A Free Educational Resource · Law Offices of Martin Uli, PLLC

New York Child Support Estimator

A guided, step-by-step estimate of basic child support under New York’s Child Support Standards Act — explained in plain English as you go.

Estimate Basic Child Support in About 2 Minutes

This tool walks you through the same core formula New York courts start with under the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA): the number of children, both parents’ incomes, and the statutory percentages. At the end, you’ll see an estimated amount and a clear explanation of how it was calculated.

Please read before you begin: This is a simplified educational estimate based on New York’s Child Support Standards Act (Domestic Relations Law § 240(1-b); Family Court Act § 413). It is not legal advice, and using it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Actual child support is determined by the court and can differ significantly based on deductions, add-ons, custody arrangements, and judicial discretion.
How does New York calculate child support?

New York uses an “income shares” model. The court combines both parents’ incomes (after certain deductions), applies a fixed percentage based on the number of children (17% for one child, 25% for two, and so on), and then divides that obligation between the parents in proportion to their incomes.

The non-custodial parent — the parent the children do not primarily live with — pays their share to the custodial parent. Add-ons like childcare and health insurance are handled on top of the basic amount.

How many children are covered?

Count only the children of this relationship who are under 21 (in New York, child support generally continues until age 21).

Please select the number of children to continue.

Why does the percentage change with the number of children?

The CSSA sets fixed percentages of combined parental income: 17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and no less than 35% for five or more children. These percentages reflect the legislature’s judgment of what parents at a given income level typically spend on their children.

Both parents’ annual income

Enter each parent’s gross annual income (before taxes). Courts start from gross income and subtract certain items — like FICA taxes actually paid — but gross figures give a reasonable educational estimate.

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Please enter both incomes (numbers only) and select who the children live with.

What counts as “income” under the CSSA?

Income is defined broadly: wages, salary, self-employment income, workers’ compensation, disability, unemployment, Social Security, pensions, and more. Courts may also impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.

Certain deductions apply before the percentages — most notably FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes actually paid, NYC or Yonkers local income taxes, and child support or alimony actually paid for others.

Combined parental income: —

Add-on expenses (optional)

On top of basic support, New York courts allocate certain child-related expenses between the parents pro-rata (in proportion to income). Enter annual amounts, or leave blank and skip.

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Please use numbers only (or leave fields blank).

How are add-ons divided between parents?

Mandatory add-ons — work-related childcare and the children’s health coverage costs — are divided in proportion to each parent’s share of combined income. If you earn 60% of the combined income, you typically cover 60% of these expenses. Educational expenses are discretionary and depend on the family’s circumstances and prior practices.

Your Estimated Child Support

Estimated Basic Child Support
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— per year (basic obligation)

How this number was reached

Understanding your estimate

Important: This is a simplified educational estimate — not legal advice, and not a prediction of what a court will order. Actual support depends on statutory deductions (FICA, local taxes, support paid for others), the custody schedule, add-ons, deviations, and judicial discretion. Only a court order or properly executed agreement determines child support.

Every case is different. Get a real answer.

The formula is only the starting point — deductions, custody schedules, above-cap income, and deviations can meaningfully change the final number. A short conversation with an attorney is the best next step.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What if we share custody 50/50?
In New York, even with equal parenting time, courts generally treat the higher-earning parent as the “non-custodial” parent for CSSA purposes and apply the formula. Courts can deviate from the formula amount when it would be unjust or inappropriate, and shared custody is a common reason to argue for a deviation — but there is no automatic 50/50 offset.
What happens with income above the $193,000 cap?
For combined parental income above $193,000 (the cap effective March 1, 2026), the court has discretion. It may apply the same percentages to some or all of the income above the cap, or consider the statutory “f-factors” — including the children’s standard of living, each parent’s financial resources, and the children’s needs — to decide how much (if any) of the above-cap income to include.
What if the paying parent’s income is very low?
New York protects low-income payors. If the formula would push the paying parent’s income below the Self-Support Reserve ($21,546, effective March 1, 2026), the order is generally reduced. If the payor’s income is below the poverty guideline for a single person ($15,960), support may be set at $25 per month. These floors ensure basic self-support while still requiring a contribution.
Can child support be changed later?
Yes. Either parent can seek a modification when there has been a substantial change in circumstances, when three years have passed since the order, or when either parent’s income has changed by 15% or more (unless those grounds were waived in an agreement). Support obligations do not change automatically — you must file for modification.
Are childcare and health insurance included in the basic amount?
No — they are “add-ons” paid in addition to basic support. Work-related childcare and the children’s health coverage costs are mandatory add-ons divided pro-rata by income. Educational expenses may be added at the court’s discretion.
What income does the court actually use?
The court starts with gross income as reported (or as should have been reported) on the most recent tax return, then deducts items like FICA taxes actually paid, NYC/Yonkers local taxes, and support actually paid for other children or a former spouse. Courts can also impute income if a parent is earning below their capacity. This estimator uses gross income for simplicity, so a court’s figure will typically be somewhat lower.
Until what age is child support paid in New York?
Generally until the child turns 21 — longer than most states. Support may end earlier if the child becomes emancipated (for example, through marriage or self-supporting full-time employment), and in some cases support for adult children with special needs can extend to age 26.

Primary Sources & Legal References

This estimator is based on the following authorities. Figures shown are those effective March 1, 2026 and are updated annually by New York State.

  • Domestic Relations Law § 240(1-b) — the Child Support Standards Act as applied in Supreme Court (divorce) cases. Read the statute
  • Family Court Act § 413 — the parallel CSSA provision applied in Family Court support proceedings. Read the statute
  • Combined parental income cap: $193,000 (effective March 1, 2026) — adjusted every two years per Social Services Law § 111-i. See the annual NYS Child Support Standards Chart (childsupport.ny.gov).
  • Self-Support Reserve: $21,546 and Poverty Income Guideline (single person): $15,960 (effective March 1, 2026) — published annually by the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance / LDSS.
  • New York Courts — Child Support resources: nycourts.gov CourtHelp: Child Support
  • NYS Child Support Program: childsupport.ny.gov