Alabama Child Support

Income Sharesofficial schedule loaded

Estimate for Alabama

Alabama uses the Income Shares model.

Paying parent’s monthly income ($)

Other parent’s monthly income ($)

Number of children

Overnights / year with paying parent

Child care cost / month ($)

Health insurance / month ($)

Enter the paying parent’s gross (pre-tax) monthly income.

Estimated monthly support$885.00per month

Official schedule: Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration Rule 32, Appendix A - Schedule of Basic Child-Support Obligations (effective May 1, 2022). Official publisher: Alabama Administrative Office of Courts (alacourt.gov). (2022)

Annual estimate$10,620.00

Effective rate17.7%

MethodIncome Shares: combined income → official Alabama schedule → split by income share (+ add-ons, parenting-time credit)

View calculation breakdown

Combined parental income	$9,000
Total basic obligation (schedule)	$1,593
Obligor income share	55.6%
Obligor basic obligation	$885
Estimated monthly support	$885

How the basic obligation splits between parents

56%

44%

Paying parent: $885 Other parent: $708

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.

§ How Alabama calculates support

Alabama uses the Income Shares Model under Rule 32 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration. Both parents' gross incomes are combined, a basic obligation is looked up on the Schedule of Basic Child-Support Obligations (combined AGI up to $20,000/month), and each parent pays a share proportional to their income. Health-insurance premiums and work-related childcare are added and split by income share. Notable features: a rebuttable presumption, a $50 minimum, a shared-custody worksheet (CS-42-S) that multiplies the obligation by 1.5 before offsetting, and a modification presumption when the new guideline differs by more than 10%.

Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.

✦ How to open or modify a case in Alabama

Apply with the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) Child Support Enforcement Division, or file a petition in circuit court.
Establish paternity if the parents were not married (voluntary acknowledgment or court order).
Both parents complete Form CS-41 (income affidavit) and the CS-42 worksheet (or CS-42-S for shared custody).
The court applies Rule 32 and enters a support order (health insurance and childcare are included).
Payments are collected/enforced by DHR; wage withholding is automatic.
To modify, file a petition showing a material, continuing change; a difference of more than 10% from the current order creates a presumption of modification.

◈ Illustrative examples

Illustrative example

Illustrative example — two children, combined AGI $8,000

Scenario: Parent A AGI $5,000, Parent B AGI $3,000; two children; Parent A is the noncustodial parent.

Walk-through: Combined $8,000 → schedule basic obligation ≈ $1,576/month. Parent A's 62.5% share = $985/month, plus their proportional share of health insurance and childcare.

Takeaway: Under Rule 32 the noncustodial parent pays their income-percentage share of the combined basic obligation plus add-ons.

Illustrative example

Illustrative example — shared physical custody

Scenario: Same incomes, shared physical custody (~50/50).

Walk-through: The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each parent's share is computed, then the amounts are offset; the higher earner pays the difference.

Takeaway: Alabama's shared-custody worksheet (CS-42-S) increases the obligation by 1.5× before offsetting the two parents.

? Frequently asked questions

How is income counted in Alabama?

Gross income from almost any source: wages, bonuses, self-employment, pensions, Social Security, veterans', unemployment, disability, gifts, prizes, and prior alimony. Child support received for other children and means-tested benefits (TANF, SSI, food stamps) are excluded.

What deductions reduce gross to adjusted income?

Only pre-existing court-ordered child support for other children and pre-existing periodic alimony actually being paid.

When can the court deviate?

Only with a written finding that strict application would be unjust or inequitable; a signed parental agreement stating reasons also qualifies.

How long does support last?

Until the child turns 19 (Alabama's age of majority).

What triggers a modification?

A new guideline calculation that differs from the existing order by more than 10%, plus a material, substantial, and continuing change in circumstances.

↗ Official policy & agency links

Alabama DHR — Child Support Enforcement ↗Alabama Rule 32 Child Support Guidelines (alacourt.gov) ↗

Sources verified: https://dhr.alabama.gov/child-support-enforcement/ · https://www.alacourt.gov/docs/currentcsgruleform.information.pdf · https://legalclarity.org/al-child-support-how-its-calculated-and-enforced/ · https://observed.org/child-support-guidelines-in-alabama

Official data source: Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration Rule 32, Appendix A - Schedule of Basic Child-Support Obligations (effective May 1, 2022). Official publisher: Alabama Administrative Office of Courts (alacourt.gov). (2022). Figures follow the state’s published guideline schedule. View source ↗

Statute: Ala. Admin. Code r. 32-X-1-.03 (Rule 32, Appendix A)Income basis: grossData last updated: 2026-08-08Next review: 2027-01-01Status: verified schedule

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).