Estimate monthly obligations based on the Income Shares Model
1 Child
2 Children
3 Children
4 Children
5 or More Children
Estimated Monthly Obligations
Understanding How Child Support is Calculated
Determining child support is a critical step in ensuring the well-being of children following a separation or divorce. Most jurisdictions use the Income Shares Model, which is based on the principle that the child should receive the same proportion of parental income that they would have received if the parents lived together.
Key Factors in the Calculation
Gross Monthly Income: This includes wages, bonuses, commissions, and self-employment earnings before taxes.
Number of Children: Costs do not double for a second child; the percentage of income allocated generally decreases per child as family size increases.
Health Insurance: The cost of covering the child on a health plan is usually credited to the parent paying the premium.
Extraordinary Expenses: Work-related childcare and significant medical expenses are typically shared proportionally between parents.
Calculation Methodology Example
If Parent A earns $6,000 (60% of total) and Parent B earns $4,000 (40% of total), and the basic support obligation for their one child is $1,200:
Parent A's share would be $720 (60% of $1,200). If Parent B is the primary custodial parent, Parent A would typically pay Parent B this amount monthly.
Important Legal Considerations
Please note that this calculator provides a general estimate only. Actual court orders may vary based on:
Specific state or regional guidelines and statutes.
The "Parenting Time" or "Overnight" schedule (Shared custody adjustments).
Existing support orders for children from previous relationships.
Mandatory retirement contributions or union dues.
Always consult with a qualified family law attorney or your local child support enforcement agency for a legally binding determination.
function calculateChildSupport() {
var incomeA = parseFloat(document.getElementById('csc-incomeA').value) || 0;
var incomeB = parseFloat(document.getElementById('csc-incomeB').value) || 0;
var children = parseInt(document.getElementById('csc-children').value);
var insurance = parseFloat(document.getElementById('csc-insurance').value) || 0;
var childcare = parseFloat(document.getElementById('csc-childcare').value) || 0;
if (incomeA <= 0 && incomeB <= 0) {
alert('Please enter a valid monthly income for at least one parent.');
return;
}
var totalCombinedIncome = incomeA + incomeB;
// Simplified standard percentage-of-income rates (Income Shares Model averages)
var rate = 0;
if (children === 1) rate = 0.17;
else if (children === 2) rate = 0.24;
else if (children === 3) rate = 0.28;
else if (children === 4) rate = 0.31;
else rate = 0.34;
// Calculate basic obligation
var basicSupport = totalCombinedIncome * rate;
// Total obligation including extras
var totalObligation = basicSupport + insurance + childcare;
// Pro-rated shares
var shareRatioA = incomeA / totalCombinedIncome;
var shareRatioB = incomeB / totalCombinedIncome;
var finalShareA = totalObligation * shareRatioA;
var finalShareB = totalObligation * shareRatioB;
var resultBox = document.getElementById('csc-result-box');
var output = document.getElementById('csc-output-details');
resultBox.style.display = 'block';
var html = '
';
html += '
';
html += 'Combined Monthly Income: $' + totalCombinedIncome.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + ";
html += 'Basic Support Obligation: $' + basicSupport.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + ";
html += 'Total Obligation (inc. Extras): $' + totalObligation.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + ";
html += '
';
html += '
';
html += 'Parent A Share (' + (shareRatioA * 100).toFixed(1) + '%):';
html += '$' + finalShareA.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + ";
html += 'Parent B Share (' + (shareRatioB * 100).toFixed(1) + '%):';
html += '$' + finalShareB.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + ";
html += '
';
html += '
';
html += 'Note: In most cases, the non-custodial parent pays their share to the custodial parent. This estimate does not account for specific state self-support reserves or low-income adjustments.';
output.innerHTML = html;
resultBox.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}