Child Support Calculator
Estimate state guideline monthly child support obligations based on parental gross incomes, physical parenting time percentage, and healthcare costs.
Income Shares Child Support Model
Income Shares Child Support Formula
Basic Child Support Obligation = Combined Net Income Schedule Benchmark × (Paying Parent Income / Combined Income) - Parenting Time Credit- Income Shares Approach: Utilized by ~40 US states, presuming a child should receive the same proportion of parental income as if the parents lived together.
- Parenting Time Overnights Credit: If the non-custodial parent exercises substantial overnight custody (typically 20% to 50% of the year), support is adjusted downwards.
- Mandatory Add-Ons: Health insurance premiums and work-related childcare expenses are prorated in proportion to each parent’s income.
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Calculation Steps:
- Father Preliminary Share = $1,800 × 60% = $1,080
- Less Overnight Credit = $1,080 - $270 = $810
- Health Premium Adjustment = $810 - $100 = $710/mo
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter the monthly gross or net income for both parents.
- 2Select the number of shared children.
- 3Enter the percentage of annual overnights spent with the paying parent.
- 4Add child health insurance premiums and monthly daycare costs.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Provides an informational guideline estimate; actual court orders may deviate based on judicial discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does joint 50/50 custody eliminate child support?
Not necessarily. Even with equal 50/50 physical custody, if one parent earns significantly more income than the other, the higher-earning parent is still usually required to pay child support under the Income Shares model.
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