New Hampshire Child Support Guidelines

By Christie Nicholson, J.D. | Legally reviewed by Joseph Fawbush, Esq. | Last reviewed June 09, 2025

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Most parents are willing to pay a fair amount of child support. There are even instances where parents can agree on the child support amount. However, in many child support cases, parents need the court to intervene to determine child support.

New Hampshire family courts rely on the state’s child support guidelines to calculate a parent’s child support obligation. Family law judges apply the child support guidelines in all child support cases, including temporary orders and modifications to a support order.

The more you know about how New Hampshire child support works, the better equipped you'll be to deal with issues that may arise. Read on to learn more about the New Hampshire child support guidelines.

Responsibilities of the Parents

Child custody is one of the more complex issues to resolve in a divorce or separation. All parents are responsible for the welfare of their children, regardless of whether they were married or not. Most cases involve joint physical custody, which means they both spend time with their children. Even in joint custody situations, one parent typically has a child support obligation.

Whether or not a parent must pay child support depends on much more than parenting time. The number of overnights each parent has with their kids plays a role, but other factors also affect the amount of child support a parent must pay.

How Do the Child Support Guidelines Work?

Regardless of your custody arrangement, there’s a chance you’ll either pay or receive child support. If you’re a non-custodial parent (NCP), you’ll likely have to pay child support. Chances are you'll receive support if you’re the parent with primary physical custody, but every case is different.

The New Hampshire child support guidelines are the primary determinant of whether a parent pays child support. Federal law requires that each state have clear guidelines to help calculate child support, which lawmakers must update at least once every four years.

The family courts defer to the amount of child support the guidelines recommend. The child support amount in the guidelines is presumptive, and if the court doesn't believe the guidelines amount is fair, it can deviate from them.

The parents can also challenge the presumptive amount of child support. For example, if the guidelines specify that the obligor should pay $2,000 per month in child support and cannot afford it, they can request that the judge reduce their child support obligation. Likewise, the obligee can argue that they deserve more than the child support guidelines calculation has come up with.

Factors That Impact Child Support

While the family law judges rely heavily on the child support guidelines, New Hampshire law dictates that other factors can impact court-ordered child support payments.

Some of the factors affecting the amount of support include:

  • Parenting schedule
  • Parents' income
  • Whether either party pays/receives alimony 
  • Which parent pays for the kids’ health insurance
  • Special healthcare expenses
  • Educational expenses
  • Childcare and daycare expenses

The court will consider these factors and the guideline amount when issuing its child support order.

Understanding Child Support Guidelines

Calculating child support can be confusing. The NH Child Support Guideline Table is available online. While it can give you a good idea of how much child support you’ll pay or receive, it's just an estimate.

Interpreting state law can be challenging. To help, the chart below offers explanations of New Hampshire child support law in plain English.

New Hampshire Child Support Guidelines Code Section

New Hampshire Code 458-C spells out how the courts in New Hampshire calculate child support.

Total Support Obligation Under New Hampshire Child Support Guidelines

The courts determine the total support obligation by multiplying the parents' total net income by the corresponding percentage on the child support table. This amount is then multiplied by the number of children eligible for child support.

The judge then divides the total child support obligation between the parents in proportion to their monthly incomes.

Note: For cases involving allowable childcare or medical support expenses, the court will deduct the total expenses from the custodial parent’s adjusted gross income.

When Does Child Support End Under New Hampshire Child Support Guidelines?

Under New Hampshire law, child support ends when the child:

The court can make exceptions for children with disabilities.

Additional Resources

Have Questions About Child Support Guidelines? Speak to a New Hampshire Family Law Attorney

As a parent, you must give your children the best life you can. Once the court issues its child support order, it can be difficult to change it. Presenting the best possible case to the judge the first time around can go a long way toward avoiding later difficulties.

One way to make this happen is to consult a New Hampshire child support attorney. An expert familiar with child support laws in New Hampshire and experienced in family courts can help bring about the best outcome possible.

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