Worked example: Alimony Child Support in Utah
6 min read
Published April 15, 2026 • By DocketMath Team
Example inputs
Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Alimony Child Support calculator.
This worked example shows how DocketMath can compute a combined alimony (spousal support) and child support scenario using Utah jurisdiction-aware rules. It’s designed to help you understand the workflow and math, not to provide legal advice.
Scenario (Utah — US-UT)
Assume a Utah divorce judgment where both support types are ordered.
| Item | Value used in this example | Why it matters in the calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Parenting plan | 1 child, approx. 90/10 time | Time allocation can affect the child support portion |
| Child-related inputs | Monthly health insurance for the child: $120 | Often influences the child support calculation |
| Alimony (spousal support) start | Monthly support to be calculated | DocketMath needs income/net numbers to apply its rules |
| Respondent monthly income | $5,200 | Feeds the alimony and child support calculations |
| Petitioner monthly income | $3,400 | Feeds the alimony and child support calculations |
| Order effective date | 2026-04-15 | Date drives the “start” used for the first month’s output |
Support period / limitation context (use this for planning documents)
Utah has a general statute of limitations of 4 years for many legal claims. The general/default period is referenced in:
- Utah Code § 76-1-302
- Utah Courts summary: https://www.utcourts.gov/en/legal-help/legal-help/procedures/statute-limitation.html
Important clarity: This is the general/default period. In this example, no claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified, so we treat the 4-year general period as the planning reference—not a promise that every dispute follows the same clock.
Warning: A statute of limitations analysis is fact- and claim-dependent. This example uses the general 4-year period for context only; it does not map to any particular cause of action.
DocketMath setup (inputs you’d enter)
Open the calculator here: /tools/alimony-child-support.
Typical inputs for this worked example:
- Jurisdiction: **Utah (US-UT)
- Number of children: 1
- Parenting time: 90/10 (approx.)
- Petitioner monthly income: $3,400
- Respondent monthly income: $5,200
- Child health insurance: $120/month
- Effective date for the order: 2026-04-15
Example run
Below is a “single run” walkthrough—what you’d see after submitting the inputs in DocketMath.
Run the Alimony Child Support calculator using the example inputs above. Review the breakdown for intermediate steps (segments, adjustments, or rate changes) so you can see how each input moves the output. Save the result for reference and compare it to your actual scenario.
Step 1: Confirm jurisdiction-aware rules (US-UT)
DocketMath uses the selected jurisdiction (US-UT) to apply Utah-specific logic in its calculator flow. That jurisdiction setting also determines which formatting and supporting references are used in the output.
Step 2: Compute child support portion
DocketMath calculates child support using the income inputs, the parenting time split (90/10), and child-specific adjustments such as health insurance ($120/month).
In a real run, the exact figure depends on how DocketMath internally weights those inputs. For this worked example, assume the output yields:
- Child support (monthly): $1,050
Step 3: Compute alimony (spousal support) portion
Next, the calculator produces a spousal support estimate based on the income difference between the parties and Utah jurisdiction-aware alimony methodology.
In this example run, assume the output yields:
- Alimony (monthly): $430
Step 4: Combine outputs into a single monthly total
DocketMath reports both components and provides a combined monthly figure.
| Output component | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Child support | $1,050 |
| Alimony | $430 |
| Estimated total (child + alimony) | $1,480 |
Step 5: Time horizon planning (4-year general reference)
For document planning (e.g., budgeting or repayment planning, or collecting historical statements), you can tie the support stream to the Utah general limitation reference:
- Utah general period: 4 years
- Source: Utah Code § 76-1-302 (via Utah Courts summary)
https://www.utcourts.gov/en/legal-help/legal-help/procedures/statute-limitation.html
If the order begins 2026-04-15, then a 4-year general window would extend to approximately 2030-04-15 (rounded to the date structure in your paperwork). This example does not claim that every support-related dispute is governed by this exact clock—pleadings and underlying theory determine the correct limitation period.
Pitfall: People often assume “4 years from the divorce date” automatically applies to every payment-related dispute. Utah’s limitation rules can vary by claim type and context.
Sensitivity check
After an example run, the fastest way to build confidence is to test which inputs move the numbers most. DocketMath makes that practical because you can rerun the same scenario while changing one variable at a time.
To illustrate sensitivity, keep everything constant except the factor listed in each row.
Baseline recap (from the Example run)
- Child support: $1,050
- Alimony: $430
- Total: $1,480
Sensitivity scenarios (what changes when you adjust one input)
| Change from baseline | New assumption | Likely effect on outputs | Illustration (monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parenting time shifts | Change from 90/10 to 80/20 | Child support typically changes more than alimony | Child support: $1,130 (up), Alimony: $430 (flat) |
| Child health insurance | Increase from $120 to $200 | Child support increases; alimony may remain similar | Child support: $1,085 (up), Alimony: $430 |
| Income gap narrows | Respondent income drops from $5,200 to $4,700 | Alimony often decreases with smaller income disparity; child support also likely adjusts | Child support: $980 (down), Alimony: $300 (down) |
| Income gap widens | Petitioner income rises from $3,400 to $3,900 | Both components may adjust, especially alimony | Child support: $1,020 (slight down/up depending on model), Alimony: $380 |
What to take away
- Parenting time is usually a major driver of the child support component.
- Child-specific costs (like health insurance) tend to move child support directly.
- Income disparity (differences between parties’ incomes) is typically the strongest driver for alimony changes.
- Alimony and child support may respond differently because their inputs and adjustment logic are not identical.
Practical workflow tip (using DocketMath reruns)
When you rerun DocketMath:
- Change only one input per rerun.
- Write down the resulting monthly totals in a simple table.
- Compare “which lever moved the estimate the most.”
If you want to structure that in your notes, capture results like this:
- Baseline total: $1,480
- Parenting time test total: **(record)
- Health insurance test total: **(record)
- Income gap test total: **(record)