Reviewed for current 2026 law
District of Columbia Child Support Calculator 2026
Apply the official annual schedule for sole custody or the 35%-time shared-custody formula.
Reviewed by SupportDecode Editorial Team Page content reviewed Sources Methodology Update log
child support calculator
Estimated monthly child support: $1,258.70
The paying parent pays this amount to the receiving parent each month.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual basic obligation from Appendix ISchedule income is rounded up to the next published row.D.C. Code § 16-916.01 and Appendices I-III, Child Support Guideline (Council of the District of Columbia) | $25,174.00 |
| Paying parent annual proportional shareD.C. Code § 16-916.01 and Appendices I-III, Child Support Guideline (Council of the District of Columbia) | $15,104.40 |
| Monthly amount after self-support and 35% limitsD.C. Code § 16-916.01 and Appendices I-III, Child Support Guideline (Council of the District of Columbia) | $1,258.70 |
Assumptions
- Entered income is annualized adjusted gross income after only deductions allowed by D.C. Code § 16-916.01(d)-(e).
- Health insurance, extraordinary medical expenses, child care, SSDI derivative benefits, other children, and deviations are excluded.
- The receiving parent has sole physical custody for guideline purposes.
- Combined income is within Appendix I.
Continue with this income in the PayDecode take-home calculator
PayDecode is a separate site. The link may not carry your numbers over; if its form opens blank, enter the income there again.
Estimate only. The court or state agency calculation controls.
District of Columbia guidelines, effective 2015-04-01.
D.C. uses an annual statutory schedule
Appendix I lists annual basic support by combined adjusted gross income and number of children. Income between rows rounds up.
Shared physical custody begins when each parent has at least 35% of annual time. The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, allocated by income, adjusted for time, and offset.
Below the self-support reserve, ability to pay is an individual judicial determination. Above $240,000 combined income, the schedule result is a floor rather than a ceiling.
Worked example: two children
- Annualize both parents adjusted gross income.
- Round combined income up to the next Appendix I row and allocate by income share.
- Apply the self-support and 35% limits, then divide by 12.
The steps above follow the calculation method described on our methodology page.
Use this as a base guideline estimate
Enter adjusted gross income, not ordinary take-home pay.
The tool stops where the statute requires individualized findings.
What this estimate includes
- All 381 Appendix I rows
- Sole and shared-custody base calculations
- Self-support, high-income, and 35% boundaries
What it leaves out
- Child care, health, extraordinary medical, and SSDI adjustments
- Other-child deductions and deviations
- Individualized below-reserve orders
District of Columbia child support calculator FAQs
Does income between rows interpolate?
No. D.C. law directs the calculator to round up to the next higher schedule amount.
When is custody shared?
When each parent has at least 35% of annual time, presumptively 128 through 237 days.
What happens above $240,000?
The schedule amount at $240,000 is a minimum; the judicial officer may award more based on the child needs.
Why can the tool refuse a low-income case?
Below the self-support reserve, the statute requires an individualized ability-to-pay decision and makes $75 rebuttable in either direction.
Are add-on expenses included?
No. The base version excludes child care, insurance, extraordinary medical expenses, and SSDI credits.
Can the court deviate?
Yes, with written findings when the presumptive result would be unjust or inappropriate.
Official sources
Official sources last verified: .
- D.C. Code § 16-916.01 and Appendices I-III, Child Support Guideline
Council of the District of Columbia Last checked
- D.C. Child Support Guideline Calculator
District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General Last checked
Changelog: page reviewed . Material changes appear in the update log.