New York Maintenance Calculator

Child support is money that’s used to help pay for a child’s living expenses, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care.

If you’re a non-custodial parent in New York, you’re responsible for paying child support. The amount you will need to pay increases if you have a lower-earning spouse.

This child support calculator provides an estimate of your monthly child support obligation. It’s a great starting point to understand the amount of money the court may order you to pay or receive in child support payments.

In New York, the child support calculator uses a formula that takes into account the gross income of both parents and whether one parent will be the primary caregiver. The amount of child support also factors in who is the higher-earning spouse.

Important factors of the maintenance formula

• New York’s guideline amount for spousal support is based on the length of the marriage, while child support is based on the ages of the children.
• The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance provides information and public assistance for those who are struggling to make ends meet.
• The self-help center provides resources and information for those who are seeking to improve their financial situation.

If you’re having difficulty making your child support payments, there are options available to help you. You can contact your local child support office to discuss payment options or to set up a payment plan. You can also utilize the resources and services below for additional information.

New York State Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE)

“The child support program provides custodial parents with assistance in obtaining financial support and medical insurance coverage for their children by locating parents, establishing paternity, establishing support orders, and collecting and distributing child support payments.” — DCSE

Estimating Child Support Orders

With this calculator, you can find out how much money you could get if you are the custodial parent and will receive child support. Or, if you are the party that will pay child support, use this calculator to see how much money you need to budget. With this information, you can make an informed decision when discussing your child support obligations with the other parent.

Example Child Support Calculations

Let’s look at a couple of examples to see the actual dollar amounts that could be awarded based on the maintenance calculator.

Case 1:  John and Sarah have one child. John earns an annual salary of $60,000 and Sarah earns an annual salary of $30,000. Based on their combined income, John would owe Sarah $721 per month in child support.

Case 2: Daniel and Emily have three children. Daniel earns an annual salary of $90,000 and Emily earns an annual salary of $40,000. Based on their combined income, Daniel would owe Emily $1,248 per month in child support.

A Court will Determine the Final Child Support Amount

Please be aware that the dollar amounts in this maintenance formula are simply estimates, and they may differ depending on your combined income, number of children, your future earning capacity, public assistance, parenting time, and other factors.

Many times, cases will settle out of court and the child support will also be negotiated at the same time as the marital property and alimony. A litigated is rare, unless there are massive differences in income or disagreements about the children.

It’s only in 5 – 10% of cases that these issues need to be litigated in front of a Judge. So make sure to consult with your attorney and/or mediator to discuss the specific details of your case.

New York Alimony and Spousal Support

If you are not able to reach an agreement between you and the other parent, then the Judge will make a determination based on the existing statute, existing federal tax law, and any evidence produced at trial. It’s important that you provide all necessary information about both incomes and childcare expenses so that the Judge can make an accurate determination

Remember, every case is different. The court will determine the final child support order, including whether to award any temporary maintenance while the case is still open.