The New Hampshire child support calculator is an online tool provided by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services that calculates estimated child support amounts based on information you enter about income, expenses, and parenting arrangements. The calculator uses the same child support guidelines worksheet that courts use when determining child support orders.
The calculator provides an estimate only. It does not guarantee the actual amount a court will order in accordance with New Hampshire law and rules. Health and Human Services might not recommend the calculator's estimate to the court in your specific case, particularly when special circumstances exist that warrant deviation from standard guidelines.
How the Child Support Calculator Works
The New Hampshire child support calculator uses parents' combined monthly net income to determine the total child support obligation. The calculation applies specific percentages based on the number of children requiring support, then divides that total obligation between parents proportionally according to their individual incomes.
The Basic Formula
The child support guidelines establish percentages that apply to combined net income based on how many children need support. For combined monthly net incomes over $125,000, the percentages are 19% for one child, 26% for two children, 31% for three children, and 33.5% for four or more children.
The calculator determines each parent's share of this total obligation by calculating what percentage of the combined income each parent contributes. The parent with higher income typically pays support to the parent with lower income, with the amount based on the difference between their proportional shares.
From Gross Income to Net Income
The calculator starts with gross income for each parent, which includes all earnings from any source, whether you work for them or not. Gross income encompasses wages, salary, commissions, tips, annuities, Social Security benefits, trust income, lottery winnings, interest, dividends, rental income, self-employment earnings, alimony, business profits, pensions, bonuses, and government payments.
The calculator then applies allowable deductions to determine net income. These deductions include court or administratively ordered support for other children, 50% of actual self-employment taxes paid, mandatory retirement contributions, actual state income taxes paid, allowable child care expenses, and medical support for children.
Information Needed for the Calculator
To use the New Hampshire child support calculator accurately, you need specific financial information for both parents.
Income Information
You must enter the monthly gross income for both the obligor (the parent paying support) and the obligee (the parent receiving support). If you receive a paycheck, gross income is the amount before any taxes or other deductions are removed. For self-employed individuals, gross income is total business revenue minus legitimate business expenses.
When entering values in the online calculator, always use two decimal places or the system will generate an error. Entering "100" or "100.0" produces an error message stating "Please supply a valid dollar amount." You must enter numbers in formats like "100.00" in every field.
Allowable Deductions
Court or administratively ordered support for other children means child support amounts you currently pay for children not involved in the present case. This amount reduces your net income available for the current child support calculation.
Mandatory retirement includes only retirement contributions required to be deducted from your pay, typically pension plans. It does not include voluntary contributions to retirement accounts like 401(k) plans, where you choose the deduction amount.
Allowable child care expenses include only work-related expenses for child care during your parenting time. For example, daycare required for you to attend work qualifies. It does not include expenses not directly related to caring for your child so you can work.
Medical support for children is the amount either parent pays for the children's health insurance. If children are covered under a family plan, calculate the difference between the family plan cost and an individual plan. If the family plan costs $1,000 monthly and an individual plan costs $400 monthly, enter $600 for this field.
Using the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet
The child support guidelines worksheet works together with the child support calculator and guideline table to determine support amounts. You can complete the worksheet manually or use the online calculator, which automatically fills in the worksheet based on the information you provide.
The worksheet calculates combined monthly net income, applies the appropriate guideline percentage based on the number of children, determines the total child support obligation amount based on the guideline table, and allocates that obligation between parents proportionally to their incomes.
The Guideline Table
The Child Support Guideline Table lists combined monthly adjusted gross income amounts in $10 ranges. Each range appears as a separate row showing corresponding guideline amounts and percentages for one child, two children, three children, and four or more children.
The percentages in the table represent calculated percentages determined according to New Hampshire's child support guidelines law. Courts use these standardized amounts to ensure consistency across cases while allowing for adjustments when special circumstances exist.
Parenting Time and Support Calculations
Recent changes to the New Hampshire child support law, effective January 1, 2025, significantly altered how parenting time affects child support calculations, particularly for parents with substantially shared parenting or approximately equal parenting time.
Impact of Shared Parenting Schedules
When parents have substantially similar incomes and approximately equal parenting time (each parent has parenting time for greater than 40% of the annual schedule), there is a rebuttable presumption that no child support is appropriate. This means the court assumes no support is needed unless one parent presents evidence proving otherwise.
When parents have substantially similar incomes with substantially shared parenting time (each parent has parenting time for greater than 35% of the annual schedule), there is a rebuttable presumption to deviate from standard child support guidelines.
For parents whose incomes are not substantially similar, the calculator may or may not produce the appropriate support amount depending on parenting time arrangements. Courts determine appropriate obligations considering whether the lower-income parent can raise the child in a style similar to that of the higher-earning parent.
Calculator Limitations and Special Considerations
The online child support calculator has certain technical limitations that users should understand before relying on results.
Income Limitations
Due to technology constraints, entering combined income amounts exceeding $226,009 per month results in a "Child Support Calculator Error." If your total combined monthly adjusted gross income exceeds this amount, contact the Central Information Unit by calling 1-800-852-3345 ext. 14427 or 603-271-4427, or email BCSS-CIU@dhhs.nh.gov. The unit will provide the appropriate amount and percentage to calculate your child support based on the number of children in your order and the combined monthly adjusted gross income.
When Courts Deviate from Guidelines
New Hampshire law presumes the amount calculated under guidelines is correct in any case, but this presumption is rebuttable. A parent can overcome it with evidence proving the guideline amount would be unfair or inappropriate because of special circumstances.
Examples of special circumstances warranting deviation include ongoing extraordinary medical, dental, or education expenses, including expenses related to a child's special needs, either parent's significantly high or low income, economic consequences of stepparents and other children living in a parent's household, and tax consequences of child suppor,t including the right to claim children as dependents on income tax returns.
Step-by-Step Calculator Instructions
Using the New Hampshire child support calculator requires following specific steps to ensure accurate results and avoid technical errors.
Starting the Calculator
Access the calculator at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services website. Select the proper number of children in the dropdown menu at the top of the form. This selection is easy to overlook but crucial for accurate calculations.
Choose the payment frequency (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) at the bottom right corner. This selection determines the timeframe for applying calculations but does not change how support is calculated, only how payment frequency displays.
Entering Information
Click on each light blue box to enter information. All light blue boxes accept input and can be modified. Dark gray boxes cannot be edited as the calculator uses them to make final calculations.
When you enter a value, click "Ok" in the pop-up window. Simply hitting enter will not save the value even though the pop-up closes. Always use two decimal places for all dollar amounts to avoid error messages.
Reviewing and Saving Results
After completing all required fields, review the calculated amounts to ensure they appear reasonable based on the information provided. The calculator shows the total child support obligation and each parent's proportional share.
When satisfied with entries and results, select "Print/Save" at the top of the calculator. This allows you to either print the page or save it to PDF format. The saved document prints in the correct format for submission to the court.
Your Calculator Results
The calculator produces several important figures that explain your child support obligation amount based on the information provided.
Combined Monthly Net Income
This figure represents both parents' net incomes added together after applying all allowable deductions. The calculator uses this combined amount to determine the total child support obligation using guideline percentages.
Total Child Support Obligation
This amount represents the total support obligation for all children covered by the order. The calculator determines this by multiplying the combined monthly net income by the guideline percentage for the number of children involved.
Each Parent's Share
The calculator divides the total obligation between parents proportionally to their incomes. If one parent earns 70% of the combined income, that parent typically pays 70% of the total support obligation. The difference between what each parent owes determines the actual payment amount.
When to Seek Professional Guidance
While the child support calculator provides useful estimates, certain situations benefit from professional legal advice to ensure accurate calculations and fair outcomes.
Complex Income Situations
Self-employment income, variable commission income, rental property income, trust distributions, and other non-traditional income sources can complicate calculations. A family law attorney can help ensure all income is properly characterized and calculated.
Deviation Requests
If you believe special circumstances warrant deviation from guideline amounts, an attorney can help you present evidence supporting your position. Courts require a specific showing of why guideline amounts would be inappropriate in your case.
Modification of Existing Orders
When seeking to modify an existing child support order, understanding whether you meet the legal standard for modification (substantial change of circumstances or three years since the last order) requires legal analysis. An attorney ensures you meet requirements before filing modification requests.
Moving Forward
The New Hampshire child support calculator provides parents with a valuable tool for estimating child support obligations based on current financial circumstances and state guidelines. Understanding how to properly use the calculator, what information is required, and how the amount of child support is determined helps parents navigate the support calculation process effectively.
The calculator uses gross income and net income for both parents, applies guideline percentages based on the number of children, and divides the total child support obligation proportionally between parents. Recent changes to New Hampshire law regarding parenting time and child support calculations make accurate parenting schedules increasingly important for determining appropriate support amounts.
While the calculator provides useful estimates, remember that it does not guarantee the actual amount courts will order. Special circumstances, deviations from guidelines, and complex income situations may require professional guidance from a family law attorney to ensure accurate calculations and fair child support orders that serve children's best interests while treating both parents equitably.