North Carolina employs a set of guidelines to determine the financial obligation of parents for the care of their children following separation or divorce. The calculation is primarily income-driven, factoring in each parent’s gross income, and considers various allowable deductions and credits. The resulting figure represents the presumed amount of financial support required for the child’s needs.
Establishing a fair and consistent framework for parental contributions benefits children by ensuring their basic needs are met, regardless of the parents’ relationship status. This approach aims to minimize conflict and litigation by providing a clear, standardized method for determining support obligations, promoting greater financial stability for children and families.