New York Child Support Calculator

New York uses the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) formula under DRL § 240(1-b), applying fixed percentages to both parents' combined adjusted gross income: 17% for one child, 25% for two children, 29% for three, 31% for four, and at least 35% for five or more. The non-custodial parent pays their proportional share based on their percentage of the combined income. Courts also add pro rata shares of childcare, health insurance, and unreimbursed medical expenses on top of the basic obligation.

New York considers each parent's gross income from all sources, including wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment earnings, rental income, investment returns, and unemployment benefits under DRL § 240(1-b)(b)(5). Allowable deductions include FICA taxes, New York City and Yonkers income taxes, child support paid for other children, and spousal maintenance actually paid. The resulting 'adjusted gross income' from both parents is combined to determine the total child support obligation.

In New York, the parent with primary physical custody (the custodial parent) typically receives child support from the non-custodial parent. When parents share custody roughly equally, courts may apply a formula comparing each parent's calculated obligation — the higher-income parent pays the difference. Courts can also deviate from the standard CSSA formula under DRL § 240(1-b)(f) when shared parenting time substantially changes the expected expenses for each household.

New York allows child support modification under three independent grounds established by the 2010 CSSA amendments: a substantial change in circumstances, the passage of three years since the last order, or a 15% or greater change in either parent's gross income. Parents may petition Family Court or Supreme Court for upward or downward modification. Courts also apply automatic Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) every two years without requiring a court appearance.

New York child support includes two components under DRL § 240(1-b): the basic obligation calculated from the CSSA percentages, plus mandatory add-on expenses divided pro rata between parents. Add-ons include childcare costs necessary for employment or education, health insurance premiums for the child, and unreimbursed medical expenses exceeding $250 per year. Courts may also order contributions toward educational expenses, including private school or extracurricular activities, based on the family's standard of living.

New York has both floors and a soft cap. The Self-Support Reserve of $21,128 (effective March 2025) protects low-income parents — those earning below this threshold may pay a reduced order of $50 per month, while those below the federal Poverty Income Guideline may pay as little as $25 per month. The CSSA percentages apply to combined income up to $183,000 (through February 2026). For income above this cap, courts have discretion to apply the percentages or use 10 statutory factors under DRL § 240(1-b)(f).

New York child support continues until the child turns 21 — one of the longest durations in the United States, where most states end support at age 18 or 19. Support may end earlier if the child becomes legally emancipated through marriage, military enlistment, full-time employment making them economically self-sufficient, or permanently leaving the custodial parent's home. Courts cannot extend support beyond age 21 under current New York law, though parents may privately agree to college expense contributions in a Stipulation of Settlement.

New York enforces child support aggressively through the Support Collection Unit. Penalties include automatic wage garnishment through Income Withholding Orders, suspension of driver's and professional licenses after four months of arrears under DRL § 244-c, federal and state tax refund interception, credit reporting when arrears exceed $1,000, property liens, and bank account seizure. Courts can hold non-paying parents in contempt under Family Court Act § 454 with up to six months incarceration, and repeat willful non-payment within five years can be charged as a felony.