How Pennsylvania calculates child support
- Each parent’s monthly net income is gross income minus income taxes, Social Security and Medicare, and mandatory retirement and union dues.
- The two net incomes are added and the Basic Child Support Schedule gives the basic obligation for that combined income and number of children.
- The parent with less time pays their percentage share of that amount.
- When the paying parent has the children 40% or more of the overnights, their share is reduced by the percentage of time above 30%. With equal time, the higher-income parent pays, and never so much that the other household ends up with more of the combined income.
- If the paying parent’s income is in the schedule’s shaded low-income area, the lower of two calculations applies, and $1,255 a month is reserved for their own needs.
What the calculator asks
- How many children is the support for?
- Who do the children spend the most overnights with?
- How many overnights a year do the children spend with the parent they see less?
- Your monthly net income
- The other parent’s monthly net income
- Does a child receive Social Security benefits because of a parent’s disability, retirement or death?
- Is spousal support or alimony pendente lite also being requested?
It never asks for names, Social Security numbers or account numbers, and your answers are not saved.
What the estimate leaves out
- Child care, health insurance, unreimbursed medical and other additional expenses (Rule 1910.16-6)
- Spousal support or alimony pendente lite
- Social Security benefits a child receives because of a parent
- Combined net income above $30,000 a month (Rule 1910.16-3.1)
- Deviations the court may make (Rule 1910.16-5)
When a situation is outside what the calculator covers, it says so and points you to the official worksheet instead of guessing.
Official sources
- Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-3, Basic Child Support Schedule (eff. Jan. 1, 2026)
- Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4, Calculation of Support Obligation. Formula
- Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-2, Calculation of Monthly Net Income (self-support reserve)
- Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-3.1, High-Income Cases
Pennsylvania Child Support Program estimator →
Ready to estimate? The calculator shows each worksheet line so you can check it against the official form.
Open the Pennsylvania 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.