Child support on $70,000 a year in District of Columbia (5 children)
District of Columbia guidelines effective April 1, 2025. District of Columbia overview
If Parent A earns $70,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), the District of Columbia's guideline amount is $1,585 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $474 paid by Parent B (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $1,751 (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
District of Columbia · 5 children · Parent A $70000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$1,585 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 63.6% of combined income
- Parent B: 36.4%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $9,167 a month
- Basic obligation
- $2,477 a month
- Parent A's share of income
- 64%
- Guideline amount
- $1,585 a month
See the worksheet for this example
- The District of Columbia's table stops at 4 children; this estimate uses the amount for 4 children.
District of Columbia uses the income shares model under D.C. Code §§ 16-916.01 and 16-916.01a (Appendices I–III). Official calculator: csgc.oag.dc.gov. Child support agency: Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Child Support Services Division.
Estimate under the District of Columbia's child support guidelines effective April 1, 2025. Verified against the official District of Columbia 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 | $1,751 A→B | $1,652 A→B | $1,608 A→B | $1,585 A→B | $1,534 A→B | $1,525 A→B | $1,490 A→B | $1,440 A→B |
| 52 | $1,751 A→B | $1,652 A→B | $1,608 A→B | $1,585 A→B | $1,534 A→B | $1,525 A→B | $1,490 A→B | $1,440 A→B |
| 104 | $1,751 A→B | $1,652 A→B | $1,608 A→B | $1,585 A→B | $1,534 A→B | $1,525 A→B | $1,490 A→B | $1,440 A→B |
| 128 | $1,708 A→B | $1,366 A→B | $1,206 A→B | $1,077 A→B | $913 A→B | $805 A→B | $571 A→B | $316 A→B |
| 182 | $1,314 A→B | $889 A→B | $689 A→B | $520 A→B | $317 A→B | $169 A→B | $143 B→A | $474 B→A |
The District of Columbia worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gross income (Parent A)Parent A's yearly income before taxes | $70,000.00 a year |
| 1 | Gross income (Parent B)Parent B's yearly income before taxes | $40,000.00 a year |
| 2 | Adjusted gross income (Parent A)Parent A's income used for support | $70,000.00 a year |
| 2 | Adjusted gross income (Parent B)Parent B's income used for support | $40,000.00 a year |
| 2 | Adjusted gross income (combined)Combined yearly income | $110,000.00 a year |
| 3 | Percentage share of adjusted gross income (Parent A)Parent A's share of income | 64% |
| 3 | Percentage share of adjusted gross income (Parent B)Parent B's share of income | 36% |
| 4 | Basic obligationSchedule amount for both parents, a year | $29,724.00 a year |
| A5 | Each parent's share of the basic child support obligation (Parent A)Parent A's share of the basic amount | $19,023.36 a year |
| A5 | Each parent's share of the basic child support obligation (Parent B)Parent B's share of the basic amount | $10,700.64 a year |
| A8 | Basic obligation plus additional expenses (paying parent)Paying parent's share plus add-ons | $19,023.36 a year |
| A10/B17 | Recommended child support orderGuideline amount before the limits, a year | $19,023.36 a year |
| A11 | Self-support reserveIncome the paying parent keeps for themselves | $20,815.00 a year |
| A12 | Paying parent's income available for supportIncome above the self-support reserve | $49,185.00 a year |
| A13 | Adjusted child support orderYearly amount after the low-income adjustment | $19,023.36 a year |
| — | Adjusted presumptive child support obligation per month (official calculator)Guideline amount a month | $1,585.00 a month |
With child care and health insurance
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $1,585 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $1,905 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $2,042 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $1,681 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $1,777 a month A→B |
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.
Things to know about this example
- The District of Columbia's table stops at 4 children; this estimate uses the amount for 4 children.
How District of Columbia works it out
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $70,000 in District of Columbia for 5 children?
If Parent A earns $70,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), the District of Columbia's guideline amount is about $1,585 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
That is about $366 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 $520 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 $1,751 a month (Parent A pays 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 →