This past summer, supermodel Linda Evangelista requested $46,000/month in child support from Francois Henri Pinault, CEO of the Paris-based conglomerate that owns Gucci, Yves St. Laurent and Bottega Veneta. He is the father of her four year old son and has allegedly not paid any money in child support since the child’s birth. Ms. Evangelista’s request raises an interesting question – In Iowa, how is child support calculated when the parents’ combined net monthly income is unscheduled or in other words in excess of $20,000?
In Iowa, the child support guidelines are based on the parents’ combined income and the number of children involved. The child support guidelines are scheduled for a combined net monthly income up to $20,000. For a net monthly income in excess of $20,000 the guidelines provide that the appropriate figure is deemed to be within the sound discretion of the court or the agency fixing child support by administrative order. The amount of support payable by a non-custodial parent with a monthly net income of $20,001 or more shall be no less than the dollar amount as provided for in the guidelines for a non-custodial parent with a monthly net income of $20,000.
The guidelines do; however, expressly empower the courts to depart from the recommended child support amounts because of special circumstances. Ms. Evangelista’s “special circumstances” include a request for a full-time nanny, vacation expenses and armed chauffeurs. It will be interesting to see how her case plays out in the Manhattan Family Court system.