Child Support in Wisconsin

The percentage of income standard

Under DCF 150, Wisconsin's basic child support standard applies a percentage to the paying parent's gross income, depending on the number of children the order covers. The percentage rises as the number of children increases. This basic standard applies in sole-placement cases, where one parent has the child the large majority of the time.

DCF 150 also sets out separate formulas for shared-placement cases, where both parents have significant periods of physical placement. Split-placement cases, involving multiple children placed with different parents, get their own formula too, along with adjustments for high-income and low-income payers.

Applying through the Bureau of Child Support

Wisconsin's Bureau of Child Support sits inside the Department of Children and Families. It is the state's IV-D agency and works with a child support agency in each county to handle casework. A parent can apply through the county agency for paternity establishment, a support order, or enforcement.

A parent already in a circuit court divorce or paternity case can also have support decided directly as part of that case.

Which court hears the case

Wisconsin circuit courts hear contested child support matters connected to divorce, custody placement, and paternity cases. Family court commissioners in many counties handle a substantial part of the process, including temporary orders and uncontested matters, before a matter reaches a judge.

Modifying a Wisconsin order

A Wisconsin order can be modified after a substantial change in circumstances since it was set. A significant income or placement change counts. County child support agencies also periodically review orders they enforce. They can pursue modification when reapplying the applicable DCF 150 formula to current circumstances would produce a materially different amount.

A parent seeking modification files with the circuit court that issued the order, or requests a review through the county agency for agency-managed cases.

Enforcement

County child support agencies, working with the state Bureau of Child Support, enforce Wisconsin orders using standard IV-D tools. These include income withholding, intercepting state and federal tax refunds, credit bureau reporting, and license suspension for significant arrears.

A parent owed support who needs enforcement help can open a case with the county agency. This works even when the original order came from a private circuit court filing.