Income for purposes of support is defined by the support law at 23 Pa.C.S.A. 4302, and includes income from any source. The statute includes many types of income, such as the following:

(1) wages, salaries, bonuses, fees and commissions;

(2) net income from business or dealings in property;

(3) interest, rents, royalties, and dividends;

(4) pensions and all forms of retirement;

(5) income from an interest in an estate or trust;

(6) Social Security disability benefits, Social Security retirement benefits, temporary and permanent disability benefits, workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation;

(7) alimony if, in the discretion of the trier of fact, inclusion of part or all of it is appropriate; and

(8) other entitlements to money or lump sum awards, without regard to source, including lottery winnings, income tax refunds, insurance compensation or settlements; awards and verdicts; and any form of payment due to and collectible by an individual regardless of source.

Most often pay stubs and tax forms are the documents used to determine a person’s net monthly income for support. But what if your spouse/significant other has a cash-based business or is paid under the table? Those scenarios can be complicated, but the Court (if given enough information) can determine a person’s net monthly income without financial documentation by looking at a person’s expenses and his or her ability to pay those expenses. You may need to request the other person’s bank statements, credit card statements, and business records. In complex cases, attorneys work with accountants to determine a person’s income.

So, while more complicated, it is possible to "find" and assign an income for support purposes to someone who deals in cash.