Utah Divorce Guides
How Child Support Is Calculated in Utah
Utah's income shares model explained — with examples, edge cases, and a link to the official calculator.
Try the Interactive Calculator
Enter both parents' incomes and custody schedule to get an estimate.
The Income Shares Model
Utah uses the Income Shares Model, which is based on the idea that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the parents lived together. Both parents' incomes are combined to determine the total support obligation, then each parent contributes their proportionate share.
Example: Parent A earns $4,000/month and Parent B earns $2,000/month. Combined income is $6,000. Parent A contributes 67% and Parent B contributes 33% of the total support obligation.
Step-by-Step Calculation
1Determine each parent's gross monthly income
Include wages, salary, self-employment net income, rental income, commissions, and regular overtime.
2Adjust for pre-existing support obligations
Deduct any child support or alimony being paid for children or spouses from prior relationships.
3Look up the ORS table
Use Utah's Office of Recovery Services (ORS) support table to find the base obligation for the combined income and number of children.
4Add work-related childcare and health insurance costs
These are added to the base obligation and split proportionally between parents.
5Apply the custody adjustment
In joint custody situations (Worksheet B), the support obligation is reduced to reflect the non-custodial parent's additional direct spending during their parenting time.
Sole vs Joint Custody
Worksheet A — Sole Custody
Used when one parent has primary physical custody. The non-custodial parent pays a fixed monthly amount to the custodial parent.
Worksheet B — Joint Custody
Used when each parent has 111+ overnights per year with the child. The support amount is reduced to reflect shared direct costs.
What Counts as Income
☐Wages, salary, and bonuses
All W-2 income and employer-paid compensation counts toward gross income.
☐Self-employment net income
Gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses — courts may add back non-cash deductions like depreciation.
☐Rental income, commissions, regular overtime
Income from any source — including rental properties and investment income — is generally included.
☐Imputed income for voluntary unemployment
If the court finds a parent is voluntarily underemployed, it may impute income at what that parent could earn based on their education, work history, and job market.
Deviations from the Guidelines
Courts can deviate from the guideline amount if applying it would be unjust or inappropriate. Any deviation must be in writing and explain the reason. Common grounds include:
Extraordinary medical expensesYes
Special needs of the childYes
Agreements between parents (must be court-approved)Yes
Modifying Child Support
Under Utah Code § 78B-12-210, you can request a modification if:
☐3+ years have passed since the last order
A change in circumstances is presumed after three years — no additional showing required.
☐Substantial change in circumstances
Job loss, significant income change, change in custody schedule, or new disability can all qualify as substantial changes.
Enforcement — Utah ORS
Utah's Office of Recovery Services (ORS) enforces child support orders using several tools:
Wage garnishmentMost common
Driver's / professional license suspensionAfter significant arrears
Contempt of courtCan include jail time
Credit bureau reportingDamages credit score
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Need help figuring out child support?
divvi walks you through Utah's income shares formula and helps you understand what to expect.
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