Child support on $20,000 a year in Missouri (5 children)
Missouri guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Missouri overview
If Parent A earns $20,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Missouri's guideline amount is $180 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $2,400 paid by Parent B (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $303 (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
Missouri · 5 children · Parent A $20000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$180 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 33.3% of combined income
- Parent B: 66.7%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $5,000 a month
- Basic obligation
- $2,052 a month
- Parent A's share of income
- 33.3%
- Parenting-time adjustment
- $123 a month
- Guideline amount
- $180 a month
See the worksheet for this example
Missouri uses the income shares model under § 452.340 RSMo; Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 88.01; Civil Procedure Form No. 14 (order of March 4, 2025, effective January 1, 2026). Official worksheet: Form No. 14, Child Support Amount Calculation Worksheet. Child support agency: Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division (Child Support).
Estimate under Missouri's child support guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Missouri 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 | $303 A→B | $303 A→B | $303 A→B | $303 A→B | $303 A→B | $303 A→B | $303 A→B | $303 A→B |
| 52 | $285 A→B | $216 A→B | $197 A→B | $180 A→B | $165 A→B | $156 A→B | $141 A→B | $130 A→B |
| 104 | $273 A→B | $158 A→B | $127 A→B | $98 A→B | $72 A→B | $57 A→B | $33 A→B | $15 A→B |
| 128 | $242 A→B | $13 A→B | $0 — | $0 — | $0 — | $0 — | $0 — | $0 — |
| 182 | $200 A→B | $0 — | $295 B→A | $671 B→A | $862 B→A | $1,844 B→A | $2,162 B→A | $2,400 B→A |
The Missouri worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monthly gross income (Parent A)Parent A's monthly gross income | $1,667.00 a month |
| 1 | Monthly gross income (Parent B)Parent B's monthly gross income | $3,333.00 a month |
| 3 | Adjusted monthly gross income (Parent A)Parent A's adjusted income | $1,667.00 a month |
| 3 | Adjusted monthly gross income (Parent B)Parent B's adjusted income | $3,333.00 a month |
| 3 | Adjusted monthly gross income (combined)Combined adjusted income | $5,000.00 a month |
| 4 | Proportionate share of combined adjusted monthly gross income (Parent A)Parent A's share | 33.3% |
| 4 | Proportionate share of combined adjusted monthly gross income (Parent B)Parent B's share | 66.7% |
| 5 | Basic child support amountSchedule amount | $2,052.00 a month |
| 8 | Total combined child support costsSchedule amount plus add-ons | $2,052.00 a month |
| 9 | Each parent's support obligation (Parent A)Parent A's share of the total | $683.00 a month |
| 9 | Each parent's support obligation (Parent B)Parent B's share of the total | $1,369.00 a month |
| 11 | Adjustment for a portion of amounts expended during periods of overnight visitation or custodyOvernight credit | $123.00 a month |
| 12 | Presumed child support amountPresumed amount (regular calculation) | $560.00 a month |
| 12 | Presumed child support amount, second calculation (shaded area)Low-income calculation on the paying parent's income alone | $180.00 a month |
| 12 | Presumed child support amountGuideline amount | $180.00 a month |
Open the official Form No. 14, Child Support Amount Calculation Worksheet →
With child care and health insurance
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $180 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $310 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $476 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $230 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $280 a month A→B |
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.
How Missouri works it out
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $20,000 in Missouri for 5 children?
If Parent A earns $20,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Missouri's guideline amount is about $180 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
That is about $42 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 $671 a month (Parent B pays Parent A).
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 $285 a month (Parent A pays 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 →