New Hampshire Child Support Guidelines

By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Nicole Prebeck, Esq. | Last reviewed February 10, 2023

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Most people agree that child support should be fair, but it often falls to the courts to determine what each parent should pay. The purpose of New Hampshire's child support guidelines is to establish a uniform system for family courts to use when determining how much child support should be ordered.

The child support guidelines are applied in all child support cases, including temporary orders, and in any order modifying a support order. Read on to learn more about child support guidelines in New Hampshire.

Responsibilities of the Parents

Joint custody, in which each parent carries an amount of responsibility in the raising and support of the child, is the most common type of custody applied by the court. But regardless of what kind of custody is put in place, the parents will be expected to comply with the support guidelines that are enacted by both federal law and New Hampshire law.

There is a rebuttable presumption that the amount of a child support award calculated using the New Hampshire guidelines is the correct amount of child support. However, if the court finds that applying the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a specific case, then the court will deviate from the guidelines.

Understanding Child Support Guidelines

Dealing with the other parent of your child can sometimes be difficult enough on its own, and having to wade through dense legal wording to figure out who might owe what doesn't make it any easier. Below, you can find a chart that will break the codes down into plain text that you don't need to be a lawyer to understand.

Code Section

 Child support guidelines are covered under New Hampshire Code 458-C, with the specifics of how obligation is calculated under New Hampshire code 458-C:3

Total Support Obligation

The total support obligation is determined by multiplying the parents' total net income by the appropriate percentage found on the child support table and applying the number of children involved.

The total child support obligation is divided between the parents in proportion to their respective incomes.

For those cases involving allowable childcare expenses or medical support obligation expenses incurred by the custodial parent, that expense will be deducted from the adjusted gross income of the custodial parent.
When Does Child Support End? Obligation for support terminates when the child:
  • Reaches the age of 18,
  • Graduates high school,
  • Marries,
  • Joins the military, or
  • Becomes emancipated.
The court can make exceptions for children with disabilities.

Additional Resources

Still Have Questions? Speak to a New Hampshire Family Law Attorney

As a parent, it's important that you give your children the best life you can provide for them. State laws change frequently, and with a case involving child support, you don't want to make any mistakes.

For case-specific information regarding New Hampshire's child support guidelines, you should consider contacting a local family law attorney in order to be properly informed and protected.

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