District of Columbia Child Support
Estimate for District of Columbia
District of Columbia uses the Hybrid model.
Official schedule: D.C. Code § 16-916.01a, Appendix I — Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations (codified; amounts unchanged from the 2007 enactment, Act 16-138). Low-income handling: D.C. Code § 16-916.01(g)(1)(B) self-support reserve $12,382 (as of Apr. 1, 2007); §(g)(2)/(g)(3) individual assessment with rebuttable $75/mo minimum for income below the reserve; §(f)(1)(B) round combined income up to next higher schedule amount. (2024)
View calculation breakdown
| Combined parental income | $9,000 |
|---|---|
| Total basic obligation (schedule) | $4,890 |
| Obligor income share | 55.6% |
| Obligor basic obligation | $2,717 |
| Estimated monthly support | $2,717 |
How the basic obligation splits between parents
Estimated monthly support by number of children
§ How District of Columbia calculates support
The District of Columbia uses a HYBRID formula (DC Code § 16-916.01): an income-shares framework using both parents' ADJUSTED GROSS income, combined with a schedule of basic obligations that rises with income. The guideline applies presumptively up to $240,000 combined annual income. A shared-physical-custody adjustment multiplies the basic obligation by 1.5 when each parent has the child 35%+ of the time (about 128+ overnights), with a self-support reserve protecting the obligor. Add-ons (child health insurance, work-related child care, and extraordinary medical costs over $250/child/year) are split by income share.
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case in District of Columbia
- Enroll with the Child Support Services Division (CSSD) of the Office of the Attorney General, online or by phone.
- CSSD establishes parentage (paternity) if needed.
- CSSD calculates the guideline amount using DC Code § 16-916.01 (hybrid, adjusted gross) and the official CSSD calculator.
- Obtain an order through CSSD's administrative process or the DC Superior Court.
- Modify by petitioning CSSD or the DC Superior Court on a substantial and material change in circumstances.
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Parents of two children. Parent A (obligor) adjusted gross $6,000/month; Parent B adjusted gross $4,000/month. Combined adjusted gross $10,000. Parent A has the child 140 overnights/year.
Walk-through: DC looks up the basic obligation for $10,000 combined adjusted gross and two children on the Appendix I schedule (illustrative amount ~$1,500), splits it 60/40 by income share (Parent A $900), then — because Parent A has 35%+ overnights — the shared-physical-custody rule multiplies the basic obligation by 1.5 and offsets each parent's adjusted amount; the higher earner pays the difference. The shared-custody result can never exceed the sole-custody amount.
Takeaway: DC's hybrid model blends an income-shares split with a schedule and a 1.5 shared-custody multiplier.
Scenario: Same parents; the child's health-insurance premium is $200/month and work-related child care is $400/month.
Walk-through: Add-ons are split by income share on top of the basic obligation: Parent A (60%) pays $120 insurance + $240 child care = $360/month extra; Parent B (40%) pays $80 + $160 = $240/month. Extraordinary medical costs over $250/child/year are likewise prorated.
Takeaway: Health insurance and child care are added to, not subtracted from, the obligation.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-916.01 · https://oag.dc.gov/child-support-services · https://csgc.oag.dc.gov/application/main/intro.aspx
How District of Columbia calculates support
D.C. applies an income-shares formula with a percentage-style base complement.