Hawaii Child Support Age Limit

Whether you are part of a divorce, separation, or general dispute over child custody, the conversation of child support will inevitably become part of the conversation.

Hawaii child support guidelines are put in place to make sure that parents responsibly take care of their children, even if they are not in the picture. Here are some basics about child support, including the Hawaii child support age limit:

 

Child Support in Hawaii

 

The State of Hawaii generally considers the parent that makes child support payments as the “Payor”. Meanwhile, the parent that receives the payments is labeled the “Payee”, or “Custodial Parent” (CP).

 

The amount of child support is calculated in Hawaii by using the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet. The formula of the support payment takes into account the Payor’s:

 

• Net Income
• Earnings Income
• Amounts Paid For Child’s Medical Insurance
• Child Care Expenses

 

Currently, the minimum child support under Hawaii law is $70 per child, per month. The parties involved in the support orders may agree or stipulate to a higher amount than the general guidelines, but not a lower amount unless the circumstances get approved by the court.

 

NOTE: The Child Support Enforcement Agency in Hawaii handles cases where there is joint physical custody or the Payor has extensive visitation differently.

 

Hawaii Child Support Age Limit

 

The Payee needs to pay child support until at least the age of 18. The age limit gets extended to up to the age of 23 if the child is enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university, or in a vocational or trade school.

 

Therefore, a Payee should plan to pay child support until at least the age of 18, but reserve funds for up to the age of 23.

 

The State of Hawaii uses the definition of “full-time student” as the equivalent of 12 credit hours per semester in school. However, recent measures taken in the state might extend child support past age 23 in unusual circumstances.

 

The Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) manages all the child support payments on the islands. It is different from the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) which acts as the federal department under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Hawaii Child Support Guidelines

 

Hawaii follows the Melson Formula for calculating a child support obligation. As a result, support orders get calculated based on net income with allowances for household members.

 

It is possible for family courts to order one or both parents to provide child support in “a just and equitable manner”. The Child Support Guidelines provided by the Hawaii Revised Statutes has more official information on the process.

 

According to the support orders, the court considers for a child support obligation:

 

• The needs of the child.
• Any other dependents of the parents.
• All earnings, income, and resources of the parents.
• The earning potential, reasonable necessities, and borrowing capacity of the parents.
• The full amount of public aid the child would receive without any child support.
• Incentives for both parents to work.
• An attempt to balance the standard of living of the parents and avoid placing any parent below the poverty level.
• To avoid any extreme changes in either parent’s income.
• If a parent with school-age children is able to work and does not, 30 hours of minimum wage income will be added to that parent’s presumed income.

 

Once child care expenses get calculated it is essential to consider any appropriate Hawaii child support deviation factors that apply to the situation.

 

Can You Modify Child Support?

 

Are you concerned about your standard of living and covering child support payments?

 

Thankfully, child support (after it is established) is eligible for modification based upon the following factors:

 

• Increases or decreases in the income of Payor or Payee.
• A change in the childcare expenses or the child’s medical insurance premiums.
• A smaller number of children receiving child support.

 

It is possible to modify support payment at the Family Court or Child Support Enforcement Agency. The process requires you to file a motion while pursuing a modification with the CSEA.

 

There are benefits and disadvantages to pursuing Family Court as opposed to the CSEA. While Family Court is generally faster, it is more complicated for unrepresented parties. It can also change non-child support issues, such as custody or visitation rights.