Using the federal child support guidelines in the example, what percentage of disposable earnings is used to determine the maximum withholding?

• A. 60%
• B. 65%
• C. 70%
• D. 75%

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is how much of a person’s disposable earnings the federal guidelines allow to be withheld for child support. The cap isn’t a single fixed percentage; it depends on the payer’s other obligations and whether there are arrears. In the scenario given, the situation described fits the rule that allows a withholding cap of 65% of disposable earnings when there is past-due support and no other dependents or spouse to support. This means up to 65% can be taken to satisfy the order, beyond the basic needs for current support only.

Understanding disposable earnings helps: it’s what remains after legally required deductions, and the withholding is applied to that amount. The 65% cap is the upper limit in this particular setup, while other configurations (such as having a spouse or another dependent being supported) would result in a lower cap (for example, 60% or 50%). The higher figures like 70% or 75% aren’t permitted under the federal rules for wage withholding in typical child support scenarios.