Simple Child Support Calculator
To calculate child support in D.C., we recommend using the Child Support Services Division calculator. There appears to be no simpler way to estimate support payments.
The Child Support Services Division calculator steps you through a complex calculation. You may need to work through each part carefully to get an accurate assessment. Unfortunately, the D.C. scheme is complex and a simple, reliable calculator does not appear to be available.
Parenting Time Calculator for D.C.
According to D.C. child support guidelines, payment amounts depend on how much time a child spends with the non-custodial parent.
Use this calculator to work out how much care the non-custodial parent provides. Remember to add in all fractions of days when the non-custodial parent has parenting time.
Calculate parenting time %
Regular days
Vacation days each year*
183 days per year.
50.0% of parenting time.
* Vacation days are all days when the regular schedule does not apply.
How Child Support is Calculated in D.C.
Child support payments in D.C. are calculated using the income shares method. Payments depend on the combined incomes of the parents as well as the number of children. A larger combined income or more children usually means greater payments.
The amount paid or received by an individual parent also depends on income and parenting time percentages.
- If your income percentage (your share of combined income) is higher than your care percentage (share of parenting time), you are probably the payer.
- The receiver is normally the parent with a care percentage above their income percentage.
Washingtonians paying the most child support have high incomes and rarely look after their children. On the flipside, the biggest receivers are parents who (a) work little (b) have their kids nearly all the time and (c) have a high earner as the other parent.
Child support is calculated as either “sole” if the child(ren) is with one parent above 65% of the time, or “shared” if the child(ren) spends at least 35% (128 days) of time with each parent. When a child turns 21, they are considered an adult and child support stops.
D.C.’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG) enforces child support payments for the District’s 26,180 custodial parents with child support cases. Officials say there is some recourse besides wage garnishments when a non-custodial parent falls behind on their payments.
Sasha-Ann Simons
Payment Calculators by State