How to Estimate Your Own Child Support
A practical walkthrough: gather your numbers, pick the right state, enter inputs, and read the result responsibly.
Our estimators give an informal planning figure, not a court number. But they are built on each state’s real guideline model, so they’re a strong starting point.
Step 1 — Know your state’s model and income basis
Is your state Income Shares, Percentage, or Melson? Does it use gross, net, or adjusted-gross income? This changes what number you type in. Your state page states it plainly.
Step 2 — Gather inputs
- Each parent’s monthly income on the correct basis
- Number of children
- Overnights per year with the paying parent
- Monthly child care and health insurance costs
Step 3 — Enter and read
Open your state’s calculator, enter the figures, and review the breakdown and the chart showing support by number of children. Use the print button to save a clean PDF for your records.
Start here: all 50 states + D.C. — then use the comparison tool if you’re weighing a move.
Why does the result say “model estimate” on some states?
Where we have not yet loaded the state’s official schedule, the calculator uses a reference schedule and is clearly flagged. Official-schedule states show a green “official schedule loaded” badge.
This article is general education, not legal or tax advice. For your exact number, open your state calculator.
Not legal or financial advice. This estimate follows the state’s statutory guideline formula but cannot capture every factor a court considers (health insurance, childcare, prior orders, deviations, imputed income).