Child Support Calculator
Overview
Estimate child support payments by state using income, custody, and state guidelines. Supports Income Shares model (40 states) and Percentage of Income formulas.
Key Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Calculator ID | child-support |
| Category | Business |
| Vertical | Business & Career |
| App route | /verticals/business/child-support |
| API endpoint | /api/public/calculate?id=child-support |
Inputs
| Input ID | Label | Type | Required | Default | Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
state | State | select | Yes | ca | - |
payerIncome | Payer Gross Monthly Income ($) | number | Yes | 5000 | min 0, max 50000, step 100 |
custodianIncome | Custodian Gross Monthly Income ($) | number | Yes | 3000 | min 0, max 50000, step 100 |
numChildren | Number of Children | number | Yes | 1 | min 1, max 10, step 1 |
overnights | Payer Overnight Visits per Year | number | Yes | 52 | min 0, max 365, step 1 |
How to Use
- Select State — Choose your state (formulas vary: Income Shares, Percentage of Income, or Melson)
- Enter Incomes — Input payer and custodian gross monthly income, number of children, and overnight visits per year
- View Estimate — See estimated monthly support, annual total, custody adjustments, and payment schedules
Result Surfaces
| Output | Display Type | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Computed results | result-card | - |
Related Calculators
FAQ
How is child support calculated?
Two main models: Income Shares (40 states) - combines both parents' income, allocates support by earning %. Percentage of Income (TX, AK, WI) - uses only payer's income (20% for 1 child, 25% for 2, 30% for 3, etc). Most states adjust for custody time.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support?
No. Even with equal custody, higher earner typically pays support (but reduced 20-40%). Child support covers the child's needs, not custody time. If incomes equal and custody 50/50, support may be $0 or minimal.
What expenses are included in child support?
Basic support: food, shelter, clothing, entertainment. Additional: health insurance, unreimbursed medical, daycare, extracurriculars. Private school and college vary by state. Extraordinary expenses split separately from base support.
Evidence
src/lib/calculators/registry.ts(metadata)src/lib/calculators/page-registry.ts(page/HowTo metadata)src/lib/calculators/business/child-support.ts(calculator config)
Break Even Calculator
Calculate your break-even point in units and revenue. Analyze fixed costs, variable costs, and pricing scenarios.
Content Calendar Calculator
Plan your social media content calendar with optimal posting times, content mix recommendations, and weekly scheduling for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and more.