Worksheet A (Primary Custody) – NC Child Support
Quick answer: What is Worksheet A (Primary Custody) in North Carolina? Worksheet A is used when one parent has primary physical custody and the other has fewer than 123 overnights a year. The court applies the NC Child Support Guidelines: calculate each parent’s gross income, find the basic obligation, add health-insurance and childcare costs, then assign the final support amount.
Get it right the first time. We prepare clean Worksheet A calculations, evidence for income and add-ons, and orders payroll and agencies can follow.
Your North Carolina Child Support Lawyer
Krispen Culbertson, North Carolina family lawyer with 20+ years preparing Worksheet A (primary), Worksheet B (shared), and Worksheet C (split custody), plus deviations, enforcement, and modifications.
Memberships: North Carolina State Bar; local family law sections. Courts: District Court calendars statewide with regular hearings in Guilford County.
Start by situation
Fast answers
When to use Worksheet A: one parent has primary physical custody and the other has fewer than 123 overnights. Shared custody uses Worksheet B; split custody uses Worksheet C.
What counts as income: wages, bonuses, commissions, self-employment net, and more. We document and normalize sporadic income to avoid disputes.
Add-ons: work-related childcare and the child’s health-insurance premium are added, then prorated by income share. Extraordinary expenses may be included with proof.
Low-income protections: we apply the Guidelines’ adjustments (including self-support reserve where applicable) and propose workable payment terms.
How Worksheet A is calculated (North Carolina)
- Determine gross monthly income for each parent (pay stubs, W-2/1099, business P&L).
- Adjust for allowed deductions (pre-existing support orders, responsibility for other children when applicable).
- Find the basic obligation for the number of children using the Guidelines table.
- Add work-related childcare and the child’s health-insurance premium (only the child’s portion).
- Prorate by income share to assign each parent’s share of the total obligation.
- Set the final support amount owed by the non-primary parent; include payment method and start date.
Proving income the right way
We average bonuses/commissions, normalize seasonal income, and reconcile bank deposits to tax forms. For self-employed parents, we review add-backs and business expenses to present reliable numbers.
Health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary expenses
Bring the child’s premium share (from the plan breakdown), childcare invoices, and documentation for tutoring, special needs, or other extraordinary costs. We present receipts and clear math.
Other children and pre-existing orders
Existing court-ordered support and responsibility for other children can affect the calculation. We include orders and birth certificates so the math is clean.
Deviation from the Guidelines
Courts may deviate up or down if the Guideline amount is unjust or inappropriate. We prepare findings on need and ability, unusual expenses, and the child’s best interests so a deviation order will hold.
Modification or review
If circumstances materially change (income shift, childcare/insurance changes), you can seek modification. We compare old and new numbers and file a focused motion with updated Worksheet A.
Enforcement tools that work
We use wage withholding, contempt, arrears ledgers, license holds, and clear payment language so agencies can follow the order without confusion.
Out-of-state orders (UIFSA)
To enforce or modify a non-NC order here, we first register it in North Carolina. We confirm jurisdiction and CEJ, then move to enforcement or modification under UIFSA.
What to bring and your first 72 hours
Documents checklist
- Last 3–6 months of pay stubs; last 2 years of W-2/1099s and tax returns
- Business financials if self-employed (P&L, Schedule C/K-1)
- Proof of the child’s health-insurance premium share and childcare invoices
- Existing support orders and proof of payments
Your first 72 hours with our team
1) Intake & audit
We map income sources and confirm Worksheet A applies.
2) Evidence packet
Collect pay, insurance, childcare, and prior orders.
3) Draft Worksheet A
Clean math with exhibits and proposed findings.
4) File & serve
Motion with Worksheet A; request wage withholding.
5) Order agencies will follow
Effective dates, payment method, arrears plan if needed.
FAQs
When do I use Worksheet A instead of B or C?
What if income is irregular?
Can the judge deviate from the Guidelines?
Do health insurance and childcare get added?
How do I modify support later?
How is enforcement handled?
Why North Carolina families choose Culbertson & Associates
- 20+ years calculating and litigating NC child support
- Clean Worksheet A math with exhibits judges rely on
- Deviation, enforcement, and modification experience
- Orders payroll and agencies can follow without confusion
Client reviews
A. Jenkins — “K.E. Culbertson fixed the numbers, added childcare and insurance correctly, and the order has worked smoothly ever since.”
M. Daniels — “Mr. Culbertson averaged seasonal income the right way. Fair result and no more arguments about pay stubs.”
T. Alvarez — “They handled enforcement with wage withholding and a clear arrears plan. Payments started on time.”
R. Shah — “Culbertson and Associates prepared a clean Worksheet A and explained every line. Judge signed our consent order the same day.”
L. Boyd — “When facts changed, Krispen filed a targeted modification. New amount reflects our real costs.”
S. Ortiz — “Professional, steady, and practical. They made a complicated situation simple for the court and for payroll.”
Visit Our Greensboro Office
Culbertson & Associates
315 Spring Garden St Ste #300, Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 272-4299 • culbertsonatlaw.com
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM • Area served: North Carolina
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