About & Methodology
Independent, free child-support estimators for all 50 states and D.C. Here is exactly how we research, verify, and maintain every figure — and why you can trace each number to a statute.
Who runs ChildSupportFig
ChildSupportFig is an independent editorial research project run by The ChildSupportFig Editorial Team. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any state child-support agency, court, family-law association, or school — and we do not issue legal or financial advice. The team is responsible for every page, figure and tool on this site.
What ChildSupportFig is
ChildSupportFig maps each state’s official guideline model — Income Shares, Percentage of Income, or the Melson Formula — into a plain-English calculator, plus a reverse calculator, a what-if simulator, and a cross-state comparison tool. The tools are free and ad-supported; we do not sell data, and all calculations run entirely in your browser (no income or custody inputs are ever transmitted to our servers).
Editorial review: 2026-08-08 · Currently verified with official schedules: 47 of 51 states · Contact: [email protected]
The editorial process
- Source. Every state profile starts with the state’s published child-support statute and the official guideline schedule or worksheet issued by the state child-support agency, cross-referenced against the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) model summaries and the federal Office of Child Support Services.
- Verify. We confirm the guideline model (Income Shares, Percentage of Income, or Melson Formula), the income basis, and every published rate directly against the statute citation and agency table before marking a state “official.” Six percentage-of-income states are currently verified with statute-cited rates.
- Publish. Each state page links the statute and the official agency resources so every figure can be traced back to a citable source. Where an official schedule is not yet loaded, the calculator uses a reference schedule and is clearly flagged “model estimate” until verification is complete.
What “official” and “model estimate” mean
- Official schedule loaded (green badge): the calculator applies the state’s published statutory or agency schedule, and the source and year are shown on the page.
- Model estimate (red badge): we have not yet loaded the state’s official table. The calculator applies the state’s guideline model with a reference schedule and is clearly flagged until verified against the primary source.
- Not legal or financial advice: child support is set by a court using your state’s official worksheet. Estimates are a planning starting point, never a substitute for the tribunal’s decision.
Our sources
- State statutes and administrative codes (cited on every state page)
- State child-support agency guideline schedules and worksheets
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), “Brief Child Support Guideline Models”
- U.S. Office of Child Support Services program guidance
Found a figure that looks wrong? Email us at [email protected] with the page and citation, and we will verify it against the statute. See our legal, privacy & advertising disclosures for terms of use and our editorial (E-E-A-T) standards.
What we are not
We are not a law firm, a family-law practice, a government agency, or a court. Where legal help is needed, we point you to reputable third parties, but we hold no special endorsement from them and our recommendations are never paid for. Child-support rules change — always confirm the current guideline with your state child-support agency or a licensed family-law attorney before relying on any number.
Contact: use our contact form or email [email protected]. We respond to every legitimate inquiry.