Under what condition can a court deviate from the child support tables?

The court can deviate from the child support tables if the baseline amount causes undue hardship. This principle is rooted in the understanding that the standardized guidelines for child support may not always reflect the specific financial realities of individual families. While the tables provide a useful benchmark for determining child support, courts recognize the importance of balancing the needs of the child with the financial capabilities of the paying parent.

When a paying parent's financial situation results in an inability to meet the prescribed support amount without experiencing significant economic strain, the court may consider alternative arrangements to ensure a fair outcome. Deviating from the standard tables would allow the court to make an assessment based on the actual needs and resources of the parties involved, fostering a more equitable support structure that takes into account unique circumstances such as medical expenses, educational needs, or other factors that might qualify as undue hardship.

Circumstances like the recipient being over 21 years old, the payor's income being below average, or both parents agreeing on a different amount may not suffice to justify a deviation from the guidelines as they do not directly address the hardship issue. Therefore, the ability to adjust based on undue hardship is a critical aspect of ensuring that child support obligations are manageable and reflective of both parents' situations.