New Jersey Child Support Calculator
Estimate New Jersey child support for 2026 using the Income Shares guideline model under N.J. Court Rules, Appendix IX-A to IX-H. Enter both parents' incomes and the parenting-time split to see what you may owe or receive.
New Jersey follows the Income Shares model under the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines (Appendix IX-A to IX-H of the Court Rules). The court combines both parents' monthly net incomes, looks up the basic support obligation on the state's guideline schedule for that income level and number of children, then prorates the obligation between the parents according to each parent's percentage share of the combined income.
New Jersey accounts for parenting time through its worksheets. When the parent who pays has at least 28 percent of the overnights, the case uses the Shared-Parenting Worksheet instead of the Sole-Parenting Worksheet, which adjusts the obligation to reflect shared costs. Below that overnight share, the Sole-Parenting Worksheet applies. More overnights generally lower the obligation, but the schedule and the child's actual expenses still drive the final number.
The cost of the child's health insurance premium is built into the New Jersey guideline calculation. Both the Sole-Parenting and Shared-Parenting Worksheets contain a line item for health insurance, so the parent who carries the coverage receives credit for the child's portion of the premium. That credit is factored into each parent's prorated share of the combined obligation rather than being paid separately.
Work-related child care and daycare costs are treated as an add-on in New Jersey. The Sole-Parenting and Shared-Parenting Worksheets each include a line item for child care, and those costs are added to the basic support obligation. The total is then divided between the parents according to each parent's percentage share of the combined net income, the same way the basic obligation is split.
New Jersey judges generally must follow the Child Support Guidelines in Appendix IX-A to IX-H of the Court Rules, and the guideline number is presumed correct. A court may deviate when applying the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate for that family, but the judge must put the reasons for any deviation in writing. The parent asking the court to depart from the guideline figure carries the burden of showing why a different amount is warranted.
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in New Jersey?
New Jersey uses the Income Shares model under the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines, found in Appendix IX-A to IX-H of the Court Rules. The court combines both parents' monthly net incomes, looks up the basic support obligation on the state's guideline schedule for that income level and number of children, then prorates the obligation between the parents by each parent's percentage share of the combined income. The New Jersey Office of Child Support Services administers cases. The calculator on this page gives an estimate only. It is not legal advice, and the official worksheet or a licensed attorney controls your actual number.
What is the official New Jersey child support worksheet?
New Jersey runs its guideline through two official worksheets: the Sole-Parenting Worksheet and the Shared-Parenting Worksheet. Which one applies depends on overnights, with the Shared-Parenting Worksheet used when the paying parent has at least 28 percent of overnights. These worksheets, set out in Appendix IX-A to IX-H of the Court Rules, are the controlling forms, with line items for income, health insurance, child care, government benefits, and other dependents. The estimate shown here is a simplified preview. The completed official worksheet, reviewed by the court, is what actually determines support in your case.
Does New Jersey use gross income or net income to figure support?
New Jersey starts from each parent's gross income from nearly any source, including salary, wages, commissions, self-employment, severance, royalties, dividends, interest, capital gains, pensions, Social Security, workers' compensation, unemployment, and recurring gifts. The guideline then works from monthly net income after the deductions the rules allow, and it is those net figures that are combined and prorated on the worksheet. Because so many income types count, reporting every source matters. The calculator here uses simplified inputs, so treat its result as an estimate rather than the figure your finalized New Jersey worksheet will produce.
How does shared parenting or a 50/50 schedule change support in New Jersey?
When the paying parent has at least 28 percent of the overnights, New Jersey switches from the Sole-Parenting Worksheet to the Shared-Parenting Worksheet. That worksheet recognizes that both homes carry direct costs for the child, so it adjusts the basic obligation to reflect the time and expenses shared between the parents. A roughly equal schedule usually lowers the transfer amount compared with a sole-parenting case, but it rarely drops to zero, because the guideline still prorates costs by each parent's income share. The court reviews the actual overnights claimed before applying the shared formula.
Can income be imputed to an unemployed or underemployed parent in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey courts can impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, so a parent cannot lower support simply by quitting or taking less work. The court looks at the parent's earning capacity based on factors like work history, education, skills, and the local job market, then enters an income figure on the guideline worksheet as if the parent were earning it. Because imputation involves judgment about earning capacity, the calculator on this page cannot perform it. For a contested imputation question, consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or the Office of Child Support Services.
When does child support end in New Jersey?
Under New Jersey's Termination of Obligation to Pay Child Support Act, child support ends by operation of law when the child turns 19 unless a court order extends it. Support can continue up to age 23 if the child is enrolled full-time in post-secondary education or is disabled. Termination is not automatic in the sense of erasing what is owed, and any unpaid arrears still survive. Because deadlines and extension requests have specific procedures, parents nearing these ages should confirm the rules with the Office of Child Support Services or a licensed New Jersey attorney rather than relying on the estimate here.
How do I change my New Jersey child support order, and how is it enforced?
To change an order, you file a motion in the family part of the superior court or request a review through the New Jersey Office of Child Support Services. New Jersey requires a substantial change in circumstances, such as a major income shift or a change in custody, and there is no fixed percentage variance you must hit. For enforcement, OCSS can use immediate income withholding, tax intercept, license suspension, lien filings, credit reporting, passport denial, and contempt referrals to family court. The estimate here helps you prepare, but the court and the official worksheet decide the final amount.