New Hampshire Child Support
Estimate for New Hampshire
New Hampshire uses the Income Shares model.
Official schedule: State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Child Support Services, 2025 Child Support Guidelines, Form DCSS s651 (2025 Child Support Guideline Calculation Table), effective 4/1/2025. Table keyed by Combined Adjusted Monthly Gross Income in $10 increments; columns list the dollar basic obligation and its percent of combined net income for 1, 2, 3, and 4+ children. (2025)
View calculation breakdown
| Combined parental income | $9,000 |
|---|---|
| Total basic obligation (schedule) | $2,025 |
| Obligor income share | 55.6% |
| Obligor basic obligation | $1,125 |
| Estimated monthly support | $1,125 |
How the basic obligation splits between parents
Estimated monthly support by number of children
§ How New Hampshire calculates support
New Hampshire uses the Income Shares model under RSA 458-C on both parents' COMBINED MONTHLY NET (adjusted gross) income. A statutory sliding percentage (RSA 458-C:3) applies to combined net income — about 25.6% for one child at lower incomes down to 19% at higher incomes — and the total is split by each parent's income share. The guideline table is updated yearly (effective April 1). A minimum order of $50/month applies, and recent shared-parenting amendments create rebuttable presumptions for approximately/significantly shared care. Medical support is presumptively 4% of each parent's gross income.
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case in New Hampshire
- Establish parentage if needed (Affidavit of Parentage or genetic testing), then file with the Family Division of the Circuit Court or apply through the DHHS Bureau of Child Support Services.
- Both parents complete the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet: enter gross income, subtract allowed deductions (taxes, mandatory retirement, prior support) to reach adjusted gross/net income.
- Combine the net incomes and use the DHHS Guideline Table (or the online calculator) to find the percentage-based obligation for the number of children; split it by each parent's income share.
- The court enters the order. A judge may deviate only with written findings; the guideline amount is presumptive.
- The order is typically collected via income withholding through the Bureau of Child Support Services.
- To modify: only the court can modify. Either party may request modification every 3 years, or sooner upon a substantial change in circumstances.
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Combined monthly net income $6,000. Parent A earns $3,600 (60%); Parent B earns $2,400 (40%). One child.
Walk-through: Under RSA 458-C:3, the guideline rate at $6,000 combined net monthly is about 21.5%, so the total obligation is about $1,290/month (6,000 × 0.215). Split by income: Parent A (60%) owes about $774; Parent B (40%) owes about $516. The higher earner with less parenting time pays their share to the other parent.
Takeaway: New Hampshire's percentage falls as income rises; the total is split proportionally, so the higher earner pays more.
Scenario: Each parent has more than 40% of annual parenting time, similar incomes (within 10%), and shares child costs equally.
Walk-through: Under the January 2025 HB 1564 amendments to RSA 458-C:5, there is a rebuttable presumption of $0 child support in this situation. The court will deviate from the standard guidelines unless evidence shows that would be unjust.
Takeaway: When parenting time and incomes are roughly equal, New Hampshire presumes little or no transfer is needed.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/childcare-parenting-childbirth/child-support-services/child-support-guidelines · https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXXIX/458-C/458-C-mrg.htm · https://recordinglaw.com/us-laws/united-states-child-support-laws/new-hampshire-child-support-laws/ · https://legalclarity.org/nh-child-support-guidelines-how-payments-are-calculated