksheet. The worksheet automatically calculates the percentage of unreimbursed medical expenses each parent will pay for dollar one and it is indicated on the worksheet. Hamilton County courts apply these rules the same way you will see across the state.

When can a court deviate from the guideline number

The worksheet amount is presumed correct, but judges can deviate when facts make the guideline unfair. Examples include unusual travel costs for parenting time, special educational needs, or a temporary hardship backed by reliable proof. Even with adjustments, Indiana cautions that combined temporary maintenance and child support should not exceed one half of the obligor’s weekly adjusted income, which helps the paying parent meet basic living costs.

Core inputs that move your number

• Combined weekly income. The schedule of basic support obligations starts with both incomes together, then each parent’s share is set by percentage. This keeps support aligned with the child’s standard of living in both homes.
• Parenting time overnights. Credits rise with additional overnights because more meals, transportation, and routine costs are paid in that home. The worksheet credits these in blocks, with each block adjusting the amount of credit received. The new worksheet allows for different credit times for each child in the event of varied parenting time schedules.
• Health insurance and childcare. The child only portion of premiums and verified work related childcare are added to the base and then divided. Receipts and plan documents prevent guesswork.

As of now, the most recent official changes to the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines were adopted in 2023 and updated through 2024, with implementation continuing into 2025 in practice materials. No new statewide rule set for 2026 has been published by the Indiana Supreme Court at the time of writing. Parents should expect the 2024 methodology and worksheets to remain in place in 2026 unless a new order issues.

Support can be modified without a new statewide rule if your facts meet Indiana’s standard for change. A court may modify when there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, or when the correct worksheet amount would differ from the current order by at least twenty percent and the order is one year old or older. Income shifts, changes in childcare, or new insurance costs often meet this test.

In some cases the Title IV D program, through the county prosecutor’s office, will establish, enforce, or modify support. That process uses the same worksheet and guidelines and can be efficient when public assistance is involved. Ask counsel whether your case is part of the program or should proceed by private filing in Hamilton County.

What to watch in 2026 for Hamilton County families

• Form and worksheet refinements. Expect small improvements in forms or calculators that do not change the core math but make the process easier to follow.
• Clarifications to parenting time credit. Courts may continue to clarify how to apply credits where parents use flexible or alternating work schedules that change overnights through the year. Keep a calendar.
• Digital documentation. More courts encourage digital submission of pay stubs, benefits summaries, and receipts to reduce delays and improve accuracy for hearings and conferences.

Real life examples show how a worksheet moves. These scenarios are simplified. Your facts will drive your result.

Example one: similar incomes, different overnights

Both parents earn about the same. One parent has most school nights while the other has alternating weekends and summer weeks. The base obligation starts near the middle of the schedule since combined income is moderate. The parenting time credit reduces the paying parent’s share because of regular weekends and extended summer time, but the credit is not large enough to equalize the homes. The final amount reflects a modest shift toward the parent with more school costs.

Example two: higher income gap and employer health plan

One parent has a higher salary and carries the children on an employer plan for health insurance. The premium portion that covers the children is entered on the worksheet and shared in proportion to income. The paying parent’s transfer may decrease because the other parent receives a credit for the premium, even if the higher earner pays the bill at the payroll level. Documentation of the child only cost is key so the math is not inflated.

Example three: childcare phases out

Day care ends when a child enters school, or costs drop when after care replaces a full time program. Because childcare is an add on that is shared by percentage, the total support figure can fall noticeably when that line item disappears. Parents should alert the court through counsel to modify the order rather than informally reduce payments, since arrears accrue on the written order.

Use this combined checklist to avoid common errors and to get ready for a hearing or settlement conference.

• Guessing about income. Provide recent pay stubs, year to date summaries, and a prior year W 2 or Schedule C if you are self employed. Courts look for a pattern, not one pay period. If overtime is routine, expect it to count.
• Ignoring health insurance details. The worksheet needs the child only premium. If your plan shows only a family rate, your attorney can help isolate the child share so the credit is accurate.
• Skipping formal modification. You cannot change support by private agreement. File to modify when a substantial and continuing change occurs or when the twenty percent rule applies, or arrears will accrue.

Prepare these items so the numbers are hard to dispute.

• Income proof. Gather three months of pay stubs, your latest tax return, and proof of bonuses or commissions. Average variable pay across a longer period when needed.
• Parenting time records. Keep a simple calendar of overnights. Hamilton County courts follow the Parenting Time Guidelines unless a child’s needs require an adjustment, so accurate counts matter.
• Child related costs. Save invoices for childcare, school required fees, and uninsured medical expenses with explanation of benefits. Bring insurance cards and a benefits summary.

Child support is a formula, but your family is not. The best results come from accurate numbers, clear records, and a local strategy that fits life in Hamilton County. If you expect a change in 2026, or you are setting support for the first time, our team can help you prepare the worksheet, document the credits, and present a clear story to the court.

Webster & Garino LLC serves families from our Westfield office and across greater Indianapolis. We guide parents through every step, from gathering documents to negotiating an agreement that works in real life. When a hearing is needed, you will have an advocate who knows the calendars, the procedures, and the small details that move cases forward in this county.

Reach out to schedule a consultation.