How to use the NC Child Support Calculator
- Enter the number of children. Add the number of children from this relationship the support order will cover.
- Choose the custody arrangement. Indicate how many overnights each parent has per year. This determines whether Worksheet A (primary custody), B (joint or shared, 123+ overnights each), or C (split custody) applies.
- Enter each parent’s gross monthly income. Use gross figures before taxes, and include all income such as bonuses and commissions. Enter whole numbers only, rounding to the nearest dollar. Leave a field blank or enter 0 if it does not apply.
- Add health insurance and childcare costs. Enter the monthly cost of the children’s health insurance and any work-related childcare paid by each parent.
- Add any other adjustments. Include existing child support obligations, support for other children in the home, and extraordinary expenses such as special medical or educational needs.
- Review your estimate. The calculator returns an estimated monthly obligation based on the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines. This number is an estimate and is not binding until it is part of a signed separation agreement or a court order.
Example: How the Calculator Works
Maria and James have two children. James has the children most of the time, and Maria has fewer than 123 overnights per year, so Worksheet A applies. James earns $4,000 gross per month and Maria earns $6,000, for a combined $10,000. Maria pays $300 per month for the children’s health insurance and $500 for after-school care. Entering these figures, the calculator applies the guideline schedule to the combined income, prorates the basic obligation by each parent’s share of income, adds the insurance and childcare, and returns Maria’s estimated monthly support amount. Because both parents’ income and the custody schedule can change, the final figure is set only in a signed agreement or court order.
NC Child Support Calculator Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this child support calculator?
It applies the same North Carolina guideline formula the courts use, so for typical cases the estimate is close. Accuracy depends on the numbers you enter, and it cannot account for deviations a judge may order. Treat the result as a well-informed estimate, not a guaranteed amount.
Can I agree to a different number than the calculator?
Yes. If both parents agree then you can agree in a Child Support Consent order or Separation Agreement to a different amount. Either parent will have the right to ask the court to modify later however and a Court will enter the Guideline Calculator amount
Which worksheet does the calculator use, A, B, or C?
It selects the worksheet automatically from the custody schedule you enter. Worksheet A applies when one parent has primary custody, B when parents share custody with at least 123 overnights each, and C for split custody.
What information do I need before I start?
Both parents’ gross monthly income, the number of overnights each parent has, the children’s monthly health insurance premium cost, work-related childcare, and any existing child support obligations for other children or extraordinary expenses.
Why does the calculator ask for the other parent’s income?
North Carolina uses an income shares model that combines both incomes and divides the obligation in proportion to each parent’s share, so both are required.
Will this calculator work if our combined income is over $40,000 per month?
No. The guideline formula, and this calculator, apply only up to $40,000 combined gross monthly income. Above that, support is set case by case. (Cross-link this one to your child support page, which already answers the legal side.)
Can I use this to estimate temporary support or a modification?
Yes, you can estimate a temporary amount or see how a change in income or custody might affect an existing order. An actual modification still requires meeting the legal standard.
Why is my estimate different from what the other parent calculated?
Small differences in income, overnights, or who pays insurance and childcare change the result.
Do I include bonuses or commissions as gross income?
Yes. Include all income, including bonuses, commissions, and other variable pay. Because that income varies, it helps to run the calculator with and without it so you can see the difference, which is often useful in settlement discussions or mediation.th using accurate, current figures.
