Alabama Child Support
Estimate for Alabama
Alabama uses the Income Shares model.
Alabama Child Support Worksheet — Planning Estimate
Paying parent income: $5,000.00/mo · Other parent: $4,000.00/mo · Overnights: 0/yr · Child care: $0.00/mo · Health ins.: $0.00/mo · Children: 2
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.
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)
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
Estimated monthly support by number of children
Typical amounts in Alabama
| Scenario | Obligor income/mo | Other parent | Est. monthly support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower earner | $2,500 | $4,000/mo | $340/mo |
| Typical case | $5,500 | $4,000/mo | $648/mo |
| Higher earner | $9,000 | $4,000/mo | $960/mo |
Alabama uses the income shares model on gross income. Your numbers will differ — run the calculator above with your own inputs. Estimates are educational, not a court order.
§ 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
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.
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
↗ Official policy & agency links
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