Calculation is client-side, income figures are never transmitted or stored.
How North Carolina Child Support Is Calculated
- Determine each parent's monthly adjusted gross income, then combine both for total combined adjusted gross income.
- If the paying parent's own adjusted gross income is below $1,150/month, a flat $50/month minimum order applies (absent deviation).
- If the paying parent's income is above $1,150/month but within the self-support reserve "shaded" zone for the number of children ($1,750 for 1 child up to $3,450 for 6 children), the obligation is looked up using the paying parent's own income alone — not combined income — with no childcare or health insurance add-ons.
- Otherwise, look up the basic child support obligation from the official Schedule of Basic Support Obligations using combined adjusted gross income and number of children.
- Each parent's share equals their income divided by combined income, applied to the basic obligation plus reasonable work-related child care costs and health insurance premiums.
- This models Worksheet A only (one parent has primary physical custody, defined as 243+ nights/year). Worksheet B (shared custody, both parents 123+ nights/year) and Worksheet C (split custody) use different calculations not modeled here.
- Above $40,000/month combined adjusted gross income, courts determine support case-by-case rather than extending the schedule.
North Carolina Child Support Worksheet Walkthrough
Example: combined adjusted gross income $7,000/month, 2 children, Parent A earns $4,000/mo (57% share), Parent B earns $3,000/mo (43% share, above the self-support reserve zone for this state) and is the noncustodial parent.
- Basic child support obligation for $7,000 combined, 2 children (official schedule): $1,614/month.
- Parent B's share: 42.9% × $1,614 ≈ $692/month guideline child support paid by Parent B.
How This Calculator Works — Formula & Constants
Source: North Carolina Conference of Chief District Court Judges (AOC-A-162) · Calcul déterministe — no AI, no arbitrary estimate.
Constants used
| Constant | Value | Source |
|---|
Formula
base_obligation = schedule_lookup(combined_income, children)
share_B = parentB_income / combined_income
total_obligation = base_obligation + childcare_cost + health_insurance_cost
obligation_B = total_obligation × share_B
Deterministic calculation based on North Carolina's official guideline schedule table. Verify against North Carolina's official calculator for a court-ready figure.
FAQ
How is child support calculated in North Carolina?
Determine each parent's monthly adjusted gross income, then combine both for total combined adjusted gross income. If the paying parent's own adjusted gross income is below $1,150/month, a flat $50/month minimum order applies (absent deviation). If the paying parent's income is above $1,150/month but within the self-support reserve "shaded" zone for the number of children ($1,750 for 1 child up to $3,450 for 6 children), the obligation is looked up using the paying parent's own income alone — not combined income — with no childcare or health insurance add-ons. Otherwise, look up the basic child support obligation from the official Schedule of Basic Support Obligations using combined adjusted gross income and number of children. Each parent's share equals their income divided by combined income, applied to the basic obligation plus reasonable work-related child care costs and health insurance premiums. This models Worksheet A only (one parent has primary physical custody, defined as 243+ nights/year). Worksheet B (shared custody, both parents 123+ nights/year) and Worksheet C (split custody) use different calculations not modeled here. Above $40,000/month combined adjusted gross income, courts determine support case-by-case rather than extending the schedule.
What is North Carolina's self-support reserve, and how does it affect low-income parents?
North Carolina builds a self-support reserve into its child support schedule, based on the 2022 federal poverty level for one person ($1,133/month). If the paying parent's own adjusted gross income is below $1,150/month, a flat $50/month minimum order applies absent a deviation. Between $1,150/month and a higher ceiling that varies by number of children ($1,750 for one child up to $3,450 for six children), the obligation is calculated from the paying parent's income alone rather than combined income, and childcare/health insurance costs are not added on top — a mechanic most online calculators skip entirely.
What is the difference between Worksheet A, B, and C in North Carolina?
Worksheet A applies when one parent (or a third party) has primary physical custody of all the children — defined as 243+ nights per year. Worksheet B applies when parents share custody (each has the child at least 123 nights per year) of all children, or share custody of some while one has primary custody of others; the combined basic obligation is increased 50% before being prorated. Worksheet C applies when primary custody of two or more children is split between the parents. This calculator models Worksheet A only.
What happens if combined income is above $40,000/month in North Carolina?
Above $40,000/month in combined adjusted gross income, North Carolina's official schedule has no table value. Courts set support to meet the child's reasonable needs for health, education, and maintenance under G.S. 50-13.4(c), using the schedule only as a possible reference point for a minimal level of support.
Methodology & Source
Formula model: income shares. Effective 2023-01-01, guideline version 2023-NC-v1, last reviewed 2026-07-12.
Official source: North Carolina Conference of Chief District Court Judges (AOC-A-162) (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.4).
Above $40,000/month combined adjusted gross income, North Carolina's schedule has no table value — courts set support to meet the child's reasonable needs under G.S. 50-13.4(c) rather than extending the formula. This calculator models Worksheet A (one parent has primary physical custody, defined as 243+ nights/year); Worksheet B (shared custody, each parent 123+ nights/year, combined obligation increased 50%) and Worksheet C (split custody between parents) are not computed here.
Guideline figures transcribed from the primary source above and cross-checked against North Carolina's official calculator/worksheet for multiple test scenarios — see our verification methodology.