{
  "slug": "child-support-guideline-range",
  "title": "Child Support Guideline Range Calculator",
  "heading": "Child Support Estimate Range Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/child-support-guideline-range",
  "summary": "Estimate a rough child support range using an income-shares style guideline.",
  "description": "Most states use an 'income shares' model that combines both parents' incomes, applies that combined income to a state schedule to find the total support obligation for the number of children, then splits that obligation proportionally by each parent's share of combined income. A minority of states use a flat 'percentage of income' model based only on the paying parent's income. This calculator applies a simplified income-shares approximation, using a basic obligation table roughly modeled on common state schedules, then adjusts for parenting time (many states reduce the obligation when the paying parent has substantial overnight custody) and adds typical add-ons for childcare and health insurance premiums split proportionally. Treat the output strictly as a ballpark starting point, not a legal figure, since every state's actual formula, worksheets, and deviation factors differ and only a state's official calculator or family law attorney gives you an authoritative number.",
  "formula": "Base obligation ≈ f(combined income, # children); each parent's share = base × (their income ÷ combined income); adjust for parenting time %; add proportional childcare/insurance.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=child-support-guideline-range",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "incomeA",
      "label": "Parent A monthly gross income",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "incomeB",
      "label": "Parent B monthly gross income",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "children",
      "label": "Number of children",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 6
    },
    {
      "id": "parentingTimeB",
      "label": "Parent B overnight parenting time",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 20,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "childcare",
      "label": "Monthly childcare + health premium",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "monthlyMid",
      "label": "Estimated monthly support (midpoint)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "monthlyLow",
      "label": "Low end of range",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "monthlyHigh",
      "label": "High end of range",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annualMid",
      "label": "Annual estimate (midpoint)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Parent A monthly gross income: 5500 $",
      "Parent B monthly gross income: 3500 $",
      "Number of children: 2",
      "Parent B overnight parenting time: 20 %",
      "Monthly childcare + health premium: 500 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Estimated monthly support (midpoint): $1,681",
      "Low end of range: $1,428",
      "High end of range: $1,933",
      "Annual estimate (midpoint): $20,167"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter parent a monthly gross income ($).",
      "Enter parent b monthly gross income ($).",
      "Enter number of children.",
      "Enter parent b overnight parenting time (%).",
      "Enter monthly childcare + health premium ($).",
      "Read your estimated monthly support (midpoint) on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "incomeA": 3300,
        "incomeB": 2100,
        "children": 1,
        "parentingTimeB": 10,
        "childcare": 300
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "incomeA": 5500,
        "incomeB": 3500,
        "children": 2,
        "parentingTimeB": 20,
        "childcare": 500
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "incomeA": 8800,
        "incomeB": 5600,
        "children": 3,
        "parentingTimeB": 30,
        "childcare": 800
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why is this only a range and not an exact figure?",
      "a": "Every state publishes its own obligation tables, deviation factors, and treatment of items like extraordinary medical expenses or private school tuition, and small differences in those rules move the real number meaningfully. This tool approximates the common income-shares logic; only your state's official worksheet produces a legally usable figure."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does parenting time really change the amount?",
      "a": "In most income-shares states, yes, once the paying parent has the child a substantial portion of overnights (commonly 20%+ or more depending on the state's threshold), the obligation is reduced to reflect that they're directly covering costs during that time rather than only paying support."
    },
    {
      "q": "Are childcare and health insurance always added on top?",
      "a": "Typically yes, work-related childcare and the child's portion of health insurance premiums are added to the base obligation and then split proportionally by income share, not absorbed by whichever parent happens to pay the provider directly."
    },
    {
      "q": "Can support be modified later?",
      "a": "Yes, when there's a substantial change in circumstances, commonly defined as roughly a 15-20% change in either parent's income, a change in custody arrangement, or a change in the child's needs. Either parent can petition the court to recalculate under the current guideline at that point."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/alimony-duration-guideline",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/citizenship-income-requirement",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/estate-executor-fee"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Child Support Guideline Range Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/child-support-guideline-range)"
}