Skip to main content

Child Support Laws by State

Child support rules vary by state. Select your state to learn how support is calculated, what counts as income, and how to file a modification.

Select Your State

51 jurisdictions covered - all 50 states plus Washington D.C.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Washington D.C. Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Not Sure Where to Start?

Search public records first - then talk to an attorney about what you find.

Search Public Records Free Free Attorney Consultation

About Child Support Calculation Models

Income Shares Model

Used by about 40 states. Combines both parents' incomes to estimate what would be spent on the child if the family stayed together. Each parent pays their proportional share.

Percentage of Income Model

Used by states like Texas and Wisconsin. Sets child support as a fixed percentage of the non-custodial parent's income, regardless of the other parent's earnings.

Melson Formula

A hybrid approach used by Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana. First ensures basic needs of both parents and child are met, then divides additional income proportionally.

Child support laws change frequently. This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Always verify current guidelines with your state's official resources or a licensed family law attorney.