State-Specific Child Support Information and Guidelines
By Danielle Gilmore, J.D. | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq. | Last reviewed June 28, 2023
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State-specific child support information and guidelines will vary from state to state, because each state establishes its own laws. These states have their own child support calculators and guidelines parents can use to help estimate child support.
There are common threads that tie child support laws together across the country. But each state has its own laws and procedures.
Most child support enforcement occurs at the local level. States use wage withholding or income withholding orders to get payment from the child support obligors. A number of federal laws and federal regulations reinforce state activities.
How State Law Impacts Child Support
Like other family law issues, such as the custody of the child, the judge will use state law to make child support-related decisions. The court weighs evidence using the “best interests of the child" standard. It also considers the specific needs of the child.
The amount of child support that the noncustodial parent pays depends on state child support guidelines and state law. Likewise, state law will govern the details of modifying the payment amount in a current child support order.
It's a good idea for parents to get familiar with the relevant law in their child support case. Some states use formulas to divide children's health care premiums and other health care costs between the parents.
Most states provide calculators for determining child support payments and enforcement data. You can fill out online forms with your demographic information and contact information. It may include the following:
- The number of children and their ages
- Who has physical custody
- Social Security number
- Children's health insurance coverage (medical expenses or other medical support)
- Tax information (tax refunds, income tax returns)
- Income information (parents' gross income, self-employment wages)
- Alimony or spousal support information
- Any government benefits (public assistance, worker's compensation, Social Security)
- Childcare expenses
- The children's standard of living when the parents were together
Court orders use state guidelines as the starting point. The final amount of support depends on the unique circumstances of each case. Below you will find links to state-specific child support information and/or guidelines.
Alabama
- Child Support Order Establishment (Alabama DHR, Child Support Enforcement Division)
- Child Support Enforcement Information (Jefferson County Family Court)
Alaska
- Information About Child Support (Alaska Court System)
- Child Support Services Division Calculator (Alaska Court System)
Arizona
- Child Support Calculator (Arizona Courts)
- Family Law Forms (Arizona Courts)
Arkansas
- Office of Child Support Enforcement (Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration )
California
- Child Support Forms [PDF] (California Courts)
- California Child Support Calculator (California Child Support Services)
- Department of Child Support Services (California Department of Social Services)
Colorado
- Colorado Child Support Enforcement (Colorado Department of Human Services)
- Electronic Child Support Guidelines (Colorado Judicial Branch)
Connecticut
- Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines [PDF] (Connecticut Judicial Branch)
- Child Support in Connecticut (Connecticut Judicial Branch)
- Connecticut Office of Child Support Services (State of Connecticut)
Delaware
- Child Support Guidelines [PDF] (Family Court of the State of Delaware)
- Child Support Calculator (Family Court of the State of Delaware)
- Delaware Division of Child Support Enforcement (Delaware Health and Social Services)
District of Columbia
- Child Support Services Division (District of Columbia Attorney General)
- Child Support Guideline Calculator (District of Columbia Courts)
Florida
- Child Support Frequently Asked Questions (Florida Department of Revenue)
- Child Support eServices (Florida Department of Revenue)
- Child Support Enforcement (Florida Department of Revenue)
Georgia
- Division of Child Support Services (Georgia Department of Human Resources)
- Applying For Child Support FAQs (Georgia Child Support Commission)
Hawaii
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (State of Hawaii Judiciary)
- Child Support Enforcement Agency (Department of the Attorney General)
Idaho
- Idaho Child Support Forms (Idaho Judicial Branch)
- Child Support Services (Department of Health and Welfare)
Illinois
- Child Support Awareness (Office of Illinois Attorney General) )
- Illinois Child Support Services (Illinois Child Support)
Indiana
- Indiana Department of Child Services (Indiana Dept. of Child Services)
- Indiana Child Support Forms and Applications (Indiana Dept. of Child Services)
- Indiana Child Support Calculator (Indiana Dept. of Child Services)
Iowa
- Iowa Child Support Services (Iowa Department of Human Services)
- Child Support Recovery Unit (211 Iowa)
Kansas
- Kansas Child Support Guidelines (Kansas Judicial Branch)
- Child Support Enforcement (Kansas Department of Social & Rehab. Services)
Kentucky
- Kentucky Child Support Interactive (Kentucky Cabinet for Health & Family Services)
- Child Support Enforcement (Kentucky Cabinet for Health & Family Services)
Louisiana
- Divorce: Who Gets Custody? Who Pays Support? [PDF] (Louisiana State Bar Association)
- Support Enforcement Services (Louisiana Department of Social Services - Office of Family Support)
Maine
- Maine Child Support Enforcement (Maine Department of Health and Human Services)
Maryland
- Maryland Child Support (Maryland Department of Human Resources)
Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Child Support Enforcement (Enforcement Division)
- Child Support Services (Massachusetts Government)
Michigan
- Michigan Child Support (Michigan Department of Human Services)
- Michigan Child Support Formula (Michigan Courts)
Minnesota
- Minnesota Child Support - Guidelines (Minnesota Department of Human Services)
- Minnesota Child Support (Minnesota Department of Human Services)
Mississippi
- Mississippi Child Support (Mississippi Department of Human Services)
- Child Support: What Every Mother and Father Should Know (Mississippi State Bar)
Missouri
- Missouri Child Support Program (Missouri Department of Social Services)
- Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations [MSDOC] (Missouri Judiciary)
Montana
- Child Support Information and Forms (Montana- Child Support Services Division)
Nebraska
- Nebraska Child Support Guidelines (Nebraska Supreme Court)
- Child Support Calculator (Nebraska State Bar Association)
Nevada
- Child Support Manual (Nevada Dept. of Health and Human Services)
- Division of Welfare and Support Services (Child Support Information)
New Hampshire
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (New Hampshire Judicial Branch)
- Child Support Calculator (NH Department of Health and Human Svcs.)
New Jersey
- Child Support and Paternity Program (New Jersey Department of Human Services)
- New Jersey Child Support Information (New Jersey Department of Human Services)
New Mexico
- Child Support Application and Information (New Mexico Human Services Department)
New York
- Child Support Calculator (City of New York Department of Social Services)
- Division of Child Support Enforcement (New York Office of Children & Family Services)
North Carolina
- Child Support Enforcement (North Carolina Division of Social Services)
North Dakota
- Child Support Enforcement (North Dakota Department of Human Services)
Ohio
- Office of Child Support (Ohio Department of Job and Family Services)
Oklahoma
- Child Support Guidelines (Oklahoma Department of Human Services)
- Application for Child Support Services
Oregon
- Child Support Services (Oregon Department of Justice)
- Child Support Guidelines Calculator (DOJ Division of Child Support)
- Forms (DOJ Division of Child Support)
Pennsylvania
- Child Support Program (Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare)
- Child Support in Pennsylvania: Your Kids Come First (Pennsylvania Bar Association)
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Child Support Agency Program (Office of Child Support Services)
South Carolina
- Child Support Obligation Calculator (South Carolina Department of Social Services)
- Child Support FAQ (South Carolina Department of Social Services)
South Dakota
- Division of Child Support (South Dakota Department of Social Services)
- Child Support Calculator (South Dakota Department of Social Services)
Tennessee
- Tennessee Child Support Services (Tennessee Department of Human Services)
- Child Support Guidelines (Tennessee Department of Human Services)
Texas
- Child Support Division (Texas Attorney General)
- Child Support Modification FAQ (Texas Attorney General)
Utah
- Child Support Calculator (Utah State Courts)
- Office of Recovery Services (Utah Department of Human Services)
Vermont
- Vermont Office of Child Support (Vermont Agency of Human Services)
- Child Support Calculator (Vermont Agency of Human Services)
Virginia
- Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia's Court System (Virginia State Bar)
- Notice of Information Required in Child/Spousal Support Proceedings (DC-603) [PDF] (Virginia Courts)
- Child Support Enforcement (Virginia Department of Social Services)
Washington
- Division of Child Support (Washington Department of Social and Health Services)
- Washington State Child Support Schedule (Washington Courts)
West Virginia
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Child Support Online Services (Wisconsin Department of Children and Families)
- Wisconsin Child Support Program (Wisconsin Department of Children and Families)
Wyoming
- Child Support Calculator (Wyoming Child Support Program)
- Wyoming Child Support Program
Get State-Specific Child Support Information and Help from a Local Attorney
Resources and help for state-specific child support are available from Maine to Minnesota, California to New York. Learn about child support laws and enforcement guidelines in your state. Know your rights. Know your obligations. Know how to get answers. Consider speaking with a family law attorney near you and get some peace of mind.
Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?
- Some states allow you to set up child support with forms and court processes
- You may need legal help to set up or modify child support arrangements
- If there is conflict, an attorney can advise if the other parent’s actions are legal
Get tailored advice about paying or receiving child support. Many attorneys offer free consultations.
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Don't Forget About Estate Planning
Once new child support arrangements are in place, it’s an ideal time to create or change your estate planning forms. Take the time to add new beneficiaries to your will and name a guardian for any minor children. Consider creating a financial power of attorney so your agent can pay bills and make sure your children are provided for. A health care directive explains your health care decisions and takes the decision-making burden off your children when they become adults.