Income Change Simulator
A raise or a layoff can move a child support obligation. Enter current and new income to see the direction and approximate size of the change under your state’s guideline model — computed in your browser.
Income change simulator
Estimate how a change in the paying parent’s income affects the monthly obligation under the California guideline model (Income Shares).
What changes
The obligation moves from about $2,000/month to about $2,764/month — a change of about $764 per month, roughly $9,170 per year under the California model (Cal. Fam. Code § 4050 et seq.).
Effective rate on current income: 40% — on the new income: 36.9%. The size of the jump depends on where the new income lands in the guideline schedule and whether caps, floors, or self-support reserves kick in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a prediction of what a court will order?
No. The simulator applies the state’s guideline model to your income change and shows the direction and rough size of the movement. Courts have discretion and consider many factors the guideline schedule does not capture — health insurance, child care, deviations, prior orders, imputed income. Use it for planning, then confirm with a licensed family law attorney or the official state worksheet.
My raise just happened — does the support change automatically?
No. Child support is set by a court order and changes only when a modification is granted. A significant, ongoing income change can be grounds to request a modification, but the new figure does not apply until the court (or a review) updates the order. See the Modification Check tool on this site.
Why does the result show a range or say “model estimate”?
The engine uses real guideline data where loaded (statute-cited percentage rates, official state schedules). For a few state/child-count combinations the official schedule is not fully loaded, so the engine falls back to the NCSEA reference model and flags the result as a model estimate. Always verify with the official state calculator.
What income do I enter — gross or net?
It depends on the state. The field label follows the state’s guideline basis: gross monthly income for many states, net (after-tax) for others such as Texas, North Dakota, and California, and adjusted gross for a few. The hint under the income field tells you which one your selected state uses.
Do I need the “current guideline estimate” box?
No, it is optional. If you already have a number from a court worksheet, entering it lets the tool compare your figure against the engine and flag the gap — useful when the official schedule differs from what the engine currently holds.
Does the number change if the other parent’s income changes too?
In Income Shares and Melson states, yes — both parents’ incomes feed the formula, so the tool lets you adjust the other parent’s income. In flat percentage-of-income states (e.g. Texas, Wisconsin, Alaska), only the paying parent’s income drives the obligation.