California Child Support
Estimate for California
California uses the Income Shares model.
California 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: California Family Code § 4055 (SB 343, effective Sept. 1, 2024) (2025)
View calculation breakdown
| Total net monthly disposable income (TN) | $9,000 |
|---|---|
| High earner net (HN) | $5,000 |
| High earner time share (H%) | 0% |
| K factor | $0 |
| Base guideline (pre-multiplier) | $1,250 |
| Children multiplier (2) | $2 |
| Add-ons (income-share split) | 0% |
| Estimated monthly support | $2,000 |
Estimated monthly support by number of children
Typical amounts in California
| Scenario | Obligor income/mo | Other parent | Est. monthly support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower earner | $2,500 | $4,000/mo | — |
| Typical case | $5,500 | $4,000/mo | $1,375/mo |
| Higher earner | $9,000 | $4,000/mo | $1,938/mo |
California uses the income shares model on net income. Your numbers will differ — run the calculator above with your own inputs. Estimates are educational, not a court order.
§ How California calculates support
California uses a statewide algebraic 'income shares' formula (Family Code § 4055) applied to both parents' NET disposable incomes and the higher earner's share of parenting time. The formula CS = K[HN - (H%)(TN)] produces a presumptive amount that courts must order unless a written deviation is justified. A low-income adjustment applies near minimum wage, and add-ons (childcare, uninsured medical, sometimes education) are layered on top.
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case in California
- Determine each parent's gross income from all sources (wages, bonuses, business, benefits, etc.).
- Subtract allowed deductions (taxes, FICA/Medicare, mandatory retirement/union dues, health insurance, other court-ordered support) to get net disposable income (§ 4059).
- Enter HN (higher earner's net), H% (approx. percentage of time with the child), and TN (combined net) into the § 4055 formula and compute K from the income bracket.
- Multiply the one-child result by the statutory multiple for additional children (2->1.6, 3->2.0, etc.).
- Add mandated add-on costs (childcare, uninsured medical) shared by income proportion.
- Use the official CA DCSS Guideline Calculator or court worksheet; the result is the presumptive order.
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Parent A nets $6,000/mo, Parent B nets $3,000/mo (TN = $9,000). Parent A has the child 30% of the time (H% = 0.30).
Walk-through: TN falls in the $5,001-10,000 bracket so K = 0.250. CS = 0.25 x [6000 - (0.30 x 9000)] = 0.25 x 3300 = $825/month for one child. For two children multiply by 1.6 = $1,320/month.
Takeaway: Even a 30% time share still leaves the higher earner paying the presumptive amount; the formula already accounts for time spent with the child.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=4055.&lawCode=FAM · https://childsupport.ca.gov/ · https://california.public.law/codes/ca_fam_code_section_4055
How California calculates support
California uses the statewide uniform guideline formula (Cal. Fam. Code § 4055, SB 343 eff. 2024-09-01): CS = K[HN − (H%)(TN)] on both parents’ net disposable income and the high earner’s parenting time. The calculator implements the statutory K-factor table directly — no lookup schedule is used.