Indiana Dissolution of Marriage With Children — Custody and Child Support (2026)

When children are involved in an Indiana dissolution, the court must address custody, parenting time, and child support. The Indiana Supreme Court provides standardized guidelines for both parenting time and child support calculations.

Custody — Two Types

Legal Custody

Who makes major decisions about the child's education, healthcare, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities.

  • Joint legal custody: Most common in Indiana — both parents share major decisions; requires ability to communicate
  • Sole legal custody: One parent has final say; used when joint custody is impractical due to domestic violence, inability to co-parent, or other significant factors

Physical Custody (Primary Residence)

Where the child lives on a day-to-day basis.

  • Primary physical custody with one parent: Child lives primarily with one parent; other parent has scheduled parenting time per the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines
  • Shared physical custody: Child spends substantial time with both parents; can affect child support calculation

Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines

The Indiana Supreme Court publishes the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines (available at courts.in.gov). These are the default schedules when parents cannot agree or when no deviation is justified.

The standard guidelines provide schedules for:

  • Regular school-year parenting time (alternating weekends + weekly dinner for non-primary parent)
  • Summer schedule
  • Holidays (detailed list with alternating assignments)
  • Long weekends and school breaks

Parents can agree to any schedule they believe serves their children's interests — the guidelines are a floor, not a ceiling.

Indiana Child Support Guidelines

Child support in Indiana is mandatory and calculated per the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines. The amount is based on the Child Support Worksheet.

Key inputs:

  • Both parents' weekly gross income (all sources)
  • Number of children
  • Number of overnights with the non-custodial parent (parenting time credit)
  • Health insurance cost for children
  • Work-related childcare cost
  • Other children either parent is supporting

Online calculator: Use the Indiana child support calculator at courts.in.gov/childsupport to estimate the amount before completing the worksheet.

Deviation from guidelines: A court can deviate from calculated child support with written findings of why the standard amount is inappropriate. This is uncommon in agreed cases.

Duration: Indiana child support ends when the child turns 19 (unless the child is incapacitated, in which case support may continue).

Parenting Plan in the Settlement Agreement

The Settlement Agreement or Agreed Entry must include:

  • Legal custody: Joint or sole; decision-making process for disagreements
  • Primary residence: Which parent's home is the child's primary residence
  • Regular parenting schedule:
    • School year: weekday schedule, weekend schedule (specific days)
    • Summer: specific blocks or weekly rotation
  • Holiday schedule: Each named holiday, year by year
  • Vacation: Advance notice period; number of weeks with each parent
  • Communication: Phone/video calls when child is with the other parent
  • Transportation: Who drives exchanges; pick-up/drop-off location
  • Relocation: Notice requirement and consent/court approval requirement

Provisional Orders — Immediate Relief During the Case

Either parent can request provisional orders at the start of the dissolution for temporary arrangements while the case is pending:

  • Temporary legal and physical custody
  • Temporary parenting time schedule
  • Temporary child support (calculated per Indiana Guidelines)
  • Temporary use of the marital home
  • Temporary spousal maintenance (if statutory grounds exist)

Provisional orders do not predetermine the final outcome but provide stability for children during the dissolution process.

Last reviewed: March 2026 | Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines: courts.in.gov | Child support calculator: courts.in.gov/childsupport | Support ends at age 19

Last reviewed: March 2026 · Verify current fees and forms with your local court before filing.