Inputs you need for Alimony Child Support in Louisiana
5 min read
Published April 15, 2026 • By DocketMath Team
Inputs you will need
Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Alimony Child Support calculator.
To run DocketMath’s alimony-child-support calculator for Louisiana (US-LA), gather the same categories of information the tool needs to model potential obligations. This checklist is jurisdiction-aware at the rule-selection level, including Louisiana’s general one-year limitations period reference point (see the note under “Run it”).
Note: The limitations period reference used here is the general/default period only. No claim-type-specific sub-rule was found beyond that general period.
Before you start, confirm you have documents that reliably show income, earning ability, and parenting time. In Louisiana practice, the fastest way to reduce back-and-forth is to build a clean “numbers packet” first.
Required input checklist (printable)
Where to find each input
Use this section to map each item to a practical source. The goal is speed: you shouldn’t need to “hunt” once you open DocketMath.
Most inputs live in the case file, contracts, or docket entries. Dates usually come from the triggering event notice; rates and caps come from governing documents or statute; and amounts come from the ledger or judgment. Record the source for each value so the run is reproducible.
Parenting time / custody details
- Where to find it: your custody order, written agreement, or calendar of exchanges.
- What to capture: how many overnights per week (or the closest approximation), plus holidays/weekend structure if you have it.
Number of children and ages
- Where to find it: birth certificates, school records, or prior filings.
- What to capture: child age today (or age at the estimate date).
Each parent’s income
- Where to find it:
- Pay stubs from your payroll portal
- Employer verification letters (if you have them)
- Most recent W-2/1099 summaries
- Last filed federal return
- For self-employment: profit/loss statement, invoices, and bank deposits summary
- What to capture: gross income and any patterns (e.g., steady bonus vs. occasional commission).
Deductions/adjustments (health insurance, childcare)
- Where to find it: insurance premium statements, childcare invoices, receipts, and employer benefit summaries.
- What to capture: monthly totals, plus whether the expense is for the children specifically.
Spousal support context (alimony-related)
- Where to find it:
- Marriage certificate and timeline records
- Medical documentation (for health-related earning limits, if you’re entering that detail)
- Any existing court orders or agreements relating to spousal support (if you have them)
- What to capture: marriage length and any documented constraints on earning.
Limitations period reference (general/default)
Louisiana’s general limitations period referenced in this workflow is:
- La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:2800.9
- General SOL period: 1 year
Warning: A limitations period does not directly “set” the monthly dollar amount of alimony or child support. It affects timing for certain legal actions. Treat this as a timing reference point—not a payment formula.
Also, this is general/default only. If a specific claim-type rule applies in a real matter, that difference is not captured by this general reference.
Run it
- Open the DocketMath calculator:
- Primary CTA: /tools/alimony-child-support
- Enter the inputs in the order the tool prompts.
- Run multiple scenarios if your data isn’t exact:
- Use average monthly income for the prior 3 months if your pay varies.
- If health insurance or childcare costs are uncertain, run one estimate with “known” costs and one with “estimated” costs to see the range.
Gentle disclaimer: This tool is for planning and rough estimation. It does not replace legal advice or a formal calculation based on the final, fully-documented facts of your case.
How outputs change when you change inputs
Use these cause-and-effect levers while testing runs:
| Input you adjust | What typically changes in results | Best way to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Number of children / child ages | The baseline child support component | Enter correct count first, then refine parenting time |
| Parenting time description | The support “shared responsibility” impact | Use consistent weekly/holiday assumptions |
| Each parent’s gross income | Monthly amounts for support | Pull from the same documentation source for both sides |
| Health insurance / childcare totals | Adjusted obligations tied to child-related costs | Use monthly totals from invoices/benefits |
| Marriage duration (for alimony estimation) | Alimony factors tied to length of marriage | Use the exact marriage date range you have |
| Reported earning capacity limitations | Potentially affects alimony modeling inputs | Enter only what you can document |
Tighten accuracy before you finalize
- Confirm that both parents’ income inputs use matching timeframes (e.g., both based on last 3 months or both based on last tax year).
- If you’re missing one document, don’t guess blindly—run a “rough” version, then replace the missing number and rerun.
For timing awareness in Louisiana, remember the general one-year limitations period reference point (La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:2800.9) is general/default. If a specific claim type applies in a real matter, the applicable statute may differ, and that difference is not captured by this one-line general reference.