District of Columbia child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
District of Columbia guidelines effective April 1, 2025. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the District of Columbia's guideline amount is $1,086 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
District of Columbia uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect April 1, 2025.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
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Guideline child support
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District of Columbia child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $433 | $685 | $976 | $1,265 |
| 2 children | $591 | $930 | $1,318 | $1,698 |
| 3 children | $669 | $1,051 | $1,479 | $1,896 |
| 4 children | $753 | $1,186 | $1,665 | $2,134 |
| 5 children | $753 | $1,186 | $1,665 | $2,134 |
How District of Columbia calculates child support
The District of Columbia uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined yearly adjusted gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share.
Income from almost any source counts, before taxes. Alimony paid to the other parent is subtracted and alimony received is added; means-tested benefits such as TANF, SSI and food stamps don't count. The official calculator works with yearly amounts and shows the result per month, rounded to the dollar.
Shared physical custody is presumed when the children spend at least 35% of the year with each parent (128 days). The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 and divided by income share; each parent keeps the part that matches their own time, and the parent who owes more pays the difference.
The paying parent keeps a self-support reserve of $20,815 a year. With less than $900 a year above it, the presumed amount is $75 a month; otherwise support is no more than their income above the reserve. The order, add-ons included, also can't be more than 35% of the paying parent's adjusted gross income.
The cost of adding the children to health insurance, uninsured medical costs above $250 a year per child and work- or school-related child care are divided by income share and added to each parent's share. A parent who pays a cost directly gets credit for it.
Support a parent pays under another order is subtracted from their income. A parent can also deduct 75% of the schedule amount for other children living with them, figured on that parent's own income.
The schedule runs to $240,000 of combined income a year. Above that the guideline isn't presumptive, but support can't be less than the amount at the top of the schedule, which this estimate shows.
Income shares and time shares are whole percentages, and the yearly amount is divided by twelve and rounded to the dollar, as in the official calculator.
Parenting time in District of Columbia
Shared physical custody is presumed when the children spend at least 35% of the year with each parent (128 days). The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 and divided by income share; each parent keeps the part that matches their own time, and the parent who owes more pays the difference.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,086 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $1,086 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $1,086 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $678 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $271 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in District of Columbia
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $75 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $3,112 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
The paying parent keeps a self-support reserve of $20,815 a year. With less than $900 a year above it, the presumed amount is $75 a month; otherwise support is no more than their income above the reserve. The order, add-ons included, also can't be more than 35% of the paying parent's adjusted gross income.
The schedule runs to $240,000 of combined income a year. Above that the guideline isn't presumptive, but support can't be less than the amount at the top of the schedule, which this estimate shows.
Child support by number of children in District of Columbia
- 1 child$802 a month
- 2 children$1,086 a month
- 3 children$1,223 a month
- 4 children$1,378 a month
- 5 children$1,378 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: D.C. Code §§ 16-916.01 and 16-916.01a (Appendices I–III)
- District of Columbia child support guidelines
- Worksheet A: Sole Physical Custody (Appendix II) and Worksheet B: Shared Physical Custody (Appendix III)
- Official District of Columbia child support calculator
- Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Child Support Services Division
- Changing a District of Columbia child support order
Guidelines effective April 1, 2025. Verified against the official District of Columbia sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in District of Columbia?
The District of Columbia uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined yearly adjusted gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share. Income from almost any source counts, before taxes. Alimony paid to the other parent is subtracted and alimony received is added; means-tested benefits such as TANF, SSI and food stamps don't count. The official calculator works with yearly amounts and shows the result per month, rounded to the dollar.
What is the child support for one child in District of Columbia on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, the District of Columbia's guideline amount for one child is about $685 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in District of Columbia?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $271 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Shared physical custody is presumed when the children spend at least 35% of the year with each parent (128 days). The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 and divided by income share; each parent keeps the part that matches their own time, and the parent who owes more pays the difference.
What is the minimum child support in District of Columbia?
The paying parent keeps a self-support reserve of $20,815 a year. With less than $900 a year above it, the presumed amount is $75 a month; otherwise support is no more than their income above the reserve. The order, add-ons included, also can't be more than 35% of the paying parent's adjusted gross income.
When does child support end in District of Columbia?
In the District of Columbia, support usually lasts until the child turns 21. The age of majority is 18, but the law that sets it keeps any common-law or statutory right to child support. We didn't locate an official source on support for college or for an adult child with a disability.