There is no fixed minimum child support in Wisconsin. Courts start with a percentage of the paying parent’s income set by state rules. When a parent’s income is very low, the court can order a reduced amount that fits the parent’s overall financial situation, even below the state’s low-income schedule.
Because there is no minimum child support in Wisconsin, every order starts with the paying parent’s income and the number of children. Under Wis. Stat. § 767.511, courts use the state percentage standard, and a parent can ask the court to depart from it if the result would be unfair to the child or a parent. Our guide to how Wisconsin child support is calculated explains how income is counted.
State rules treat low-income parents separately. When a paying parent’s overall financial circumstances limit what they can pay, the court may use a reduced low-income schedule. If income falls below that schedule, the court may set an amount that fits the parent’s circumstances.
A low or zero income does not guarantee a low order. If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed without good cause, the court may base support on what the parent could earn, looking at work history, past earnings, job skills, and education. Incarceration may not be treated as voluntary unemployment.
If your income drops, ask the court to modify the order right away, because changes apply only going forward and missed support stays owed. Bring pay stubs, tax returns, and proof of your job search. Learn how child support modification in Wisconsin works, or start with our Wisconsin child support law guide.
Renier Hotopp Law Offices helps parents request low-income orders, challenge imputed income, and resolve questions about minimum child support in Wisconsin through our Wisconsin family law attorney services. Read more about the firm.
