On January 1, 2025, the 2025 child support formula will go into effect. In Michigan, courts must follow the Michigan Child Support Formula (MCSF) when determining how much financial support each parent must contribute towards the raising of their children. The child support formula is very specific how child support should be calculated and takes into consideration factors such as each parent’s income, how many children the parties have in common, how many other children each parent financially supports, the amount of health care premiums and the amount of childcare.
The latest child support formula was crafted in 2021, and this 2025 updated version provides approximately 21 changes and clarifications. Some of those changes provide exceptions. Combining these changes and exceptions with the already complicated formula, it is not feasible address every change and how this will impact Michigan families, but we’ll address some highlights.
The 2025 child support addressed the deviations to the basic formula. The child support formula has always outlined when courts were allowed to deviate from the provided formula. The formula provides deviation factors such as the child having special needs or having extraordinary educational expenses, to name a few. The 2025 formula provides that the court is not required to deviate when a deviation factor exists and clarified that the deviation factors listed are not an exhaustive list; meaning, the court may find other reasons to deviate. Lastly, it removed some deviations and clarified many deviations.
The 2025 formula also addresses business profits (retained earnings) and methods of depreciation.
Two fairly big changes in the 2025 formula are regarding the childcare and ordinary medical expenses. The Michigan Child Support Formula allows parents to share the cost for daycare. The 2025 formula changed the presumed age that a child no longer needs childcare from 12 until the last day of the month in which the child turns 13.
The ordinary medical expenses changes from $454 per child annually to $200 per child annually. This means that the parent who receives child support must pay the first $200 of medical expenses out of pocket, and any additional expenses are considered extraordinary medical expenses which costs must be shared between the parents.
Ultimately, the calculation of child support can be complicated; especially, when one or both parents provide an unusual fact pattern, such as self-employment or an unusual parenting time arrangement. Remember that child support can be amended if proper cause exists, upon a change in circumstances, or once every three years.
