Missouri child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
Missouri guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, Missouri's guideline amount is $996 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Missouri uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect January 1, 2026.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your Missouri guideline amount
Guideline child support
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Missouri child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $382 | $577 | $775 | $980 |
| 2 children | $577 | $864 | $1,154 | $1,451 |
| 3 children | $692 | $1,029 | $1,366 | $1,706 |
| 4 children | $762 | $1,149 | $1,525 | $1,905 |
| 5 children | $756 | $1,264 | $1,678 | $2,096 |
How Missouri calculates child support
Missouri uses the income shares model and the official Form worksheet: the schedule gives the basic amount for the parents' combined monthly income, add-ons are added, and each parent is responsible for their share of the total.
Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes. Court-ordered maintenance received is added and maintenance paid is subtracted.
The paying parent gets a credit of a percentage of the basic amount for their overnights a year, starting at 36 overnights and rising to the table's top band. The credit is not given when the receiving parent's adjusted income is at or below the worksheet's caveat amount, unless the paying parent would be left with little after support. With about equal time the parent with the higher gross income pays.
The schedule builds in a self-support reserve. When the paying parent's adjusted income falls in the shaded part of the schedule, a second calculation uses the schedule amount for the paying parent's income alone plus their share of the add-ons, and the lower amount applies.
Work-related child care, the children's health insurance premium and uninsured medical costs above $250 per child a year are added and shared by income; the paying parent is credited for the costs they pay. The receiving parent's child care is first reduced by the child care tax credit for children under 13.
Child support paid under other orders is subtracted from income. A parent with other children living with them subtracts the schedule amount for those children, based on that parent's own gross income.
The schedule runs to $40,000 of combined income a month. Above that, courts decide case by case; this estimate uses the top row.
Every worksheet amount is rounded to the nearest dollar, income shares to the nearest tenth of a percent, and the combined income to the nearest schedule row.
Parenting time in Missouri
The paying parent gets a credit of a percentage of the basic amount for their overnights a year, starting at 36 overnights and rising to the table's top band. The credit is not given when the receiving parent's adjusted income is at or below the worksheet's caveat amount, unless the paying parent would be left with little after support. With about equal time the parent with the higher gross income pays.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,107 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $996 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $922 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $738 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $480 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in Missouri
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $212 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $2,821 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
The schedule builds in a self-support reserve. When the paying parent's adjusted income falls in the shaded part of the schedule, a second calculation uses the schedule amount for the paying parent's income alone plus their share of the add-ons, and the lower amount applies.
The schedule runs to $40,000 of combined income a month. Above that, courts decide case by case; this estimate uses the top row.
Child support by number of children in Missouri
- 1 child$664 a month
- 2 children$996 a month
- 3 children$1,187 a month
- 4 children$1,327 a month
- 5 children$1,459 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: § 452.340 RSMo; Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 88.01; Civil Procedure Form No. 14 (order of March 4, 2025, effective January 1, 2026)
- Missouri child support guidelines
- Form No. 14, Child Support Amount Calculation Worksheet
- Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division (Child Support)
- Changing a Missouri child support order
Guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Missouri sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Missouri?
Missouri uses the income shares model and the official Form worksheet: the schedule gives the basic amount for the parents' combined monthly income, add-ons are added, and each parent is responsible for their share of the total. Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes. Court-ordered maintenance received is added and maintenance paid is subtracted.
What is the child support for one child in Missouri on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, Missouri's guideline amount for one child is about $577 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Missouri?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $480 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). The paying parent gets a credit of a percentage of the basic amount for their overnights a year, starting at 36 overnights and rising to the table's top band. The credit is not given when the receiving parent's adjusted income is at or below the worksheet's caveat amount, unless the paying parent would be left with little after support. With about equal time the parent with the higher gross income pays.
What is the minimum child support in Missouri?
The schedule builds in a self-support reserve. When the paying parent's adjusted income falls in the shaded part of the schedule, a second calculation uses the schedule amount for the paying parent's income alone plus their share of the add-ons, and the lower amount applies.
When does child support end in Missouri?
Support normally ends at 18. It continues while the child attends high school, and while the child is enrolled in college or vocational school with the required credit hours, until the program ends or the child turns 21. A court may extend support past 18 for a child who is physically or mentally incapacitated and cannot support themselves.