Child Support Guides
Straightforward explainers for parents, payers, and anyone trying to understand the numbers.
Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash.
What Is Child Support?
A plain-English primer on what child support is, who pays it, what it covers, and how it differs from other family-law obligations.
The mathHow Is Child Support Calculated?
The three U.S. guideline models explained — Income Shares, Percentage of Income, and the Melson Formula — and the inputs that move the number.
Model deep-diveWhat Is the Income Shares Model?
The most common U.S. child-support model, explained: combined income, the basic-obligation schedule, proportional splitting, and add-ons.
Model deep-diveWhat Is the Percentage of Income Model?
The simplest U.S. model: a flat or graduated percentage of the paying parent’s income. How the six states apply it.
Model deep-diveWhat Is the Melson Formula?
The most sophisticated U.S. model, used by Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana: a self-support reserve, primary support, and a standard-of-living adjustment.
How-toHow to Modify an Existing Child Support Order
When and how support can be changed: the “substantial change in circumstances” standard, the petition process, and what to prepare.
How-toChild Support When You’re Self-Employed
How self-employment income is calculated for support, why courts may “impute” income, and documents you’ll need.
FAQIs Child Support Taxable?
The federal tax treatment of child support, dependency exemptions, and how it differs from alimony.
FAQWhat Happens If Child Support Isn’t Paid?
The enforcement tools states and the federal government use: wage garnishment, tax-refund interception, license suspension, and contempt.
Step-by-stepHow to Estimate Your Own Child Support
A practical walkthrough: gather your numbers, pick the right state, enter inputs, and read the result responsibly.
Calculator guideHow Much Child Support Will I Pay? (2026 State-by-State Guide)
Real dollar examples for every percentage-of-income state, how Income Shares states change the math, and the inputs that move your number.
Parenting timeChild Support with 50/50 Custody: How Parenting Time Affects Payments
Equal parenting time doesn’t mean zero support in most states. How the offset method works, state thresholds, and what to expect at 50/50.
Per-child mathHow Much Is Child Support Per Child? A 2026 State Comparison
Per-child percentages for the six percentage-of-income states, how Income Shares states price each additional child, and why the per-child cost falls as family size grows.