How Alabama calculates child support
- Each parent’s monthly gross income is reduced by child support they actually pay under an order for other children and by periodic alimony they pay to a former spouse.
- The parents’ combined adjusted income and the number of children give the basic obligation from the schedule (effective May 1, 2022). Work-related child care and the children’s health-care coverage costs are added, and the total is shared by income percentage.
- The paying parent gets credit for child care and coverage they pay. Their amount is then limited to 85% of their income above a $981 self-support reserve, with a $50 minimum.
- With court-ordered shared 50% physical custody (Form CS-42-S, since June 1, 2023), the basic obligation is multiplied by 150%, each parent is credited half of it and the costs they pay, and the parent who owes more pays the difference.
- Every amount is rounded to the nearest dollar and every percentage to the nearest one percent.
What the calculator asks
- How many children is the support for?
- Who will have physical custody of the children?
- Your gross income per month
- Child support you actually pay each month under an order for other children
- Periodic alimony you actually pay each month to a former spouse
- The other parent’s gross income per month
- Child support the other parent actually pays each month under an order for other children
- Periodic alimony the other parent actually pays each month to a former spouse
- Work-related child care you pay each month
- Work-related child care the other parent pays each month
- Health-care coverage you pay each month for these children
- Health-care coverage the other parent pays each month for these children
- Do the children receive Social Security, veterans or other benefits because of a parent’s earnings or disability?
It never asks for names, Social Security numbers or account numbers, and your answers are not saved.
What the estimate leaves out
- Split custody, where each parent has primary custody of a different child
- Credit for Social Security, veterans or other benefits the children receive because of the paying parent
- A deduction for other children a parent supports without a court order (Rule 32(B)(6))
- The state limit on child-care costs (the DHR licensed-care schedule)
- Extraordinary medical, dental and educational expenses the court may add
- Deviations the court may make (Rule 32(A)(1)), and combined incomes above $30,000 a month
When a situation is outside what the calculator covers, it says so and points you to the official worksheet instead of guessing.
Official sources
- Rule 32, Ala. R. Jud. Admin., Child Support Guidelines (effective June 1, 2023)
- Schedule of Basic Child-Support Obligations (effective May 1, 2022)
- Form CS-42, Child-Support Guidelines (Rev. 5/2022)
- Form CS-42-S, Child-Support Guidelines for shared 50% physical custody (effective 6/2023)
- Form CS-41, Child-Support-Obligation Income Statement/Affidavit
Alabama child support forms CS-41, CS-42 and CS-42-S (Administrative Office of Courts) →
Ready to estimate? The calculator shows each worksheet line so you can check it against the official form.
Open the Alabama calculator →An estimate from the published guideline formula, not a prediction of a court order. The official court worksheet and the court’s decision control. General information, not legal advice. LawCat is not a law firm.