North Carolina Child Support Calculator
Uses NC Income Shares — Worksheet A (primary) / Worksheet B (joint custody)
Table of Contents
How North Carolina Calculates Child Support
North Carolina uses the Income Shares model through guidelines established by the NC Conference of Chief District Judges. The calculation considers both parents' adjusted gross income, combines them, and uses the guidelines schedule to determine the basic child support obligation. Each parent's share is proportional to their income contribution. NC uses two worksheets: Worksheet A for primary (sole) custody and Worksheet B for joint (shared) custody.
The guidelines create a rebuttable presumption that the calculated amount is correct. NC courts can deviate when the guidelines would not meet the reasonable needs of the child or would be unjust to either party. The NC Division of Social Services, Child Support Enforcement Section, administers the state program.
Worksheet A vs. Worksheet B
Worksheet A applies when one parent has primary physical custody (the child lives with that parent more than approximately two-thirds of the year). The non-custodial parent's share of the basic obligation, plus their share of additional expenses, becomes the monthly support payment.
Worksheet B applies when each parent has the child for at least 123 overnights per year (approximately one-third). This worksheet accounts for duplicated fixed costs by calculating each parent's separate obligation and applying an adjustment factor of 1.5. The obligations are offset, and the parent with the higher obligation pays the difference.
Income Under NC Guidelines
NC includes all income: wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment, rental, investment, pensions, Social Security, unemployment, workers' compensation, alimony, and military pay. Deductions include federal and NC state taxes, FICA, mandatory retirement, and pre-existing support. NC courts can impute income to voluntarily unemployed or underemployed parents based on earning capacity.
Special Provisions
NC has specific provisions for: children with extraordinary medical expenses, private school tuition when both parents agree or previously enrolled the child, travel expenses for long-distance visitation, and uninsured medical expenses. These are divided proportionally between parents. NC child support continues until the child turns 18, or through high school graduation if under age 20.
Modification and Enforcement
NC allows modification when there has been a substantial change in circumstances. A 15% change in the calculated amount is generally considered substantial. Enforcement tools include income withholding, tax interception, license suspension, contempt, liens, bank levies, and credit reporting. NC charges 8% annual interest on arrearages.
NC uses Worksheet A for primary custody, Worksheet B for joint (123+ overnights each)
North Carolina Child Support Schedule
Below is a representative sample of the North Carolina child support schedule showing basic monthly obligations:
| Combined Monthly Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children | 5 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $282 | $424 | $486 | $526 | $561 |
| $2,500 | $413 | $622 | $712 | $770 | $821 |
| $3,500 | $513 | $771 | $873 | $950 | $1,018 |
| $5,000 | $645 | $969 | $1,095 | $1,193 | $1,279 |
| $7,500 | $843 | $1,256 | $1,408 | $1,544 | $1,661 |
| $10,000 | $1,022 | $1,516 | $1,697 | $1,864 | $2,007 |
| $15,000 | $1,326 | $1,955 | $2,194 | $2,415 | $2,604 |
| $20,000 | $1,578 | $2,298 | $2,590 | $2,856 | $3,084 |