February 7, 2001
A Response to and Critique of
“Economic Basis for Updated Child Support
Schedule, Commonwealth of Kentucky,
September 1, 2000″ by
Policy Studies, Incorporated,
Denver, CO
Submitted to:
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Cabinet for Families and Children
Department for Community Based Services
Division of Child Support
P.O. Box 2150
Frankfort, KY 40602
Summary
Neither the current version of the income shares child support guideline in use in Kentucky nor
the version proposed by Policy Studies, Incorporated has a sound economic foundation. Neither
guideline meets equal protection standards. As an alternative, a cost shares child support
guideline has been developed that has a more sound and rational economic basis and meets equal
protection standards. Importantly, the cost shares methodology closely tracks the historical
practices of family court judges in the determination of child support awards. Close review of
the methodology should lead to rapid acceptance by the judiciary—especially given the sound,
historical basis for this guideline.
The study, in PDF form, is here:
West Michigan DADS 