Hi, I'm Byron Walker. I run ChildSupportCalc.
What this site is
ChildSupportCalc is a reference for how child support is calculated in the United States, organized by state. Each state has its own formula — Income Shares, Percentage of Income, or the Melson Formula — with its own income definitions, custody adjustments, modification thresholds, and arrears interest rates. The numbers are public, but they're scattered across 50 state agency websites and rarely explained in plain English.
What you'll find here:
- An interactive child support estimator for all 50 states using each state's published formula
- State-specific modification rules — how big an income change qualifies for a recalculation
- An arrears calculator that applies each state's actual interest rate to unpaid support
- Guidance on how 50/50 custody affects support in each state (it usually doesn't eliminate it)
- Direct links to your state's official child support agency
What this site isn't
- Not legal advice. Nothing on this site is legal advice or a substitute for advice from a licensed family law attorney. Child support orders are issued by judges who can and do deviate from the formula based on the specific facts of a case.
- Not a law firm. I am not a lawyer. ChildSupportCalc is not affiliated with any law firm, court, or government agency.
- Not a court order. The calculator produces an estimate based on the published guideline formula. The actual amount in your case will be determined by the court, which considers factors the calculator can't — imputed income, special needs, extraordinary expenses, deviations for low- or high-income situations, and so on.
- Not a lead-generation site. The calculator runs in your browser and doesn't store what you enter. We don't sell information to anyone.
Who I am and where the information comes from
I'm Byron Walker, based in East Texas. I work in tech and built ChildSupportCalc as an independent project — I'm not a lawyer, family court judge, or child support caseworker, and I'm not going to pretend to be one. For an actual case, talk to a licensed family law attorney or your state's child support agency.
What I do is research. Every formula, income threshold, modification rule, and arrears interest rate on this site comes from the state's published child support guidelines, statute, or official agency calculator. When a state updates its guidelines — most do every 4 years — the pages get updated. If you find an error, email me at admin@supportcalc.net and I'll fix it, usually within a day.
One important limitation to be explicit about: the formula produces a number, but real cases are decided by judges who can deviate from the guideline amount. Imputed income for an underemployed parent, extraordinary medical or educational expenses, split custody arrangements, very high or very low incomes, and other state-specific factors can move the actual order significantly above or below the calculator's estimate. Use the number here as a starting point for the conversation, not a court-ordered result.
If you have an active case
Don't rely on this site for any decision that matters. Talk to a licensed family law attorney in your state — most offer free or low-cost initial consultations. If you can't afford one, your state bar association maintains a lawyer referral service, and most counties have a self-help center for family court matters that can walk you through the process.
Never stop paying support based on anything you read here. Arrears accrue interest in every state, and unpaid support can trigger license suspension, wage garnishment, and contempt of court. If your circumstances have changed, file for modification through the proper channel.
How ChildSupportCalc makes money
ChildSupportCalc is supported by Google AdSense display advertising and by referrals to attorney-matching services when readers click through. Ad and referral revenue does not influence the calculations, the modification rules, or the editorial recommendation to consult a licensed family law attorney before relying on any number on the site.
Contact
Errors, suggestions, state-specific rules you'd like covered — I read every email.