Can the court deviate from the child support guidelines?

In certain circumstances, the Court has the discretion to deviate from the child support guidelines to suit the individual needs of the family and the child. A parent may also ask the Court to allow a deviation and be granted such deviation if she/he can demonstrate that a deviation is in the best interests of a child. Common reasons for a child support deviation include extraordinary medical expenses for the child or parent, extraordinary costs for transportation to and from parenting time, a child with special needs, a significant difference between the parents’ two standards of living, or when the paying parent is incarcerated.