Child support calculators / Delaware
Delaware child support
calculator
Free guideline estimate under Delaware's official child support guidelines (controlling authority: Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 500–509 (Melson Formula)). Built for family law attorneys and their staff. No account required, and nothing you enter is stored.
Overnights always total 365, so changing one side updates the other.
Get the line-by-line worksheet free for 14 days, with the guideline edition and citation (Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 500–509 (Melson Formula))
- Printable worksheet with the full line-by-line calculation
- Guideline edition and controlling-authority citation on the printout
- Adjustments detail: parenting-time credit, add-on allocation, deductions
- Save calculations to matters, plus spousal support and property division
14-day free trial · credit card required · every feature included · see pricing
Informational estimate for licensed attorneys and their staff — not legal advice, not a guarantee of any court outcome. Verify against your jurisdiction’s official guidelines worksheet before relying on it.
How Delaware calculates child support
Delaware's child support guidelines are established by Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 500–509 (Melson Formula). Delaware uses the Melson formula, which first reserves a self-support amount for each parent’s own basic needs, then allocates child support from the remaining income (a refined income-shares approach).
This calculator applies the current guideline edition: Melson formula, 2026 parameters.
The result is the presumptive guideline amount, the starting point a Delaware court uses before considering deviation factors. The full line-by-line worksheet, guideline edition, and statutory citation are available in Aequis with a 14-day free trial (credit card required).
Delaware child support FAQ
How is child support calculated in Delaware?
Delaware sets child support under its official guidelines (Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 500–509 (Melson Formula)), which follow the Melson formula. The guideline produces a presumptive monthly amount from the parents' incomes, the number of children, and inputs such as parenting time, childcare, and health insurance costs.
Is this the exact amount a Delaware court will order?
No. This is an informational estimate of the presumptive guideline amount. Courts can deviate based on statutory factors, and official worksheets may require inputs this calculator does not collect. Always verify against the official guidelines worksheet before relying on any number.
What income counts for child support in Delaware?
Guidelines generally start from each parent's gross income from most sources, with their own definitions, exclusions, and deductions. This calculator uses gross monthly income; consult Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 500–509 (Melson Formula) for what Delaware includes.
Do overnights affect child support in Delaware?
Many jurisdictions adjust the obligation for parenting time once overnights pass a threshold, and this calculator applies Delaware's guideline treatment of overnights where the guideline provides one. The exact effect depends on Delaware's formula and the parents' incomes.
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