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State Guide · Missouri
Child Support in Missouri: How It's Calculated, Modified & Enforced
A plain-English guide to Missouri child support — the guideline model, how the number is computed, the modification and enforcement process, and where to find the official worksheet.
Direct answer
The official Child Support Amount Calculation Worksheet required in every Missouri case involving minor children. It applies the Income Shares model to adjusted gross income and produces a rebuttable-presumption amount.
Missouri uses the Income Shares model through Form 14 (required by Supreme Court Rule 88.01 and RSMo § 452.340) on both parents' adjusted gross monthly income. The Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations sets the base, split by each parent's income percentage; health insurance, work-related childcare, and extraordinary medical costs are added. The Form 14 result is a rebuttable presumption. The 2026 schedule (effective January 1, 2026) applies across the income range; an overnight-visitation credit can reduce the paying parent's share.
Open the Missouri child support calculator to see your own number under the current guideline: Missouri calculator.
How a support order is established in Missouri
Establish parentage if needed, then file a dissolution (divorce), paternity, or support action in the circuit court of the county where a spouse resides (90-day Missouri residency for at least one spouse).
Both parents complete Form 14 (and its directions and schedule) using gross monthly income minus allowed deductions (taxes, prior support, spousal maintenance).
Add child-specific costs: health insurance premium for the child, work-related childcare (minus tax credit), and agreed/extraordinary medical costs.
The court applies the Form 14 presumptive amount. A judge may deviate only with written findings that the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate.
The order is entered, typically with income withholding; Missouri does not impose an additional county residency requirement beyond the 90-day state rule.
To modify: file a motion showing a substantial change in circumstances; a 20% or greater change from the existing amount creates a presumption of changed circumstances.
Worked examples
Illustrative example — one child, combined $6,000/month (2026 schedule) — Parent A earns $3,600/month; Parent B earns $2,400/month. One child. Combined adjusted gross = $6,000/month. Under RSMo § 452.340 and Form 14 (2026 schedule), combined adjusted gross of $6,000 with one child equals $1,045 base. Parent A (60%) owes $627; Parent B (40%) owes $418. Health insurance and work-related childcare are added and split by income; an overnight-visitation credit (generally at 36+ overnights) can lower the paying parent\'s share. Missouri\'s Form 14 produces a presumptive amount split by income percentage; parenting time (36+ overnights) can reduce the payment.
Illustrative example — college-age child — The child is 18 but enrolled full-time in college. Missouri support generally ends at 18, but can extend to age 21 if the child is enrolled in college (addressed on Form 14 / the support order). Unlike many states, Missouri may continue support through college to age 21 when the child is enrolled.
Modifying or enforcing an order
Orders in Missouri can be modified when there is a substantial change in income, custody, or circumstances. Use the modification eligibility check and the cross-state comparison tool to see how a move would change the outcome. Enforcement runs through the state agency and can include income withholding and contempt proceedings.
Missouri Child Support — Family Support Division (DSS) — https://dss.mo.gov/child-support/
What is Form 14?
The official Child Support Amount Calculation Worksheet required in every Missouri case involving minor children. It applies the Income Shares model to adjusted gross income and produces a rebuttable-presumption amount.
Is Missouri gross or net income?
Gross-income jurisdiction: Form 14 starts from gross monthly income, then allows deductions for taxes, prior child-support orders, and spousal maintenance paid to others.
When does support end?
At age 18, or age 21 if the child is enrolled in college full-time. The order may specify the extended obligation.
Can the court deviate from Form 14?
Yes, but only with written findings explaining the deviation and the amount that would have resulted under the standard calculation.
What is the modification threshold?
A change of 20% or more from the existing amount creates a presumption of changed circumstances; otherwise a substantial change must be shown.
Missouri child support calculator
Estimate for Missouri
Missouri uses the Income Shares model.
Enter the paying parent’s gross (pre-tax) monthly income.
Missouri Child Support Worksheet — Planning Estimate
Generated September 22, 2026 · Model: Income Shares · Income basis: gross · Statute: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.340
This is an informal planning estimate, not a court worksheet and not legal advice. Confirm the current guideline with the state child-support agency or a licensed family-law attorney.
Estimated monthly support$871.11per month
Official schedule: Missouri Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations (Supreme Court of Missouri, Form 14 schedule; official PDF version dated 2024). Income basis = Combined Adjusted Gross Income per Form 14. (2024)
Annual estimate$10,453.32
Effective rate17.4%
MethodIncome Shares: combined income → official Missouri schedule → split by income share (+ add-ons, parenting-time credit)
View calculation breakdown
Combined parental income
$9,000
Total basic obligation (schedule)
$1,568
Obligor income share
55.6%
Obligor basic obligation
$871
Estimated monthly support
$871
How the basic obligation splits between parents
56%
44%
Paying parent: $871 Other parent: $697
Each parent pays their proportional share of the combined basic obligation.
Estimated monthly support by number of children
At the incomes you entered, for 2 children.
This article is general education, not legal or tax advice. For your exact number, open your state calculator.
Not legal or financial advice. This estimate follows the state’s statutory guideline formula but cannot capture every factor a court considers (health insurance, childcare, prior orders, deviations, imputed income).
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