Wyoming Child Support Calculator & Guide (2025)

Overview of Wyoming Child Support

Wyoming uses the Income Shares Model under W.S. §20-2-304. This model estimates the total amount of support that would have been available to the child if the parents had remained together, then divides that responsibility between the parents proportionally based on their incomes.

Wyoming's approach uses net income and provides a self-support reserve to protect low-income obligors. The state may also impute income for parents who are voluntarily underemployed.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Wyoming

The Wyoming child support formula works as follows:

1. Determine each parent's net income: Gross income minus taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and other allowable deductions
2. Combine both parents' net incomes to find the total household income
3. Look up the base support obligation from the Wyoming child support guidelines table based on combined income and number of children
4. Allocate each parent's share proportionally based on their percentage of the combined income
5. Add health insurance premiums and childcare costs to the base obligation
6. Apply any adjustments such as shared custody modifications or self-support reserve provisions

Key Factors in Wyoming Calculations

Net Income

Wyoming uses net income for child support calculations. This means gross income from all sources minus federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, Medicare taxes, and other mandatory deductions. Wyoming has no state income tax.

Self-Support Reserve

Wyoming provides a self-support reserve of $1,012 per month (2024). If the obligor parent's income falls at or near this level, their support obligation may be reduced to ensure they can meet their own basic living needs.

Income Imputation

Wyoming may impute income for parents who are voluntarily underemployed or unemployed. The court can assign an income level based on the parent's earning capacity, work history, education, and job qualifications. This ensures that parents cannot avoid child support obligations by intentionally earning less.

Minimum and Maximum Amounts

Minimum: While Wyoming does not have a fixed statutory minimum, the self-support reserve protects low-income parents from excessive obligations.

High-income cases: For combined incomes above the guideline table, the court has discretion to determine an appropriate support amount based on the child's needs and the parents' ability to pay.

Modification and Enforcement

Modification

Wyoming allows modification when:

• There has been a substantial change in circumstances
• A significant change in either parent's income occurs
• Custody arrangements change
• The child's needs change

Enforcement

The Wyoming Department of Family Services - Child Support Enforcement enforces child support through:

• Income withholding from paychecks
• Tax refund interception
• Driver's license suspension
• Professional license suspension
• Credit bureau reporting
• Contempt of court proceedings
• Liens on property and financial accounts

Get your Wyoming estimate: Use our free Wyoming child support calculator to see what you might owe or receive under Wyoming guidelines.