Child Support Estimator

Child support is a court-ordered payment made by one parent to the other to help cover the costs of raising their children after separation or divorce. Every state in the United States uses a formal guideline formula to calculate child support, ensuring some consistency and predictability in how support amounts are determined.

The most widely used model is the Income Shares Model, which is used by the majority of states. Under this model, child support is based on the combined income of both parents and the number of children. The idea is that the child should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the parents remained together. Each parent's share of the combined obligation is proportional to their share of combined income.

Several additional factors are typically added to the base child support obligation: childcare costs necessary for a parent to work or attend school, health insurance premiums for the child's coverage, and sometimes extraordinary expenses like private school tuition or medical costs not covered by insurance. The custody arrangement (how many overnights each parent has) significantly affects the obligation — more time with the paying parent generally results in a lower payment amount.

1. Enter Parent 1's gross monthly income (the non-custodial parent who will pay support).
2. Enter Parent 2's gross monthly income (the custodial parent receiving support).
3. Select the number of children covered by the support order.
4. Select the custody split — the percentage of overnights Parent 1 has with the children.
5. Enter monthly childcare costs (daycare, after-school programs, etc.).
6. Enter the monthly health insurance premium for the children's coverage.
7. Review the estimated monthly child support payment and the full calculation breakdown.

Child support formulas are set by state law and judges generally must follow the guideline amount unless there are specific circumstances that justify a deviation. Courts may deviate upward if the child has extraordinary expenses (such as special education needs or ongoing medical care) or deviate downward if strict application of the formula would result in an unjust outcome given the specific facts.

Child support is modifiable. Either parent can petition the court to modify the support order if there has been a substantial change in circumstances — such as a significant change in either parent's income, a change in the custody arrangement, or a significant change in the child's needs. Most states also have automatic review provisions through the child support enforcement agency.

This tool provides a rough estimate based on the Income Shares Model and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Child support calculations involve state-specific guidelines, adjustments, and judicial discretion that this calculator cannot capture. The actual support amount in your case will be determined by your state's official guidelines and the facts presented to the court. Always consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.