Missouri Child Support Calculator
Uses the Missouri Income Shares model — Form 14 worksheet
Table of Contents
How Missouri Calculates Child Support
Missouri uses the Income Shares model calculated through Form 14, the official child support calculation worksheet. Under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 452.340 and Supreme Court Rule 88.01, courts must use the Form 14 guidelines to determine child support obligations. The calculation considers both parents' gross income, applies specific deductions, and uses a schedule to find the basic child support obligation.
The Missouri Form 14 calculation begins with each parent's monthly gross income from all sources. The form then guides the calculation through specific deductions for taxes, other children's support, and allowable expenses. The adjusted incomes are combined, and the support schedule provides the basic obligation. Each parent's share is proportional to their percentage of combined income.
The Form 14 amount creates a rebuttable presumption of the correct support amount. Courts can deviate only after specific written findings that the guideline amount is unjust or inappropriate considering the statutory factors. Missouri Rule 88.01 requires that Form 14 be completed and filed in every case where child support is at issue.
Form 14's Line-by-Line Structure
Missouri's Form 14 is a comprehensive worksheet that walks through the calculation step by step. Key lines include gross income (Line 1), adjustments for other child support (Line 2), adjusted gross income (Line 3), combined adjusted income (Line 4), the basic support obligation from the schedule (Line 5), each parent's percentage share (Lines 6-7), health insurance costs (Line 8), work-related childcare (Line 9), and the presumed child support amount (Line 10). This structured approach ensures consistency across Missouri's courts.
Understanding Missouri Form 14
Form 14 is the official child support calculation worksheet required by Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.01. Every case involving child support must include a completed Form 14. The form is available from the Missouri Courts website and is used by attorneys, judges, and self-represented parties alike.
- Lines 1-3: Income determination (gross income, adjustments, adjusted gross income)
- Lines 4-5: Combined income and basic support obligation lookup
- Lines 6-7: Each parent's proportionate share
- Lines 8-9: Additional costs (health insurance, childcare)
- Line 10: Presumed child support amount
- Lines 11+: Deviation factors and final amount
Income Definition in Missouri
- Wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses
- Self-employment income
- Social Security, pensions, retirement
- Workers' comp, unemployment, disability
- Interest, dividends, rental income
- Trust income, capital gains
- Spousal maintenance received
- Military pay and allowances
Plus proportional shares of health insurance and work-related childcare
| Combined Monthly Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children | 5 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $800 | $194 | $296 | $344 | $377 | $403 |
| $1,500 | $303 | $463 | $538 | $590 | $630 |
| $2,500 | $442 | $675 | $784 | $860 | $919 |
| $3,500 | $557 | $851 | $989 | $1,085 | $1,160 |
| $5,000 | $703 | $1,073 | $1,247 | $1,368 | $1,462 |
| $7,000 | $868 | $1,325 | $1,540 | $1,689 | $1,806 |
| $10,000 | $1,108 | $1,691 | $1,966 | $2,156 | $2,305 |
| $12,500 | $1,288 | $1,966 | $2,285 | $2,507 | $2,679 |
| $15,000 | $1,443 | $2,203 | $2,561 | $2,810 | $3,003 |
| $20,000 | $1,712 | $2,613 | $3,036 | $3,331 | $3,561 |
Note: Simplified excerpt from the Form 14 schedule. The actual schedule has many more income increments. Intermediate values are interpolated.
Deviations
Missouri courts may deviate from Form 14 under Section 452.340.9 for: extraordinary medical needs, educational expenses, the child's resources, the financial resources of each parent, shared custody arrangements, and other relevant factors. Written findings explaining the deviation are required.
Modification
Missouri allows modification upon a continuing and substantial change in circumstances under Section 452.370. A change of 20% or more in the calculated amount is considered substantial. Either parent can file a motion. Modifications are effective from the date the motion is served on the other party.
Enforcement
Missouri enforces through the Family Support Division (FSD) of the Department of Social Services. Tools include income withholding, tax interception, license suspension, contempt, liens, credit reporting, passport denial, and financial institution data matches.
Taxes
Child support is neither taxable nor deductible under federal and Missouri law. Missouri has no special state tax provisions for child support payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other State Child Support Calculators
Child support laws vary significantly from state to state. If you need to calculate child support for a different state, use one of our other state-specific calculators: