West Virginia Child Support

Income Sharesofficial schedule loaded

Estimate for West Virginia

West Virginia 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$860.56per month

Official schedule: West Virginia Code § 48-13-301 Schedule of Monthly Basic Child Support Obligations (2024)

Annual estimate$10,326.72

Effective rate17.2%

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

View calculation breakdown

Combined parental income	$9,000
Total basic obligation (schedule)	$1,549
Obligor income share	55.6%
Obligor basic obligation	$861
Estimated monthly support	$861

How the basic obligation splits between parents

56%

44%

Paying parent: $861 Other parent: $688

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 West Virginia calculates support

West Virginia uses the Income Shares model. Each parent's gross income is converted to a net/adjusted income figure, and the basic obligation schedule (W. Va. Code Chapter 48, Article 13) is keyed to combined net/adjusted income. Two parenting-time formulas apply: Basic Shared Parenting (noncustodial parent has fewer than 127 days/year) and Extended Shared Parenting (127+ days/year, about 35%), which reduces the obligation to reflect costs in two households. Courts may deviate for factors such as a child's special needs, private-school costs, or income near the poverty level.

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

✦ How to open or modify a case in West Virginia

Apply for child support services with the Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) — custodial parents, non-custodial parents, and caretakers may apply.
BCSE locates the other parent and establishes paternity if needed.
BCSE calculates the guideline amount using W. Va. Code Chapter 48, Article 13 (income shares on net/adjusted income), including add-ons for health insurance, child care, and unreimbursed medical costs.
BCSE obtains an administrative or court order; services cover establishment, enforcement, and review.
Request a modification from BCSE on a change in circumstances or through periodic review.

◈ Illustrative examples

Illustrative example

Illustrative example — extended shared parenting credit

Scenario: Two parents of one child, combined net/adjusted income $6,460 (Parent A $4,180 / 65%; Parent B $2,280 / 35%). Parent A has the child 150 days/year.

Walk-through: The guideline basic obligation for this combined net income and one child is about $956 from the W. Va. schedule. Because Parent A has 150 days/year (over the 127-day threshold), the Extended Shared Parenting worksheet applies, reducing Parent A's obligation to reflect duplicated household costs. Parent A's presumptive share is 65% of the obligation, then adjusted by the extended-parenting-time credit.

Takeaway: Crossing the 127-day line triggers the extended formula and typically lowers the payment.

Illustrative example

Illustrative example — deviation near the poverty level

Scenario: Combined support, spousal support, and child care would push a parent's household below the federal poverty level.

Walk-through: Under W. Va. Code § 48-13-702, the court may deviate from the guideline when the total would drop either parent's household below the federal poverty level. The court must state its reasons on the record.

Takeaway: The guidelines are rebuttable; poverty is an explicit statutory deviation ground.

? Frequently asked questions

What income basis does West Virginia use?

Income Shares. Each parent's gross income is converted to a net/adjusted income figure, and the schedule is keyed to combined net/adjusted income. Income can be imputed to voluntarily unemployed or underemployed parents.

When does the extended shared parenting formula apply?

When the noncustodial parent has the child 127 or more days per year (about 35%). Below that, the Basic Shared Parenting formula applies.

Can the court deviate from the guideline?

Yes, for reasons including a child's special needs, private-school tuition, long-distance visitation costs, support of other children, or poverty-level income (§ 48-13-702). The court must state its reasons on the record.

Who can apply for child support?

Custodial parents, non-custodial parents, and individuals or agencies with physical custody of a child may apply to the Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (BCSE).

How is support enforced or modified?

BCSE establishes, enforces, and reviews orders; modification can be requested on a change in circumstances or through BCSE's periodic review.

What medical and child-care costs are included?

Health-insurance premiums for the child, work-related child care, and unreimbursed medical expenses over $250 per child per year are added and split by income share.

↗ Official policy & agency links

West Virginia Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) ↗West Virginia Code — Domestic Relations, Chapter 48, Article 13 (Child Support Guidelines) ↗

Sources verified: https://bcse.wv.gov/ · https://code.wvlegislature.gov/48-13-101/ · https://www.wvlegislature.gov/

Official data source: West Virginia Code § 48-13-301 Schedule of Monthly Basic Child Support Obligations (2024). Figures follow the state’s published guideline schedule. View source ↗

Statute: W. Va. Code § 48-13-101Income 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).