Changes to the Michigan Child Support Formula
Once every four years the way child support is calculated in Michigan is slightly modified. The 2025 Michigan Child Support Formula (MCSF) includes changes to how child support is calculated, including how medical expenses and childcare are treated. The formula went into effect on January 1, 2025.
Below is a summary taken from the 2025 Michigan Child Support Formula Supplement. Because this subject matter is technical and the child support formula is fine-tuned every 5-years, the text bears a close resemblance to the actual changes found in the manual. Here is a link to the manual for convenient reference.
Changes to medical expenses:
• MCSF 2.02 (A) The annual amount for ordinary medical expenses is reduced under the new formula from $454 to $200 per child. On average, families spend $200 for one child annually on ordinary medical expenses. The Ordinary Medical Expense Averages table states the amounts families are presumed to spend on ordinary medical expenses. Courts may add amounts to cover higher expenses under 2025 MCSF 3.04(B).
• MCSF 3.04(A) This section clarified that ordinary medical expenses are an advance monthly reimbursement for the payee of child support and that the apportionment is based on the family share of income. The new formula clarifies that all uninsured medical expenses paid by the support payer are considered additional medical expenses.
Changes to Childcare Related Expenses
• 3.06 (D)The presumed age that a child no longer needs childcare is changed to the last day of the month in which the child turns 13. This is a change from the prior formula which included childcare expenses until the August after a child turns 12.
• MCSF 3.06 (A) The formula clarifies that childcare must exceed 50 percent of the base support obligation. Because childcare is required to be calculated in accordance with MCSF 3.06(A), in the event the recommended amount calculated under this formula exceeds 50 percent of the parent’s base support obligation (prior to adjustments being made for health insurance premiums or ordinary medical expenses), the court may consider a deviation to the parent’s childcare contribution.
Other changes in the formula include:
• MCSF 3.01 (B) The formula uses the parent's actual share of income to apportion all expenses in the past the apportionment of expenses has a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 90%
• MCSF 4.02 (A) The formula clarifies the definition of incapacitation. “Incapacitation” means the inability to pay the ordered support obligation caused by a parent being temporarily or permanently unable to earn an income that is due to disability, mental incompetency, serious injury, debilitating illness, or incarceration. Beyond the financial impacts, incapacitation often limits the parent’s ability to act in his or her own self-interests. At its onset, the exact duration and full impact of an incapacitating condition will often be uncertain.
• MCSF 4.02(B)The formula adds language that a court may set the incapacitated parent's obligation percentage to zero. In addition, the court may apportion a parent’s obligation percentage of medical support and childcare to zero if the payer is incapacitated.
• The court can deviate from the formula if certain circumstances warrant a different child support amount.
These changes to the Michigan Child Support Formula can make an actual impact to support obligations. It is crucial to keep up to date on these changes by utilizing the latest software available online or through subscription. Depending on a client’s individual circumstances a review of child support may be worthwhile and merited.
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