Child support on $50,000 a year in Delaware (5 children)
Delaware guidelines effective February 1, 2026. Delaware overview
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Delaware's guideline amount is $1,284 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $993 paid by Parent B (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $1,284 (Parent B has no income, Parent A has no overnights).
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Change the numbers
Guideline child support
Delaware · 5 children · Parent A $50000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$1,284 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 59.7% of combined income
- Parent B: 40.3%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $4,300 a month
- Basic obligation
- $2,935 a month
- Parent A's share of income
- 60%
- Guideline amount
- $1,284 a month
See the worksheet for this example
- The paying parent’s income is near Delaware's self-support reserve ($1,600), so the amount is reduced to $1,284.
Delaware uses the Melson formula model under 13 Del. C. §§ 501, 514, 517; Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 500–510 (Delaware Child Support Formula). Official calculator: courts.delaware.gov. Child support agency: Delaware Division of Child Support Services (DCSS).
Estimate under Delaware's child support guidelines effective February 1, 2026. Verified against the official Delaware sources on October 7, 2026. Not legal advice. Courts can deviate from the guidelines. How we calculate →
By parenting time and the other parent's income
| Overnights | $0 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,274 A→B | $1,162 A→B |
| 52 | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,274 A→B | $1,162 A→B |
| 104 | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,257 A→B | $1,106 A→B | $897 A→B | $743 A→B |
| 128 | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $1,200 A→B | $877 A→B | $628 A→B | $436 A→B | $240 A→B | $240 A→B |
| 182 | $1,284 A→B | $1,284 A→B | $724 A→B | $319 A→B | $0 — | $255 B→A | $655 B→A | $993 B→A |
The Delaware worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Parent 1) | Gross IncomeParent A's monthly gross income | $4,167.00 a month |
| 1 (Parent 2) | Gross IncomeParent B's monthly gross income | $3,333.00 a month |
| 2 (Parent 1) | Nontaxable Income Adj. (25% of income exempted by law from Federal income tax)Parent A's adjustment for nontaxable alimony received | $0.00 a month |
| 2 (Parent 2) | Nontaxable Income Adj. (25% of income exempted by law from Federal income tax)Parent B's adjustment for nontaxable alimony received | $0.00 a month |
| 4 (Parent 1) | DeductionsParent A's alimony paid | $0.00 a month |
| 4 (Parent 2) | DeductionsParent B's alimony paid | $0.00 a month |
| 5 | Self Support AllowanceSelf-support allowance each parent keeps | $1,600.00 a month |
| 6 (Parent 1) | Net Income after Self Support (Line 1 plus Line 2 minus Lines 3, 4, and 5)Parent A's income after the allowance | $2,567.00 a month |
| 6 (Parent 2) | Net Income after Self Support (Line 1 plus Line 2 minus Lines 3, 4, and 5)Parent B's income after the allowance | $1,733.00 a month |
| 8 (Parent 1) | Net Income Available for Primary Support (Line 6 x Line 7B)Parent A's net income available | $2,567.00 a month |
| 8 (Parent 2) | Net Income Available for Primary Support (Line 6 x Line 7B)Parent B's net income available | $1,733.00 a month |
| 8 Total | Net Income Available for Primary Support, TotalCombined net income available | $4,300.00 a month |
| 9 (Parent 1) | Share of Net Available (Line 8 / Line 8 Total)Parent A's share | 60% |
| 9 (Parent 2) | Share of Net Available (Line 8 / Line 8 Total)Parent B's share | 40% |
| 11 (Parent 1) | Primary Support Allowance (Line 10 x $420 + $380)Primary allowance for the children in Parent A's home | $0.00 a month |
| 11 (Parent 2) | Primary Support Allowance (Line 10 x $420 + $380)Primary allowance for the children in Parent B's home | $2,480.00 a month |
| 12A (Parent 1) | Childcare for children of this union necessary for parent to maintain employmentChild care Parent A pays | $0.00 a month |
| 12A (Parent 2) | Childcare for children of this union necessary for parent to maintain employmentChild care Parent B pays | $0.00 a month |
| 12C (Parent 1) | Health Insurance (x 75% or 50%)Counted part of the children's insurance Parent A pays | $0.00 a month |
| 12C (Parent 2) | Health Insurance (x 75% or 50%)Counted part of the children's insurance Parent B pays | $0.00 a month |
| 13 Total | Total Primary Need (Line 11 + Lines 12A, B and C)Children's total primary need | $2,480.00 a month |
| 14 (Parent 1) | Primary Support Obligation (Line 9 x Line 13 Total)Parent A's part of the primary need | $1,488.00 a month |
| 14 (Parent 2) | Primary Support Obligation (Line 9 x Line 13 Total)Parent B's part of the primary need | $992.00 a month |
| 15 (Parent 1) | Net Income Available for SOLAParent A's income left for the standard of living adjustment | $1,079.00 a month |
| 15 (Parent 2) | Net Income Available for SOLAParent B's income left for the standard of living adjustment | $741.00 a month |
| 16B | High Income Offset (30% of Line 16A Total)High-income offset | $0.00 a month |
| 17 | Standard of Living Percentage (Table)Standard of living percentage | 25% |
| 18A (Parent 1) | SOLA (Line 15 - Line 16B x Line 17)Parent A's standard of living adjustment | $270.00 a month |
| 18A (Parent 2) | SOLA (Line 15 - Line 16B x Line 17)Parent B's standard of living adjustment | $185.00 a month |
| 18B | Per child SOLA (Line 18A Total / Line 10 Total)Standard of living adjustment per child | $91.00 a month |
| 19 (Parent 1) | Gross Obligation (Line 14 plus Line 18A)Parent A's gross obligation | $1,758.00 a month |
| 19 (Parent 2) | Gross Obligation (Line 14 plus Line 18A)Parent B's gross obligation | $1,177.00 a month |
| 20 (Parent 1) | Primary and SOLA retained (Line 10 multiplied by Line 18B plus Line 11)Amount Parent A's home keeps for the children there | $0.00 a month |
| 20 (Parent 2) | Primary and SOLA retained (Line 10 multiplied by Line 18B plus Line 11)Amount Parent B's home keeps for the children there | $2,935.00 a month |
| 21 (Parent 1) | Itemized Primary (Line 12A plus Line 12B plus Line 12C)Child care and insurance Parent A pays | $0.00 a month |
| 21 (Parent 2) | Itemized Primary (Line 12A plus Line 12B plus Line 12C)Child care and insurance Parent B pays | $0.00 a month |
| 22B (Parent 1) | Parenting Time Adjustment (Line 22A x other parent's Line 20)Parent A's parenting-time credit | $0.00 a month |
| 22B (Parent 2) | Parenting Time Adjustment (Line 22A x other parent's Line 20)Parent B's parenting-time credit | $0.00 a month |
| 23C (Parent 1) | Self Support Protection (Line 8 x Line 23B)Most Parent A can be ordered to pay | $1,284.00 a month |
| 23C (Parent 2) | Self Support Protection (Line 8 x Line 23B)Most Parent B can be ordered to pay | $867.00 a month |
| 24 (Parent 1) | Net Obligation (Line 19 minus Lines 20, 21 and 22B, but not more than 23C)Parent A's net obligation | $1,284.00 a month |
| 24 (Parent 2) | Net Obligation (Line 19 minus Lines 20, 21 and 22B, but not more than 23C)Parent B's net obligation | $0.00 a month |
| Order | Net Obligation orderedGuideline amount | $1,284.00 a month |
Open the official Form 509, 2026 Delaware Child Support Formula →
With child care and health insurance
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $1,284 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $1,284 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $1,284 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $1,284 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $1,284 a month A→B |
Work-related child care and 75% of the premium for health insurance covering the children (50% if that parent supports other children) are part of the primary need, shared by income; the parent who pays them keeps credit for them. Uninsured medical costs are split separately as they come up.
Things to know about this example
- The paying parent’s income is near Delaware's self-support reserve ($1,600), so the amount is reduced to $1,284.
How Delaware works it out
Delaware uses the Melson formula. Each parent first keeps a $1,600 self-support allowance. The children's primary needs ($380 for each home plus $420 a child, plus child care and insurance) are shared by each parent's share of the income left after the allowance. A standard of living adjustment then adds a percentage of each parent's remaining income, and each home keeps the amounts for the children who live there.
Gross income counts, and taxes are not subtracted. Alimony paid is subtracted; alimony received counts with a 25% increase because it isn't taxed. Pension contributions, union dues and similar deductions the worksheet allows are not included in this estimate.
A paying parent who has the children 80 to 124 overnights a year keeps 10% of what the other home retains for the children; 125 to 163 overnights, 30%. With at least 164 overnights in each home, each child counts as half in each home, and no support is ordered when the net amount is under $50 a month.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $50,000 in Delaware for 5 children?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Delaware's guideline amount is about $1,284 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
That is about $296 a week (the monthly amount × 12 ÷ 52).
What if the parents share time equally?
With about equal parenting time and the same incomes, the guideline amount is about $319 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
What if Parent B has no income?
If Parent B has no income and the children live mostly with Parent B, the guideline amount is about $1,284 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Official sources and verification
- Law: 13 Del. C. §§ 501, 514, 517; Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 500–510 (Delaware Child Support Formula)
- Delaware child support guidelines
- Form 509, 2026 Delaware Child Support Formula
- Official Delaware child support calculator
- Delaware Division of Child Support Services (DCSS)
- Changing a Delaware child support order
Guidelines effective February 1, 2026. Verified against the official Delaware sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →