Missouri Child Support Calculator (Estimate)
Use this calculator to get an estimated idea of potential child support obligations in Missouri. This tool is based on simplified interpretations of Missouri's Form 14 guidelines and should not be considered legal advice. Actual child support orders are determined by the courts based on a comprehensive review of all financial and custodial circumstances.
Estimated Results:
Combined Gross Monthly Income: $0.00
Estimated Basic Child Support Obligation: $0.00
Estimated Total Child Support Obligation: $0.00
Parent A's Share of Obligation: $0.00
Parent B's Share of Obligation: $0.00
Presumed Child Support Amount (Paid by one parent to the other): $0.00
function calculateChildSupport() {
var parentAGrossIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('parentAGrossIncome').value);
var parentBGrossIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('parentBGrossIncome').value);
var numChildren = parseInt(document.getElementById('numChildren').value);
var monthlyChildcareCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyChildcareCost').value);
var monthlyHealthInsuranceCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyHealthInsuranceCost').value);
var annualOvernights = parseInt(document.getElementById('annualOvernights').value);
var errorMessages = document.getElementById('errorMessages');
errorMessages.innerHTML = "; // Clear previous errors
// Input validation
if (isNaN(parentAGrossIncome) || parentAGrossIncome < 0) {
errorMessages.innerHTML += 'Please enter a valid non-negative gross monthly income for Parent A.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(parentBGrossIncome) || parentBGrossIncome < 0) {
errorMessages.innerHTML += 'Please enter a valid non-negative gross monthly income for Parent B.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(numChildren) || numChildren < 1) {
errorMessages.innerHTML += 'Please enter a valid number of children (at least 1).';
return;
}
if (isNaN(monthlyChildcareCost) || monthlyChildcareCost < 0) {
errorMessages.innerHTML += 'Please enter a valid non-negative monthly childcare cost.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(monthlyHealthInsuranceCost) || monthlyHealthInsuranceCost < 0) {
errorMessages.innerHTML += 'Please enter a valid non-negative monthly health insurance cost.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(annualOvernights) || annualOvernights 365) {
errorMessages.innerHTML += 'Please enter a valid number of annual overnights (0-365).';
return;
}
// Step 1: Calculate Combined Gross Monthly Income
var combinedGrossIncome = parentAGrossIncome + parentBGrossIncome;
// Step 2: Determine Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) – Simplified Approximation
// This is a simplified model and does not perfectly replicate MO Form 14 tables.
// It aims to show an increasing obligation with income and number of children.
var basicObligation = 0;
if (combinedGrossIncome > 0) {
// Base percentage increases with children, plus a fixed amount per child
// Example: 1 child = 0.14, 2 children = 0.16, 3 children = 0.18
var incomeFactor = 0.12 + (numChildren * 0.02);
basicObligation = (combinedGrossIncome * incomeFactor) + (numChildren * 100);
// Illustrative minimum and maximum to keep results realistic for a simplified model
if (basicObligation (numChildren * 2000) && combinedGrossIncome > 10000) {
basicObligation = numChildren * 2000;
}
}
// Step 3 & 4: Add Work-Related Childcare Costs and Health Insurance Premiums
var totalChildSupportObligation = basicObligation + monthlyChildcareCost + monthlyHealthInsuranceCost;
// Step 5: Allocate Obligation Between Parents
var parentAIncomePercentage = (combinedGrossIncome > 0) ? (parentAGrossIncome / combinedGrossIncome) : 0;
var parentBIncomePercentage = (combinedGrossIncome > 0) ? (parentBGrossIncome / combinedGrossIncome) : 0;
var parentAShare = totalChildSupportObligation * parentAIncomePercentage;
var parentBShare = totalChildSupportObligation * parentBIncomePercentage;
// Step 6: Adjust for Overnight Stays (Custodial Parent Credit)
var overnightAdjustmentPercentage = 0;
if (annualOvernights >= 92 && annualOvernights = 110 && annualOvernights = 128 && annualOvernights = 146) {
overnightAdjustmentPercentage = 0.25; // 25% reduction or more
}
// Determine who is the presumed payer based on income share
var obligorShare = 0;
var obligeeShare = 0;
if (parentAShare > parentBShare) {
obligorShare = parentAShare;
obligeeShare = parentBShare;
} else {
obligorShare = parentBShare;
obligeeShare = parentAShare;
}
// Apply overnight adjustment to the obligor's share (the parent who would typically pay)
var adjustedObligorShare = obligorShare * (1 – overnightAdjustmentPercentage);
// The presumed support amount is the difference between the adjusted obligor's share
// and the obligee's share.
var presumedSupportAmount = adjustedObligorShare – obligeeShare;
// Ensure support is not negative
if (presumedSupportAmount < 0) {
presumedSupportAmount = 0;
}
// Display results
document.getElementById('combinedGrossIncomeResult').innerText = combinedGrossIncome.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('basicObligationResult').innerText = basicObligation.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('totalObligationResult').innerText = totalChildSupportObligation.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('parentAShareResult').innerText = parentAShare.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('parentBShareResult').innerText = parentBShare.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('presumedSupportResult').innerText = presumedSupportAmount.toFixed(2);
}
// Run calculation on page load with default values
window.onload = calculateChildSupport;
.child-support-calculator-container {
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 700px;
margin: 20px auto;
padding: 25px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 8px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
}
.child-support-calculator-container h2 {
color: #333;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.child-support-calculator-container p {
line-height: 1.6;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.calculator-form .form-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.calculator-form label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #555;
}
.calculator-form input[type="number"] {
width: calc(100% – 22px);
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.calculator-form button {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 12px 20px;
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.calculator-form button:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
}
.calculator-results p {
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-size: 1.05em;
}
.calculator-results p strong {
color: #333;
}
.calculator-results span {
font-weight: normal;
color: #000;
}
.calculator-results #presumedSupportResult {
color: #28a745; /* Green for the final amount */
font-size: 1.2em;
}
.calculator-form small {
display: block;
margin-top: 5px;
color: #777;
font-size: 0.9em;
}
Understanding Child Support in Missouri
Child support in Missouri is determined using a specific set of guidelines outlined in Form 14, a standardized worksheet designed to calculate a presumed child support amount. The goal of these guidelines is to ensure that children receive adequate financial support from both parents, proportional to each parent's income and ability to contribute.
Key Factors in Missouri Child Support Calculations:
- Gross Monthly Income of Both Parents: This is the foundational element. Missouri courts consider the gross income of both the custodial and non-custodial parent. Gross income includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, disability benefits, unemployment benefits, and other regular sources of income. Deductions for certain expenses like other child support paid or self-employment taxes may be considered to arrive at an "adjusted" gross income.
- Number of Children: The basic child support obligation increases with the number of children for whom support is being calculated.
- Work-Related Childcare Costs: Reasonable and necessary childcare expenses incurred by either parent due to employment or job search are added to the basic child support obligation.
- Health Insurance Premiums for Children: The cost of health insurance premiums specifically for the children (not the parents) is also added to the basic obligation.
- Extraordinary Medical Expenses: While not directly in this calculator, significant unreimbursed medical expenses for the children (e.g., orthodontia, therapy) can be factored into the final order.
- Overnight Stays (Custodial Schedule): This is a critical adjustment. Missouri's Form 14 includes a credit for the non-custodial parent based on the number of overnights they spend with the children annually. The more overnights, the greater the potential reduction in the presumed child support amount, as the parent with more overnights is presumed to be directly contributing more to the children's daily expenses. Common overnight ranges that trigger adjustments include 92-109, 110-127, 128-145, and 146 or more overnights per year.
- Other Support Obligations: If a parent is already paying child support for other children from a previous relationship, this can be factored into their adjusted gross income.
How Missouri Form 14 Works (Simplified):
The Form 14 process generally involves these steps:
- Calculate Combined Adjusted Gross Income: The adjusted gross monthly incomes of both parents are added together.
- Determine Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO): Using the combined adjusted gross income and the number of children, a basic child support amount is found from a statewide schedule (table).
- Add Additional Expenses: Work-related childcare costs and health insurance premiums for the children are added to the BCSO to arrive at the Total Child Support Obligation.
- Allocate Obligation: Each parent's share of the Total Child Support Obligation is determined proportionally based on their percentage of the combined adjusted gross income.
- Apply Overnight Adjustment: An adjustment is made based on the number of overnights the non-custodial parent has with the children. This typically reduces the amount of support paid by the parent with more overnights.
- Calculate Presumed Child Support Amount: The final step results in a presumed child support amount that one parent pays to the other.
Important Disclaimer:
This calculator provides an estimate based on a simplified model of Missouri's child support guidelines. It does not account for all potential deductions, extraordinary expenses, or specific court deviations that may occur in an actual case. Factors such as imputed income (when a parent is intentionally underemployed), high-income deviations, or specific agreements between parents can significantly alter the final child support order. For accurate calculations and legal advice regarding your specific situation, it is crucial to consult with a qualified family law attorney in Missouri.
The figures generated by this tool are for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional legal counsel.