§315.11. Voluntarily unemployed or underemployed party

A.(1) If a party is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, child support shall be calculated based on a determination of income earning potential, unless the party is physically or mentally incapacitated, or is caring for a child of the parties under the age of five years. In determining the party's income earning potential, the court may consider the most recently published Louisiana Occupational Employment Wage Survey. In determining whether to impute income to a party, the court's considerations shall include, to the extent known, all of the following:

(a) Assets owned or held by the party.

(b) Residence.

(c) Employment and earnings history.

(d) Job skills.

(e) Educational attainment.

(f) Literacy.

(g) Age and health.

(h) Criminal record and other employment barriers.

(i) Record of seeking work.

(j) The local job market.

(k) The availability of employers willing to hire the noncustodial parent.

(l) Prevailing earnings level in the local community.

(m) Other relevant background factors in the case.

(2) Absent evidence of a party's actual income or income earning potential, there is a rebuttable presumption that the party can earn a weekly gross amount equal to thirty-two hours at a minimum wage, according to the laws of his state of domicile or federal law, whichever is higher.

B. The amount of the basic child support obligation calculated in accordance with Subsection A of this Section shall not exceed the amount which the party paying support would have owed had a determination of the other party's income earning potential not been made.

C. A party shall not be deemed voluntarily unemployed or underemployed if either:

(1) He has been temporarily unable to find work or has been temporarily forced to take a lower-paying job as a direct result of Hurricane Katrina or Rita.

(2) He is or was incarcerated for one hundred eighty consecutive days or longer.

Acts 1989, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 9, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 1989; Acts 2001, No. 1082, §1; Acts 2004, No. 156, §1, eff. June 10, 2004; Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 59, §1, eff. Dec. 6, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 238, §1; Acts 2016, No. 218, §1; Acts 2017, No. 264, §2; Acts 2018, No. 136, §1, eff. May 11, 2018.

NOTE: Acts 2017, No. 264 eff. date changed by Acts 2018, No. 136, changed from

Jan. 1, 2019, to Aug. 1, 2018.