Child support can feel like a black box. MyDivorceCalc runs your numbers through the same income-based formulas courts use nationwide — so you walk in prepared, not blindsided.
Child support calculations are driven by income, custody time, and state law. We walk you through each factor and apply your state's formula to give you an honest ballpark — before you pay a single attorney hour.
Every state uses a slightly different model. We apply the right formula based on where you live.
Gross monthly income for both parents is the foundation of every child support calculation in the U.S.
How many overnights each parent has directly affects the support obligation — often significantly.
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The U.S. uses three primary child support models. Which one applies to you depends entirely on where you live — and understanding the difference can mean thousands of dollars in planning clarity.
Both parents' incomes are combined and support is calculated as a share of that total — then split proportionally. The idea: the child should receive the same standard of living they would have had if the family stayed together.
Only the paying parent's income drives the calculation. A fixed percentage applies based on the number of children — regardless of what the receiving parent earns. Simpler to compute, but can feel less equitable in high-disparity situations.
A more nuanced hybrid that first ensures both parents can meet their own basic needs before calculating support. Designed to prevent orders that make financial self-sufficiency impossible for either parent.
No two divorces produce the same number. These are the inputs that courts weigh most heavily — and that our calculator accounts for in every state.
All sources — wages, bonuses, rental income, self-employment, and consistent overtime. Courts look at the full financial picture, not just your W-2.
Your share of residential time is one of the biggest levers in the formula. More overnight time generally means a lower support obligation.
Each additional child increases the base support amount, though the rate of increase typically flattens out after the third child.
Who pays for the children's health coverage — and how much it costs — is factored into the final obligation in most states.
Work-related daycare and after-school costs are typically shared between both parents on a proportional income basis.
If either parent already pays support for children from another relationship, that reduces their net available income in the calculation.
Answer a few questions about your situation. We'll apply your state's formula and show you a real estimate — takes about 3 minutes.
This determines which state model we apply and how we frame your results.
All U.S. child support formulas start with gross monthly income — before taxes, from all sources. Your best estimate is perfectly fine at this stage.
The number of children and the custody schedule are the two biggest variables after income. Drag the slider to your expected parenting time split.
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Based on the income shares model. Actual amounts are determined by a court.