Calculator Form
Formula Used
Adjusted income = monthly income - other child support paid - spousal maintenance paid + spousal maintenance received.
Combined income = Parent A adjusted income + Parent B adjusted income.
Basic obligation is selected from reference schedule points and interpolated between known values.
Older child adjustment = basic obligation × 10% × older children ÷ total children.
Combined support obligation = basic obligation + older child adjustment + health, child care, education, extraordinary, and travel costs.
Parent share = combined support obligation × parent income share.
Parenting credit = basic obligation × parenting time adjustment percentage.
Estimated payment = tested parent share - parenting credit - direct costs paid by that parent.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter monthly income for each parent.
- Add support, spousal maintenance, and expense details.
- Enter the children count and older child count.
- Enter annual parenting days for each parent.
- Press the calculate button.
- Read the result above the form.
- Download the CSV or PDF report for your records.
Example Data Table
| Case | Parent A Income | Parent B Income | Children | Parent A Days | Monthly Add-ons | Estimated Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard schedule | $4,000 | $2,500 | 2 | 110 | $450 | Compare parenting time credit. |
| Equal time | $5,000 | $3,000 | 2 | 182 | $400 | Estimate higher income obligation. |
| Added child care | $3,500 | $3,200 | 1 | 80 | $650 | Test direct expense credit. |
Maricopa County Child Support Planning Guide
A child support estimate begins with reliable monthly numbers. Arizona uses an income shares approach. The method looks at both parents. It then estimates what the children may need if the parents lived together. This page turns those steps into a practical planning tool.
Income Matters First
Start with each parent's monthly child support income. Include regular wages, salary, self employment earnings, commissions, and recurring benefits. Then enter available deductions. These may include support paid for other children or spousal maintenance paid from the same marriage. Good inputs make the estimate stronger.
Children and Added Costs
The basic obligation depends on combined adjusted income and the number of children. Older children can raise expected costs. Insurance, child care, education, and extraordinary expenses also matter. The calculator adds those amounts, then divides the total by each parent's income share.
Parenting Time Changes the Result
Parenting days can reduce the obligation for the parent with less time. Arizona uses annual days. Short visits may count as partial days when they meet time rules. Equal or near equal time can still create support when incomes are different.
Why This Tool Is Useful
The result helps families compare scenarios before filing papers or attending a meeting. You can test income changes, added expenses, or different parenting schedules. The table explains every major number. The export buttons keep a record for later review.
Important Limits
This calculator is not a court order. It does not replace the official worksheet. It uses reference schedule points and interpolation for planning. A judge may consider facts that are not entered here. Examples include deviations, proof of income, tax issues, arrears, travel, and special needs. Use the official Maricopa County tools for filing. Speak with a qualified professional when the result affects a case.
Records Help
Keep pay stubs, insurance bills, child care invoices, and school cost records. Save proof of parenting days as well. Clear records reduce confusion. They also make updates easier when income, custody, or expenses change. Review estimates often, because small changes can shift the final monthly payment.
When numbers are uncertain, enter conservative estimates. Then compare another case with stronger proof before making decisions or settlement choices later.
FAQs
Is this a court approved calculator?
No. It is an educational estimator. Use the official worksheet or court tool when preparing filings. A court can order a different amount.
Does Maricopa County use a separate formula?
Maricopa County cases generally use Arizona child support guidelines. Local court tools help users complete the worksheet for that county.
What income should I enter?
Enter monthly child support income. Include regular earnings and recurring income. Deduct only amounts that truly apply to your case.
How are parenting days used?
Parenting days choose a time adjustment rate. More credited days can reduce the tested parent's support share, especially near equal time.
Why add health insurance and child care?
Those costs can be part of the combined support obligation. The paying parent may receive credit for direct costs already paid.
Why does the payer change sometimes?
Direct expenses, equal parenting time, and income differences can change the result. A negative tested amount can shift payment to the other parent.
Can I use the exported report in court?
The report is a planning record. It is not a substitute for official forms, financial proof, or the court's required worksheet.
Why is the result only an estimate?
The calculator uses reference schedule points, interpolation, and simplified credits. Courts can consider deviations and facts not entered here.