It is becoming more popular for courts in Pennsylvania to give parents shared parenting time. There is exceptional evidence that having both parents in their lives helps children to be more adjusted and healthier overall. Because of this, the courts want to forego old ideas about parenting time and move into arrangements where you share custody and both get equal time with your children after a divorce. The idea of shared parenting, though, also affects child support.
According to The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, shared parenting will reduce child support, but it depends on the custody arrangement. Child support reductions occur when your child spends at least 40% of his or her time with the other parent. This is not just basic daytime visits, though. It depends on the nights spent with each parent as to the percentage of parenting time each of you has.
When you have full shared parenting where you both have the child for an equal amount of time, this will also affect child support. It does not, however, necessarily end support. The court will calculate support to equal the income between each household.
The adjustment of support is similar if you have multiple children with some living with each parent. Support is awarded depending on how many children each parent has and the income of each parent. In some cases, it could equal out and nobody will pay support, but typically, the parent with more children or who has the lower income will usually still get some support payment. This information is for education only and is not legal advice.