Overview

The Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines Worksheet (Form CCSG-1) is the official calculator used in every divorce and custody case involving minor children in the state. It is a legal requirement under Practice Book § 25-30(e) and is designed to calculate a presumptive weekly child support amount based on both parents' incomes and allowable deductions.

The worksheet is based on the Income Shares Model, a legal principle outlined in the official Child Support Guidelines preamble. This model presumes that a child should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family had remained intact. In essence, the worksheet adds both parents' incomes together, determines the amount a family at that level would typically spend on their children, and then divides that obligation proportionally between the parents based on their share of the income.

Completing this form accurately is essential. The final number it produces is called the 'presumptive child support amount,' and a judge will adopt this figure unless there is a very good reason to deviate from it. This guide will walk you through every line of the worksheet, referencing the official guidelines and statutes to ensure you understand not just what to fill in, but why.

Free Calculator: If you want a free tool to calculate child support in Connecticut and automatically fill out the CCSG-1 worksheet, you can use our Connecticut Child Support Calculator.

Requirements

Before you can accurately complete the Child Support Worksheet, you must have the following critical documents completed by both you and your spouse:

• Completed Financial Affidavits: A sworn Financial Affidavit (either Form JD-FM-006-SHORT or JD-FM-006-LONG) for both parents. The income and deduction figures on the worksheet come directly from this document.
• Recent Pay Stubs and Tax Returns: These are needed to accurately calculate the 'gross weekly income' for each parent.
• Health Insurance Information: The cost of the health, dental, and vision insurance premiums for the children only.
• Childcare Costs: Documentation of the weekly cost of any work-related childcare.
• Parenting Plan: Your proposed parenting schedule, as this can affect the calculation, especially in shared custody situations.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Start with the worksheet and the financial affidavit side by side. Every number on the CCSG-1 should be traceable to a pay stub, tax record, insurance statement, child-care invoice, or the affidavit itself. That discipline matters because judges treat the worksheet as a summary of evidence, not as a rough estimate. If you move through the form part by part instead of line by line, the logic becomes much easier to follow.

Use a calculator and source documents as you go.

Part I: Net Weekly Income Calculation

Part I is where the worksheet decides what each parent actually has available on a weekly basis before child support is calculated. Begin with Line 1, gross weekly income, which includes wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, and other broad income categories recognized by § 46b-215a-1(11). Then move through Lines 2-5 for taxes and FICA, using the weekly tax figures from the financial affidavit rather than elective deductions like retirement contributions.

After that, complete Lines 6-11 for other allowable deductions, such as a parent's own health insurance premium, union dues, or court-ordered insurance obligations. Use Line 12 only if the parent supports other qualified children and you have applied the specific formula in § 46b-215a-2c(d). Finally, subtract total deductions from gross income to reach Line 14, net weekly income. That line drives everything else on the form, so check it carefully before moving on.

Part II: Current Support Calculation

Part II takes the two net-income figures and converts them into the presumptive weekly child support amount. First, add both parents' Line 14 figures to complete Line 15, combined net weekly income. Next, use that total and the number of children in your case to find Line 16, the basic child support obligation, from the official state schedule. Always confirm you are using the current schedule from the Connecticut Judicial Branch, because the table can change over time.

Once you know the basic obligation, calculate Line 17, each parent's percentage share of income, by dividing each parent's net income by the combined net income. Apply those percentages to the obligation to determine the presumptive support amount, reflected later in Line 20 and the related current-support lines. If Social Security dependency benefits or another adjustment applies, make that entry precisely rather than trying to improvise the final number.

Part III & IV: Net Disposable Income and Shared Add-On Costs

These sections are where the worksheet allocates expenses that go beyond the basic schedule number. Use Line 23, net disposable income, to show how much income remains after the presumptive current support payment is added to the custodial parent and subtracted from the paying parent. Then use those adjusted figures to calculate Line 25, which gives each parent's percentage share of combined net disposable income.

Those percentages matter because they usually control how unreimbursed medical expenses and work-related child-care costs are split. If the child has regular day-care expenses or substantial uninsured medical costs, these lines often change the real-world effect of the order almost as much as the basic support number does. Make sure the premium and child-care figures match the supporting documents you plan to file or bring to court.

Part VI & VII: Arrearage and Final Order Summary

If the case involves back child support, these sections translate the current support figure into a total weekly order. Use Line 29 to calculate any periodic arrearage payment, typically guided by the 20% rule in § 46b-215a-3a(b), and then carry those figures through the order-summary lines. You will also restate each parent's percentage share for unreimbursed medical expenses and child-care contribution lines such as 33b and 34b.

By the time you reach Line 35, total child support award, the worksheet should show one clear weekly number for the paying parent and a clear allocation of add-on expenses between both parents. Before treating that total as final, recheck whether every intermediate line flows correctly from the documents you used. A single wrong weekly deduction can distort the entire order.

Part VIII: Deviation Criteria

Part VIII is used only when you are asking the court to order something different from the presumptive guideline result. If you want a deviation, you must identify a recognized reason under § 46b-215a-5c and provide facts supporting it. Shared physical custody, extraordinary child expenses, or another unusual financial circumstance may justify a different number, but the court needs a record explaining why the standard formula would be inequitable or inappropriate in this case.

Treat the deviation checklist as a legal argument, not just a box-checking exercise. Be ready to connect the requested change to actual facts, such as duplicated household costs in a near-equal parenting arrangement or documented extraordinary expenses for the child. Even when both parents agree, the judge still has to decide that the deviation is supported and in the child's best interests.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using Gross Income Instead of Net Income: All primary calculations are based on net income after the specific allowable deductions. Using gross income will lead to a vastly incorrect result.
• Incorrectly Calculating Net Income: Including non-allowable deductions (like voluntary 401k contributions or car payments) when calculating net income. Only the deductions listed in § 46b-215a-1(1) are permitted.
• Forgetting Health and Childcare Costs: Failing to include the weekly costs for the child's health insurance premium and work-related childcare will result in an inaccurate and lower support order.
• Misunderstanding Shared Custody: There is no automatic formula for shared custody. It is a deviation criterion that requires a judge's specific finding. You can't just cut the support amount in half for a 50/50 schedule.
• Failing to Attach the Worksheet: The court cannot enter a child support order without a completed worksheet being filed with the court, per Practice Book § 25-30(e).

Related Forms

The worksheet rarely stands alone. In most cases, you will use it alongside other family-court forms that supply the income numbers, explain the parenting schedule, or support a deviation request.

• Financial Affidavit (Long Form): This is the source document for all income and deduction figures used on the worksheet. It must be completed first. Learn more about Financial Affidavit (Long Form).
• Financial Affidavit (Short Form): If you qualify, this shorter version may still provide the income and deduction figures you need for the worksheet. Learn more about Financial Affidavit (Short Form).
• Custody Agreement and Parenting Plan: The parenting schedule in this document can matter when you are arguing for a shared-custody deviation or explaining who is paying day-to-day child expenses. Learn more about Custody Agreement and Parenting Plan.

Next Steps

After you have completed the Child Support Worksheet:

1. Attach to Your Agreement: If you have an uncontested divorce, the completed worksheet must be attached to your final settlement agreement that you submit to the court.
2. File Before Your Hearing: If your case is contested, you must file the completed worksheet with the court clerk at least five business days before any hearing where child support will be decided, as required by Practice Book § 25-30.
3. Bring Copies to Court: Always bring multiple copies of the completed worksheet to your court hearing: one for the judge, one for your spouse's attorney, and one for yourself.
4. Be Prepared to Explain: The judge may ask you questions about the numbers you used. You should be able to explain how you calculated your income and deductions based on your Financial Affidavit.

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions below cover the follow-up issues people usually ask once they understand the basic rule. Read them as practical guidance, not a substitute for the exact wording of your current orders, forms, deadlines, or local court instructions. If the answer affects safety, children, money, or timing, compare it to the cited Connecticut authority before you rely on it in negotiations or at a hearing. A quick double-check against the official statute or form can prevent avoidable mistakes.

What if I am self-employed or my income changes week to week?

For variable income, the guidelines require an average weekly figure that fairly represents what you actually earn over time. That usually means reviewing a reasonable period of records, such as recent pay statements, bank deposits, profit-and-loss statements, or tax returns, and converting the pattern into a weekly number. The right timeframe depends on the facts. Seasonal income may require a longer look than stable employment. The goal is a realistic weekly average, not cherry-picking the best or worst month.

Does my spouse's new partner's income get included on the worksheet?

No. The guidelines under § 46b-215a-1(11)(B)(vi) exclude the income of a new spouse or domestic partner from the gross-income calculation because that person has no direct legal duty to support your child. The worksheet focuses on the parents' own income and allowable deductions. A new partner's money may affect household reality in a general sense, but it is not entered as child-support income on the CCSG-1. Only the parents' legally relevant income belongs there.

My ex isn't paying child support. Does this worksheet help?

This worksheet helps calculate or recalculate the correct support amount, but it is not the enforcement tool by itself. If an order already exists and the other parent is not paying, the usual response is a Motion for Contempt or another enforcement request through the court or Support Enforcement Services. You may still need an updated worksheet if you are also asking to modify support, but missed payments are addressed through enforcement procedure, not by filing a blank CCSG-1 alone.

What if the combined income is over $4,000 per week?

The official schedule tops out at a combined net weekly income of $4,000, so cases above that level require a more individualized analysis under § 46b-215a-2c(a)(2). The support amount at the top of the chart becomes the presumptive minimum, not the automatic final answer. From there, the court looks at the children's needs, the parents' resources, and the family's prior standard of living to decide whether a higher amount is appropriate. Higher-income cases usually benefit from especially careful documentation and explanation.

Get Help with Your Connecticut Divorce

Feeling overwhelmed by the Child Support Worksheet? You're not alone. The calculations are complex, and a small mistake can have a big impact on your finances. Untangle's Connecticut Child Support Calculator does the math for you. Simply enter your financial information, and we'll automatically generate a completed CCSG-1 worksheet, saving you time, reducing stress, and giving you the confidence that your calculation is accurate and ready for court. It also helps you organize the same inputs the court will expect to see.