Interstate Alimony Guidelines

Jim Untershine, GZS of LB, 01-25-03

Table One shows interstate TANF, child support, and alimony (NCP earns $4,400/mo net income or $52,800/yr).

TANF - Temporary Aid to Needy Families.

1 Child - Alaska has the highest with $904/mo., Louisiana has the lowest with $370/mo.
2 Child - Alaska has the highest with $1,101/mo., Alabama has the lowest with $490/mo.
3 Child - Hawaii has the highest with $1,305/mo., Alabama has the lowest with $602/mo.
CS - Child Support Guideline.
1 Child - Massachusetts has the highest with $1,348/mo., North Carolina has the lowest with $456/mo.
2 Child - California has the highest with $1,760/mo., North Carolina has the lowest with $657/mo.
3 Child - California has the highest with $2,200/mo. , North Carolina has the lowest with $770/mo.
Alimony - Difference between TANF and CS (TANF - CS).
1 Child - Georgia has the highest with $776/mo., Hawaii has the lowest with $-220/mo.
2 Child - California has the highest with $947/mo., Hawaii has the lowest with $69/mo.
3 Child - California has the highest with $1,212/mo., North Carolina has the lowest with $96/mo.

Table Two shows interstate TANF, FASR and AllLaw child support, and alimony (2 children, NCP earns $4,400/mo net income or $52,800/yr).:

TANF - Temporary Aid to Needy Families

2 Child - Alaska has the highest with $1,101/mo., Alabama has the lowest with $490/mo.

CS - Child Support Guideline

FASR - Indiana has the highest with $899/mo., Oklahoma has the lowest with $415/mo.
AllLaw - California has the highest with $1,760/mo., North Carolina has the lowest with $657/mo.
Alimony - Difference between TANF and CS (TANF - CS)
FASR - Indiana has the highest with $323 /mo., Alaska has the lowest with -$555/mo.
AllLaw - California has the highest with $947/mo., Hawaii has the lowest with $69/mo.
Alimony Error- Difference between AllLaw and FASR alimony (AllLaw - FASR).
California has the highest with $990/mo., North Carolina has the lowest with $57/mo.

Jim Untershine, 824 E Pass Rd #3, Gulfport, MS 39507, gzs@gndzerosrv.com, www.gndzerosrv.com


Table One : Interstate TANF, child support (AllLaw.com), and alimony for 1, 2, and 3 children \1 \2

# = The national ranking of the state with regard to the parameter that follows
TANF = The monthly benefits paid to a family by the state
CS = The child support guideline demanded by the state regarding an NCP with $4,400/mo income.
Alimony = The difference between the child support guideline and the TANF benefits (CS - TANF)

State

1 Child

2 Child

3 Child

-

#

TANF

#

CS

#

Alimony

#

TANF

#

CS

#

Alimony

#

TANF

#

CS

#

Alimony

Alabama

50

370

40

616

20

246

51

490

33

954

17

464

51

602

34

1,194

18

592

Alaska

1

904

9

880

48

-24

1

1,101

15

1,188

47

87

2

1,285

17

1,452

48

167

Arizona

36

466

21

732

19

266

33

618

32

957

34

339

30

758

30

1,234

28

476

Arkansas

46

387

29

659

17

272

45

518

34

952

22

434

45

639

37

1,120

25

481

California

9

627

4

1,100

6

473

7

813

1

1,760

1

947

5

988

1

2,200

1

1,212

Colorado

33

471

31

643

30

172

30

625

28

996

28

371

29

768

28

1,249

26

481

Connecticut

6

633

17

796

32

163

6

820

16

1,176

30

356

6

984

18

1,421

32

437

Delaware

37

463

18

788

13

325

35

611

9

1,282

6

671

34

751

7

1,632

5

881

Dist of Columbia

28

482

3

1,172

3

690

26

640

2

1,520

4

880

26

790

3

1,781

4

991

Florida

38

442

15

810

9

368

37

587

12

1,256

7

669

36

721

8

1,573

6

852

Georgia

40

438

2

1,214

1

776

42

571

4

1,478

2

907

41

697

4

1,690

3

993

Hawaii

2

800

45

580

49

-220

2

1,061

18

1,130

49

69

1

1,305

6

1,640

39

335

Idaho

30

479

25

691

24

212

38

580

35

951

29

371

44

671

36

1,163

22

492

Illinois

34

468

10

880

8

412

27

639

20

1,100

18

461

31

756

19

1,408

13

652

Indiana

42

434

22

722

14

288

41

576

23

1,085

14

509

38

708

22

1,358

14

650

Iowa

19

526

11

880

11

354

22

673

10

1,276

8

603

23

812

14

1,496

11

684

Kansas

21

520

28

670

34

150

21

675

46

846

43

171

22

814

23

1,337

21

523

Kentucky

43

431

37

628

26

197

44

558

36

938

26

380

42

695

35

1,174

27

479

Louisiana

51

370

30

652

15

282

48

508

26

1,012

15

504

48

630

27

1,267

15

637

Maine

22

515

46

539

44

24

16

697

47

837

45

140

14

872

44

1,042

47

170

Maryland

24

503

33

637

39

134

25

667

29

986

36

319

21

818

29

1,234

34

416

Massachusetts

10

606

1

1,348

2

742

10

770

3

1,498

5

728

9

921

5

1,648

8

727

Michigan

13

554

20

750

27

196

13

717

17

1,158

21

441

13

881

16

1,461

20

580

Minnesota

7

629

5

1,100

7

471

8

789

6

1,320

12

531

8

934

9

1,540

16

606

Mississippi

48

376

41

616

22

240

50

494

43

880

23

386

50

602

48

968

38

366

Missouri

41

438

32

641

25

203

39

579

37

921

33

342

39

705

40

1,079

37

374

Montana

16

536

27

677

38

141

14

703

24

1,078

27

375

15

861

25

1,315

31

454

Nebraska

31

479

13

845

10

366

29

630

13

1,233

9

603

28

770

15

1,475

9

705

Nevada

32

476

48

500

45

24

32

618

27

1,000

25

382

33

751

13

1,500

7

749

New Hampshire

8

628

-

-

-

-

9

777

-

-

-

-

11

912

-

-

-

-

New Jersey

25

499

14

828

12

329

23

672

14

1,190

13

518

24

807

20

1,395

19

588

New Mexico

20

526

44

605

41

79

19

682

44

871

42

189

19

829

47

1,021

46

192

New York

5

677

7

898

23

221

4

867

7

1,320

19

453

3

1,043

10

1,531

23

488

North Carolina

39

439

49

456

46

17

43

565

49

657

46

92

43

674

49

770

49

96

North Dakota

17

528

16

797

18

269

17

695

11

1,259

11

564

17

850

12

1,504

12

654

Ohio

27

487

35

629

37

142

28

636

38

916

38

280

27

788

42

1,058

43

270

Oklahoma

44

431

42

615

29

184

40

579

41

884

37

305

37

718

45

1,036

40

318

Oregon

14

550

38

628

42

78

15

697

40

904

41

207

16

861

41

1,059

45

198

Pennsylvania

23

505

19

780

16

275

24

669

19

1,122

20

453

20

826

26

1,314

24

488

Rhode Island

11

588

24

703

40

115

11

763

22

1,093

35

330

12

910

21

1,366

30

456

South Carolina

47

387

36

629

21

242

46

518

39

904

24

386

46

637

43

1,058

33

421

South Dakota

15

540

23

705

31

165

20

676

25

1,019

32

343

25

800

33

1,200

35

400

Tennessee

49

373

6

924

4

551

49

504

5

1,408

3

904

49

624

2

1,804

2

1,180

Texas

45

396

12

880

5

484

47

515

21

1,100

10

585

47

634

24

1,320

10

686

Utah

18

527

47

504

47

-23

18

690

45

849

44

159

18

835

39

1,094

44

259

Vermont

4

697

-

-

-

-

3

870

-

-

-

-

4

1,020

-

-

-

-

Virginia

29

480

39

626

36

146

31

623

31

970

31

347

32

753

32

1,213

29

460

Washington

12

582

34

634

43

52

12

757

30

984

40

227

10

915

31

1,232

41

317

West Virginia

35

467

43

614

35

147

36

604

42

883

39

279

35

737

46

1,033

42

296

Wisconsin

3

745

8

898

33

153

5

846

8

1,320

16

474

7

937

11

1,531

17

594

Wyoming

26

498

26

688

28

190

34

613

48

698

48

85

40

704

38

1,095

36

391

Median

-

498

-

691

-

203

-

640

-

1,019

-

382

-

790

-

1,315

-

481

Average

-

517

-

751

-

240

-

670

-

1,084

-

421

-

810

-

1,332

-

529

Table Two : Interstate TANF, child support (FASR vs AllLaw), and alimony regarding 2 children \1 \2 \3

# = The national ranking of the state with regard to the parameter that follows
TANF = The monthly benefits paid to a family by the state
CS = The child support guideline demanded by the state regarding an NCP with $4,400/mo income.
Alimony = The difference between the child support guideline and the TANF benefits (CS - TANF)
State

FASR 2 Child Guidene

AllLaw 2 Child Guidene

Alimony

-

#

TANF

#

CS

#

Alimony

#

CS

#

Alimony

#

Error

Alabama

51

490

24

634

5

144

33

954

17

464

38

320

Alaska

1

1,101

43

546

49

-555

15

1,188

47

87

11

642

Arizona

33

618

25

628

18

10

32

957

34

339

36

329

Arkansas

45

518

48

475

26

-43

34

952

22

434

22

477

California

7

813

4

770

25

-43

1

1,760

1

947

1

990

Colorado

30

625

30

610

22

-15

28

996

28

371

27

386

Connecticut

6

820

7

703

41

-117

16

1,176

30

356

23

473

Delaware

35

611

26

626

17

15

9

1,282

6

671

10

656

Dist of Columbia

26

640

2

821

2

181

2

1,520

4

880

7

699

Florida

37

587

5

721

6

134

12

1,256

7

669

18

535

Georgia

42

571

11

673

7

102

4

1,478

2

907

2

805

Hawaii

2

1,061

29

610

48

-451

18

1,130

49

69

19

520

Idaho

38

580

41

566

21

-14

35

951

29

371

28

385

Illinois

27

639

47

485

42

-154

20

1,100

18

461

14

615

Indiana

41

576

1

899

1

323

23

1,085

14

509

47

186

Iowa

22

673

40

566

36

-107

10

1,276

8

603

5

710

Kansas

21

675

38

582

33

-93

46

846

43

171

44

264

Kentucky

44

558

23

637

8

79

36

938

26

380

42

301

Louisiana

48

508

12

667

4

159

26

1,012

15

504

30

345

Maine

16

697

27

619

31

-78

47

837

45

140

46

218

Maryland

25

667

18

655

20

-12

29

986

36

319

34

331

Massachusetts

10

770

3

789

15

19

3

1,498

5

728

6

709

Michigan

13

717

17

657

27

-60

17

1,158

21

441

20

501

Minnesota

8

789

33

606

45

-183

6

1,320

12

531

4

714

Mississippi

50

494

50

427

29

-67

43

880

23

386

25

453

Missouri

39

579

31

609

14

30

37

921

33

342

40

312

Montana

14

703

49

456

47

-247

24

1,078

27

375

12

622

Nebraska

29

630

9

677

10

47

13

1,233

9

603

17

556

Nevada

32

618

16

660

11

42

27

1,000

25

382

33

340

New Hampshire

9

777

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

New Jersey

23

672

6

710

12

38

14

1,190

13

518

21

480

New Mexico

19

682

35

588

34

-94

44

871

42

189

43

283

New York

4

867

8

699

44

-168

7

1,320

19

453

13

621

North Carolina

43

565

34

600

13

35

49

657

46

92

49

57

North Dakota

17

695

37

582

38

-113

11

1,259

11

564

8

677

Ohio

28

636

32

609

24

-27

38

916

38

280

41

307

Oklahoma

40

579

51

415

43

-164

41

884

37

305

24

469

Oregon

15

697

36

587

37

-110

40

904

41

207

39

317

Pennsylvania

24

669

42

554

39

-115

19

1,122

20

453

16

568

Rhode Island

11

763

10

677

32

-86

22

1,093

35

330

26

416

South Carolina

46

518

39

574

9

56

39

904

24

386

35

330

South Dakota

20

676

19

652

23

-24

25

1,019

32

343

29

367

Tennessee

49

504

14

665

3

161

5

1,408

3

904

3

743

Texas

47

515

46

517

19

2

21

1,100

10

585

15

583

Utah

18

690

28

616

30

-74

45

849

44

159

45

233

Vermont

3

870

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Virginia

31

623

22

641

16

18

31

970

31

347

37

329

Washington

12

757

21

641

40

-116

30

984

40

227

32

343

West Virginia

36

604

44

539

28

-65

42

883

39

279

31

344

Wisconsin

5

846

15

660

46

-186

8

1,320

16

474

9

660

Wyoming

34

613

45

519

35

-94

48

698

48

85

48

179

Median

-

640

-

619

-

-43

-

1,019

-

382

-

425

Average

-

670

-

621

-

-42

-

1,084

-

421

-

463

\1 TANF benefits across all states was extracted from Table 7-9 of the US House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, 2000 Greenbook, Section 7, entitled "Maximum Combined TANF And Food Stamp Benefit For Families Of One To Six Persons, January 1, 2000",

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/useftp.cgi?IPaddress=162.140.64.37&filename=wm014_07.pdf&directory=/diskb/wais/data/106_green_book

Food stamp calculations assume that the family does not receive an excess shelter deduction. In very low benefit States, combined benefits shown reflect the maximum food stamp allotment for the family size, but in some States the excess shelter deduction would increase food stamps (by up to $83 monthly—more in Alaska and Hawaii). Calculations assume a single-parent family with no earned income and use normal rounding rules. Table prepared by the Congressional Research Service.

\2 Interstate child support guideline data was obtained from AllLaw.com and assumes 0% custody, $4,400/mo NCP net income (Vermont and New Hampshire are not included in the analysis since you must pay to find out how much you would owe in these states),

http://alllaw.com/calculators/Childsupport/

\3 Interstate child support guideline data was obtained from Table 8-2 of the US House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means 2000 Greenbook, Section 8, entitled "Amount Of Child Support Awarded By State Guidelines In Various Cases",

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/useftp.cgi?IPaddress=162.140.64.21&filename=wm014_08.pdf&directory=/disk2/wais/data/106_green_book

Pirog, Klotz, and Buyers (1997) have examined the differences in child support guidelines across States. Their approach was to define five hypothetical cases of custodial mothers and noncustodial fathers that capture a range of differences in income, expenses, and other factors that influence the amount of child support payments computed under the guidelines adopted by the various States. State 1997 guidelines were then applied to each of the five cases to compute the amount of child support that would be due. In each of the five cases, the mother and father are divorced. The father lives alone while the mother lives with the couples' two children, ages 7 and 13. The father pays union dues of $30 per month and health insurance for the children of $25 per month. The mother incurs monthly employment-related child care expenses of $150. The income of the father and mother that is entitled "Case D" specifies a father = $4,400/mo and a mother = $1,760/mo.