Alabama child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
Alabama guidelines effective June 1, 2023. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, Alabama's guideline amount is $926 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Alabama uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect June 1, 2023.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your Alabama guideline amount
Guideline child support
Choose your state and enter both incomes to see the guideline amount.
Alabama child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $362 | $549 | $733 | $898 |
| 2 children | $542 | $813 | $1,082 | $1,312 |
| 3 children | $643 | $954 | $1,267 | $1,519 |
| 4 children | $718 | $1,065 | $1,415 | $1,698 |
| 5 children | $790 | $1,172 | $1,556 | $1,867 |
How Alabama calculates child support
Alabama uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined monthly adjusted gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share.
Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes; the schedule already allows for income taxes. Means-tested benefits such as SSI and child support received for other children don't count. Alimony set in the same case isn't considered.
When the court orders shared physical custody about equally, the basic obligation is multiplied by 150% and each parent gets a credit of 50% of it; the parent with the higher net amount pays. Other parenting schedules are a reason a court may deviate, not part of the guideline amount.
With sole custody, the paying parent keeps a self-support reserve of $981 a month, and the order is no more than 85% of income above it, with a presumed minimum of $50. A parent with no gross income gets a zero order. These rules don't apply to equal shared custody.
Work-related childcare and the children's health coverage are added to the basic obligation and divided by income share. The parent who pays them gets a credit.
Child support a parent already pays under an order for other children is deducted from their income. For other children living with a parent, the court may deduct the schedule amount for those children on that parent's income alone.
The schedule runs to $30,000 of combined income a month. Above that the court decides and the schedule is not extended; the estimate shows the top-row amount as a reference.
Income shares are rounded to a whole percent and worksheet amounts to the nearest dollar.
Parenting time in Alabama
When the court orders shared physical custody about equally, the basic obligation is multiplied by 150% and each parent gets a credit of 50% of it; the parent with the higher net amount pays. Other parenting schedules are a reason a court may deviate, not part of the guideline amount.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $926 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $926 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $926 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $926 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $231 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in Alabama
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $394 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $2,645 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
With sole custody, the paying parent keeps a self-support reserve of $981 a month, and the order is no more than 85% of income above it, with a presumed minimum of $50. A parent with no gross income gets a zero order. These rules don't apply to equal shared custody.
The schedule runs to $30,000 of combined income a month. Above that the court decides and the schedule is not extended; the estimate shows the top-row amount as a reference.
Child support by number of children in Alabama
- 1 child$625 a month
- 2 children$926 a month
- 3 children$1,087 a month
- 4 children$1,214 a month
- 5 children$1,335 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: Ala. R. Jud. Admin. 32 (Child Support Guidelines); Code of Ala. § 30-3-155
- Alabama child support guidelines
- Form CS-42 Child Support Guidelines (Form CS-42-S for shared 50% physical custody)
- Official Alabama child support calculator
- Alabama Department of Human Resources, Child Support Enforcement Division
- Changing a Alabama child support order
Guidelines effective June 1, 2023. Verified against the official Alabama sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Alabama?
Alabama uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined monthly adjusted gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share. Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes; the schedule already allows for income taxes. Means-tested benefits such as SSI and child support received for other children don't count. Alimony set in the same case isn't considered.
What is the child support for one child in Alabama on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, Alabama's guideline amount for one child is about $549 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Alabama?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $231 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). When the court orders shared physical custody about equally, the basic obligation is multiplied by 150% and each parent gets a credit of 50% of it; the parent with the higher net amount pays. Other parenting schedules are a reason a court may deviate, not part of the guideline amount.
What is the minimum child support in Alabama?
With sole custody, the paying parent keeps a self-support reserve of $981 a month, and the order is no more than 85% of income above it, with a presumed minimum of $50. A parent with no gross income gets a zero order. These rules don't apply to equal shared custody.
When does child support end in Alabama?
The age of majority in Alabama is 19, and the guidelines provide for support until the child reaches the age of majority. We didn't locate a high school extension in the statutes or the guidelines, or an official source on support for college after 19 or for a disabled adult child.