North Dakota Child Support Calculator

Estimate North Dakota child support for 2026 using the Percentage of Income (Varying) guideline model under N.D. Admin. Code § 75-02-04.1. Enter both parents' incomes and the parenting-time split to see what you may owe or receive.

North Dakota uses a Varying Percentage of Income model under N.D. Admin. Code § 75-02-04.1. The percentage applied to the obligor's income changes with income brackets and number of children, with a statutory cap on the income subject to the standard percentages.

North Dakota's standard calculation applies a percentage to the paying parent's net income and does not reduce the amount for ordinary visitation. Parenting time only changes the number when care is closely split. Under N.D. Admin. Code section 75-02-04.1, a separate equal-care worksheet is used when each parent has the child at least 175 overnights per year, which can lower the obligation. Below that threshold, more overnights do not automatically cut the support figure.

The cost of the child's health insurance is one of the adjustments built into North Dakota's guideline under N.D. Admin. Code section 75-02-04.1. The premium attributable to the child is factored into the worksheet rather than ignored, so the parent who pays for coverage gets credit. Because the on-page tool is only an estimate, confirm exactly how the premium is entered on the official North Dakota worksheet, which is the controlling form.

Work-related child care and daycare costs are treated as an adjustment in North Dakota under N.D. Admin. Code section 75-02-04.1, not as part of the base percentage. These expenses are accounted for on the guideline worksheet so the parent who incurs them is not left covering them alone. The calculator on this page gives a rough estimate, so verify the actual child care figures on the official North Dakota worksheet before relying on them.

North Dakota's guideline amount under N.D. Admin. Code section 75-02-04.1 is presumed correct, so a judge starts from the worksheet number. A court may deviate only when the parent asking for a different amount shows that the guideline figure would not be in the child's best interest given the facts of the case. The burden is on the parent seeking the deviation. This page is an estimate and not legal advice, so the official worksheet and a licensed attorney control the final number.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in North Dakota?

North Dakota uses a Varying Percentage of Income model under N.D. Admin. Code section 75-02-04.1, administered by the North Dakota Child Support Division within the Department of Health and Human Services. The calculation starts with the paying parent's net monthly income, which is gross income from all sources reduced by federal and state taxes, FICA, mandatory retirement, mandatory union dues, and existing child support orders. A percentage set by the guideline is then applied, and that percentage varies by income bracket and the number of children, with a cap on the income subject to the standard percentages. The calculator here is only an estimate, so the official worksheet and an attorney control the real figure.

Is there an official North Dakota child support worksheet I should use?

Yes. North Dakota's guideline calculation under N.D. Admin. Code section 75-02-04.1 is run on an official worksheet, and that worksheet is the controlling form a court relies on. The North Dakota Child Support Division also provides an official online calculator through the Department of Health and Human Services. The estimate on this page is a helpful starting point, but it cannot replace the state worksheet, which captures net income, the health insurance and child care adjustments, and any equal-care figures. Always confirm your numbers on the official worksheet, and consider having a licensed North Dakota attorney review the result before you rely on it in court.

What counts as income for North Dakota child support?

North Dakota bases support on net monthly income under N.D. Admin. Code section 75-02-04.1. That means gross income from all sources is first totaled, then reduced by federal and state taxes, FICA, mandatory retirement contributions, mandatory union dues, and any existing child support orders the parent already pays. Because the guideline reaches income from all sources, items like overtime, bonuses, and self-employment earnings are generally part of gross income before the allowed deductions are subtracted. The percentage applied also varies with income and the number of children. This page only estimates the result, so verify the income figures on the official North Dakota worksheet.

How does shared or 50/50 parenting change support in North Dakota?

Ordinary visitation does not change North Dakota's standard guideline amount, but closely shared parenting can. Under N.D. Admin. Code section 75-02-04.1, a separate equal-care worksheet applies when each parent keeps the child at least 175 overnights per year. That worksheet can reduce the obligation because both households are sharing the day-to-day costs of the child. If your time falls short of that overnight threshold, the standard percentage of net income calculation still controls. Since the on-page tool is only an estimate, run the actual numbers on the official North Dakota equal-care worksheet or have an attorney confirm whether you qualify.

What happens to child support arrears in North Dakota?

Past-due child support, called arrears, does not disappear in North Dakota and is enforced aggressively by the North Dakota Child Support Division. The agency can collect through immediate income withholding, intercepting tax refunds, suspending licenses, filing liens, reporting the debt to credit bureaus, and referring cases for contempt. Modifying your going-forward order does not erase arrears that already built up. If you have fallen behind, contact North Dakota Child Support promptly to discuss payment because the balance keeps accruing. This page is an estimate of current support only and is not legal advice about resolving an existing arrears balance.

When can a North Dakota child support order be modified?

In North Dakota, a 15 percent change between your existing order and a fresh guideline calculation under N.D. Admin. Code section 75-02-04.1 supports a modification. You can file a motion in district court or ask the North Dakota Child Support Division to review the order. Common reasons the number shifts include a real change in either parent's net income, a change in the number of children supported, or a move into the equal-care threshold of 175 overnights per year. Because this calculator only estimates support, rerun your figures on the official worksheet to see whether you likely meet the 15 percent variance before filing.

When does child support end in North Dakota?

North Dakota child support generally ends when the child turns 18. If the child is still attending high school at that point, support can continue up to age 19. The North Dakota Child Support Division also recognizes that continuing support may be ordered for a disabled adult child who cannot support themselves. Support does not automatically stop the day a child reaches the age of majority if a high school exception or disability situation applies, so review your specific order. This page provides an estimate only, and the official North Dakota worksheet and a licensed attorney control how and when your obligation actually ends.