Alabama Child Support 101: How Rule 32 Works (and the Costly Worksheet Mistakes to Avoid)

Child support in Alabama is supposed to be predictable. The courts use Rule 32 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration to calculate an amount based on income, parenting time, health insurance, and child-care costs. But small mistakes on the worksheet can lead to big, long-lasting problems—especially if you sign an agreement before understanding how the numbers should look.

If you’re unsure about your obligations or believe your current order is wrong, our team can walk you through it. Start with this guide, then reach out for a confidential review through our Family Law page or Contact form.

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What Rule 32 Looks At

Rule 32’s worksheet gathers:

• Gross monthly income for each parent (wages, bonuses, self-employment income, certain benefits).
• Work-related child-care costs.
• Health-insurance premiums for the children.
• Number of children covered by the order.
• Overnights/parenting time (in some cases, if there’s a substantial time-sharing arrangement, the court can deviate).

The court combines the parents’ incomes to find a basic support obligation from the Rule 32 schedule. Then it prorates that number between the parents based on each parent’s share of the combined income. Add health insurance and child-care; subtract any adjustments (like a credit for directly paying the premium), and you have the presumptive child support.

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Five Expensive Worksheet Mistakes

1. Using net pay instead of gross income.
   Rule 32 uses gross, not take-home. Plugging in net pay can understate income and create an amount the judge won’t accept.
2. Forgetting non-salary income.
   Side gigs, commissions, recurring bonuses, and self-employment draws are part of “gross income.” If you leave them out, the number won’t match tax returns or bank records.
3. Mislabeling health-insurance costs.
   Only the child’s portion of a family plan is counted, not the entire family premium. If HR doesn’t break it out, ask for a per-member cost or a letter showing the child-only add-on.
4. Claiming child-care that isn’t work-related.
   Rule 32 allows work-related child-care. Summer camps and after-school programs can qualify—purely recreational programs typically don’t.
5. Ignoring tax-credit impacts and deviations.
   Some families qualify for a deviation (up or down) when the worksheet result would be unjust—for example, very long parenting time or extraordinary medical/educational needs. If a deviation fits your case, you must request it and show why.

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Can We Agree to a Different Number?

Yes—parents can agree to deviate from the guideline amount, but the court must find the deviation is in the child’s best interests and state the reasons. A private deal without a court order is risky: it’s hard to enforce and won’t protect you from arrears.

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Modifying Child Support

Support can be modified when there’s a material change in circumstances (job loss, big income change, new medical needs, or a major shift in time-sharing). Courts usually want to see at least a 10% change from the current order, but the real test is fairness based on current facts.

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How to Prepare for a Clean Worksheet

• Bring last 6–12 months of pay stubs and your latest tax return.
• Request a health-insurance breakdown from your employer.
• Save invoices for child-care and unreimbursed medical costs.
• Track overnights accurately.
• If you’re self-employed, gather P&Ls and proof of ordinary/necessary business expenses.

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Bottom Line

Rule 32 is meant to be consistent, but the inputs matter. A 10-minute mistake can cost thousands over the life of an order. For help assembling a correct worksheet—or to review an existing order—start on our Family Law page or Contact us for a confidential consultation.