Child Support Estimation Calculator
Calculation Results
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Understanding Child Support Calculations
Calculating child support is a critical step in ensuring the financial well-being of children following a separation or divorce. While every state and jurisdiction has specific statutory guidelines, most utilize the Income Shares Model, which is the basis for this calculator. This model operates 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 Child Support
Several variables influence the final monthly payment amount. Understanding these can help you prepare for legal proceedings or mediation:
- Gross Monthly Income: This includes wages, bonuses, commissions, and sometimes dividends or social security benefits.
- Number of Children: Support amounts do not double per child; instead, they follow a graduated scale as the cost of raising additional children increases marginally.
- Health Insurance Premiums: The cost of including the child on a medical, dental, or vision plan is typically added to the basic support obligation.
- Childcare Expenses: Work-related daycare costs are often a significant "add-on" that parents share proportionally.
A Realistic Example
Consider a scenario where Parent A earns $6,000 per month and Parent B earns $4,000 per month. They have two children. Their combined income is $10,000.
In many states, the basic obligation for two children at that income level might be roughly 25% ($2,500). If work-related daycare costs $1,000 per month, the total obligation becomes $3,500.
Since Parent A earns 60% of the total income, their share would be $2,100 ($3,500 x 0.60). If Parent B is the primary custodial parent, Parent A would typically pay Parent B $2,100 per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this calculator legally binding?
No. This calculator provides an estimation based on standard income-share logic. Courts have the discretion to "deviate" from these formulas based on special needs, extraordinary travel costs for visitation, or the amount of time the child spends with each parent (shared custody).
What happens if a parent is unemployed?
If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, courts may "impute" income. This means the court calculates support based on what the parent could be earning given their education and work history, rather than their actual $0 income.
Does child support cover college?
In most states, the legal obligation to pay child support ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school. However, parents can agree to include college tuition in their separation agreements, or certain states may allow courts to order "post-secondary support."