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Establishing Support Orders FAQ

How Oklahoma's Income Shares Model works, what SoonerCare means for your order, imputed income, 50/50 custody myths, and when support ends — answered by Tulsa child support attorneys backed by Oklahoma statute.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Oklahoma Under the Income Shares Model?

Oklahoma calculates child support using a strict statutory formula known as the Income Shares Model under 43 O.S. §§ 118–119. The fundamental principle is that a child should receive the same financial support they would have enjoyed if their parents lived together in an intact household — regardless of which parent has physical custody.

The 4-Step Calculation Process — 43 O.S. § 118
01
Combined Gross Income: The gross monthly incomes of both parents are added together to establish a single combined baseline figure.
02
Base Support Schedule: The court references Oklahoma's official Child Support Schedule to find the baseline support amount corresponding to that combined income and the number of children.
03
Proportional Allocation: The baseline amount is divided between the parents based on each parent's percentage share of the total combined income.
04
Add-On Expenses: Expenses for work-related childcare and health insurance premiums are added to the baseline and split proportionally between both parents.

At Boeheim Freeman Law, our Tulsa child support attorneys use advanced modeling software to run precise calculations before any court filing — so you know exactly what to expect before you walk into the Tulsa County District Court.

Our Child Is on SoonerCare. How Does That Affect the Child Support Order?

Every child support order issued in Tulsa County must address medical support. If your child is enrolled in SoonerCare (Oklahoma's Medicaid program), it satisfies the legal requirement to have health insurance in place — but it fundamentally changes how the financial calculations work.

Standard Private Insurance
One parent pays premiums; that cost is added to the base support amount and split proportionally between both parents.
SoonerCare / Medicaid
No private premium to split. Instead, Cash Medical Support under 43 O.S. § 118F applies — a monthly cash contribution paid to the state.
Important — Cash Medical Support Under 43 O.S. § 118F
Unless the non-custodial parent's income falls below federal poverty thresholds, they will be ordered to pay a monthly cash medical contribution. The state baseline is $115 per child per month, prorated based on parental income. Critically, this cash medical portion does not go to the custodial parent — it is paid directly to the state to reimburse Oklahoma for the cost of providing the child's healthcare coverage.

Our Tulsa child support attorneys ensure SoonerCare enrollment is properly documented and that Cash Medical Support obligations are accurately calculated in every order we draft.

The Other Parent Took a Lower-Paying Job to Reduce Child Support. Can the Tulsa Court Do Anything?

Yes. Tulsa County family courts are highly adapted to catching parents who attempt to shirk their financial duties by quitting high-paying careers, reducing their hours, or working "under the table." This is legally known as voluntary underemployment.

Governing Statute
43 O.S. § 118B — Imputed Income
If a judge determines a parent is earning less by choice rather than necessity, the court will calculate child support using imputed income — an earning figure based on what the parent should be making, not what they currently report.

When imputing income, the Tulsa County judge will evaluate:

The parent's education level and specialized training
Past three years of employment history and documented earnings
Current availability of comparable jobs in the Tulsa metro job market
Physical ability to work full-time hours
Default Imputation
If no reliable employment history exists, the court will default to imputing income based on a standard 40-hour work week at the current Oklahoma minimum wage. We help Tulsa parents build the evidentiary record needed to trigger imputation and ensure the support order reflects reality.

Does a 50/50 Joint Physical Custody Schedule Mean Neither Parent Pays Child Support?

No. A common myth in Green Country is that sharing equal parenting time completely erases child support obligations. While a 50/50 split heavily influences the calculation, it rarely reduces the support order to zero.

The 121-Overnight Threshold
When a parent crosses the 121-overnight threshold per year, they receive a Parenting Time Adjustment (PTA) worksheet deduction to offset the direct costs of feeding and housing the child during their parenting time. This deduction reduces — but does not eliminate — the support obligation when there is an income disparity between parents.
Real-World Example — Tulsa County
If one parent earns $8,000/month and the other earns $3,000/month, the higher-earning parent will still owe monthly child support under a 50/50 schedule — because Oklahoma's Income Shares Model is designed to ensure the child experiences a relatively balanced standard of living in both households.

Our attorneys run side-by-side support calculations for multiple custody scenarios so Tulsa parents can make fully informed decisions before agreeing to any parenting plan.

When Does a Court-Ordered Child Support Obligation Officially End in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, a parent is legally obligated to pay child support until the child turns 18 years old. However, there is a critical statutory exception that Tulsa parents frequently overlook.

Standard Termination
Support ends when the child turns 18, provided they are no longer enrolled in high school and no arrears remain outstanding.
High School Exception
If the child turns 18 but is still regularly enrolled in and attending an accredited high school, support continues until graduation or age 20 — whichever comes first.
Critical Warning — Arrears Do Not Disappear
Support does not automatically terminate if back-payments (arrears) are owed. Any unpaid past child support remains a legally binding debt until paid in full, regardless of the child's age. Oklahoma can continue to garnish wages, intercept tax refunds, and suspend licenses to collect arrears long after the child reaches adulthood. We help Tulsa parents proactively address arrears before they compound into an unmanageable financial burden.

Get an Accurate Child Support Calculation Before You Go to Court

Oklahoma's Income Shares Model involves precise financial data and statutory formulas. A miscalculation can cost you thousands. Contact Boeheim Freeman Law today for a free, confidential consultation with an experienced Tulsa child support attorney.

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