Law AgreementsChild Support Calculator
Estimate child support payments for any US state using official guideline formulas. Enter your income, custody arrangement, and expenses to get a free estimate in minutes.
State
Child support calculations vary significantly by state. Select your state to use the correct guidelines.
Select a state and enter your information to see estimated child support calculations.
Why Use Our Child Support Calculator?
How Child Support Is Calculated
Child support calculations vary significantly by state, but all states use guidelines based on one of three models. The Income Shares model, used by 41 states, considers both parents' incomes to determine the total child support obligation, then assigns each parent a share proportional to their income. The Percentage of Income model, used by states like Texas and Wisconsin, applies a flat percentage to the non-custodial parent's net income based on the number of children. The Melson Formula, used by Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana, first ensures each parent can meet their own basic needs before calculating support obligations. Regardless of the model, most states also consider factors like custody time, healthcare costs, childcare expenses, and prior support obligations.
Factors That Affect Child Support
Several factors influence child support calculations across all states. Income is the primary factor, including wages, salaries, bonuses, self-employment earnings, and investment income. The number of children and their ages play a role, as do custody and visitation schedules. Additional expenses like health insurance premiums, childcare costs, and educational needs are typically factored in. Prior child support obligations for other children may reduce the amount. Some states also consider the standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the parents remained together, and courts retain discretion to deviate from guidelines when circumstances warrant.
State-by-State Child Support Models
The United States has three primary child support calculation models. The Income Shares model is used by the majority of states including California, Florida, New York, and Ohio. It is based on the economic principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the parents lived together. The Percentage of Income model, used by Texas, Wisconsin, and several other states, focuses primarily on the non-custodial parent's income. The Melson Formula, a variation of the Income Shares model used by Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana, adds a self-support reserve to ensure parents can meet their own basic needs. Each state's specific guidelines include detailed tables and adjustment factors.
State-Specific Calculators
Texas Child Support Calculator
Calculate estimated child support payments using the Texas Percentage of Income guidelines. Texas applies a flat percentage to the non-custodial parent's net resources based on the number of children.
Florida Child Support Calculator
Calculate estimated child support payments using Florida's Income Shares model. Florida considers both parents' incomes, the number of overnight stays, and additional child-related expenses.
Illinois Child Support Calculator
Calculate estimated child support using Illinois' Income Shares model. Illinois considers both parents' net incomes and adjusts for shared parenting time when the non-custodial parent has more than 146 overnights per year.
California Child Support Calculator
Calculate estimated child support using California's complex algebraic guideline formula. California considers both parents' net disposable incomes, the percentage of time each parent has custody, and additional child-related expenses.
Ohio Child Support Calculator
Calculate estimated child support using Ohio's Income Shares model. Ohio considers both parents' gross incomes, the basic child support schedule, and adjustments for healthcare, childcare, and parenting time.
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