This calculator provides an educational estimate only. Actual court orders may vary based on specific circumstances. This tool is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified attorney. This is an estimate only, not legal advice.

Which parent is the non-custodial parent?

Parent A

Parent B

In North Carolina shared custody, the calculation determines the paying parent instead.

Parent A monthly adjusted gross income ($)Enter the guideline-adjusted income, not take-home pay or unadjusted wages.

Parent B monthly adjusted gross income ($)Income preparation, tax estimates, and other-family deductions are not calculated here.

Number of children

Physical custodyShared custody requires at least 123 nights with each parent and financial responsibility during that time. This page handles the same schedule for all children. Shared custody cases with low combined income are held for separate review instead of being calculated.

Parent A annual overnightsFor shared custody, enter 123 through 242 nights. Parent B has the remainder of 365 nights.

Parent A childcare paid ($/month)For North Carolina, enter reasonable employment or job-search childcare costs.

Parent A child health premium paid ($/month)Enter only the child portion actually paid by this parent, not employer contributions.

Parent B childcare paid ($/month)For North Carolina, enter reasonable employment or job-search childcare costs.

Parent B child health premium paid ($/month)Enter only the child portion actually paid by this parent, not employer contributions.

Other circumstancesSelect review for college support, a third-party custodian, differing schedules among children, or other circumstances outside this page.

How child support is calculated in North Carolina

The income shares guidelines effective January 1, 2023 use monthly adjusted gross income. The basic obligation comes from the published schedule. Values between listed incomes are interpolated. Worksheet A apportions the combined obligation and subtracts direct payments. Worksheet B uses a 1.5 multiplier and offsets each parent's obligation for time in the other household.

Official sources and dates

AOC-A-162, Revision 1/23, guidelines and complete schedule, effective January 1, 2023. Income and adjustments appear on pages 3 and 4, interpolation on page 4, and custody on pages 5 and 6.
Agency schedule with shaded cells, effective January 1, 2023.
Worksheet A, AOC-CV-627, Revision 1/23, lines 2 through 9 and the instructions.
Worksheet B, AOC-CV-628, Revision 1/23, lines 5 through 14. Lines 7 and 8 specify 365 times the number of children for annual nights.

A worked example

With Parent A at $5,000 and Parent B at $3,000 monthly adjusted gross income, combined income is $8,000. For one child, the schedule lists $1,152. If Parent A is non-custodial and there are no add-ons, $1,152 times 5,000 divided by 8,000 equals $720. This is an illustrative application of Worksheet A, not an official example or a prediction.

Low income and limits

The guideline minimum is $50 when the obligor has adjusted gross income below $1,150, absent a deviation. In the shaded portion of Worksheet A, only the paying parent's income is used and no add-ons are calculated. Shared custody requires at least 123 nights with each parent and financial responsibility during that time. This version handles the same shared schedule for every child, not split or mixed custody. Incomes above $40,000 combined monthly adjusted gross income need a court determination.

What is not included?

Income preparation, other-family deductions, benefit credits, imputed income, uninsured medical cost allocations, extraordinary expenses, third-party custody, and discretionary deviations need separate review. You must enter already adjusted gross incomes. Displayed estimates are rounded to whole dollars, as a display convention rather than a claimed court rounding rule.

Pending changes

The Judicial Branch announced revised guidelines on October 13, 2026. They take effect January 1, 2027. This page does not apply those future rules and must be reviewed before that date.

Estimate only. This is an educational tool, not legal advice. Compare the result with the state guidelines and a court worksheet. The calculator does not submit entered figures to us.