New Mexico Child Support
Estimate for New Mexico
New Mexico uses the Income Shares model.
Official schedule: New Mexico Child Support Guidelines, Basic Child Support Schedule, 8.50.108 NMAC (eff. 1/1/2024) (2024)
View calculation breakdown
| Combined parental income | $9,000 |
|---|---|
| Total basic obligation (schedule) | $1,433 |
| Obligor income share | 55.6% |
| Obligor basic obligation | $796 |
| Estimated monthly support | $796 |
How the basic obligation splits between parents
Estimated monthly support by number of children
§ How New Mexico calculates support
New Mexico uses the Income Shares model under NMSA § 40-4-11.1 and 8.50.108 NMAC, based on each parent's GROSS monthly income. Combined income is matched to the Basic Child Support Schedule (modernized Jan. 1, 2024) and each parent pays a share proportional to their income. Notable features: a 40% gross-income hardship cap creating a rebuttable presumption of substantial hardship; a $1,200/month self-support reserve for low-income paying parents (Worksheet A only); and two worksheets — Worksheet A (basic visitation, <35% overnights) and Worksheet B (shared responsibility, each parent ≥35% of overnights, which multiplies the base by 1.5). Health insurance and work-related childcare are added on top and split proportionally.
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case in New Mexico
- Apply for services online through the YES NM portal or by calling the HCA Customer Service Center at 1-800-283-4465 (services are free as of 2024).
- Establish parentage if the parents were unmarried (voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity or court-ordered genetic testing).
- Both parents disclose income; CSSD or the court determines each parent's gross income andimputed income if voluntarily unemployed/underemployed.
- Complete the correct Child Support Worksheet (A or B) using the 2024 Basic Child Support Schedule to compute the presumptive obligation.
- Obtain a support order from a district court (or administrative tribunal) that includes the base amount plus health insurance and childcare add-ons.
- Request a review/modification later by showing a material change in circumstances (states may review IV-D cases every three years).
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Parents' combined gross monthly income is $5,000 with one child. The noncustodial parent (NCP) earns $3,000 (60%) and the custodial parent (CP) earns $2,000 (40%). Neither has significant parenting time above the 35% line.
Walk-through: From the 2024 Basic Child Support Schedule, combined income of $5,000 with one child yields a base obligation of $830. The NCP pays 60% of the base: 0.60 × $830 = $498/month, plus 60% of any health-insurance and childcare add-ons. The CP is presumed to spend their 40% directly on the child.
Takeaway: Under Income Shares, each parent pays a percentage of the base obligation equal to their percentage of combined gross income.
Scenario: Same $5,000 combined income and one child, but each parent has at least 35% of overnights (shared responsibility arrangement).
Walk-through: Worksheet B multiplies the schedule base by 1.5: $830 × 1.5 = $1,245 total. This is split by income: NCP (60%) = $747; CP (40%) = $498. Both parents are credited with directly covering day-to-day costs in their own homes.
Takeaway: When both households bear the children's costs, the total guideline obligation rises (×1.5), but each parent's share is still set by their income percentage.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://seventhdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2023/11/Child-Support-Guidelines-and-Table.pdf · https://www.hca.nm.gov/about_the_department/child_support_services_division/ · https://www.hca.nm.gov/?p=3001