New York Child Support Calculator

New York uses the Income Shares model. New York CSSA applies a percentage of combined parental income (up to statutory cap, adjusted periodically): 17% for 1 child, 25% for 2, 29% for 3, 31% for 4, 35% for 5+. Non-custodial parent pays pro rata share. Income above the cap is discretionary.

New York's guideline runs on combined parental income (gross minus FICA and NYC tax). That distinction matters: entering gross income into a formula built on net income (or the reverse) produces a materially wrong figure. Most states count income from essentially any regular source -- wages, self-employment, bonuses, commissions, rental and investment income, and many benefits -- not just salary.

Not necessarily. New York's guideline weighs each parent's share of combined income alongside the parenting-time arrangement, so a significantly higher earner can still owe support even at an even split of time.

Yes. The figure produced by New York's Income Shares guideline is presumptive, not mandatory: a court can order a different amount when applying the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate for the specific case, and generally must state its reason on the record. Common grounds include extraordinary medical or educational expenses, a child's special needs, or costs the formula does not capture.

You have to file for a modification -- a change in your circumstances does not change what you owe on its own. New York, like most states, requires a substantial change in circumstances: a significant involuntary income change, a change in the parenting schedule, or a material change in the child's needs. Until a court or the state child support agency issues a new order, the existing amount stays fully enforceable and arrears keep accruing, and a modification is generally not applied retroactively before the date you filed -- so filing promptly matters. In New York, modifications are handled through NY Office of Child Support Services.

New York publishes it directly: "LDSS-4515, Child Support Standards Chart (PDF)". This site's calculator is a fast estimate built on the same published guideline, not a replacement for the official form -- a court filing generally requires the state's own worksheet. The link is in the New York Resources section on this page.