Kentucky Child Support Calculator (2026)
Kentucky calculates child support under income-shares guidelines (KRS 403.212). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: combined monthly adjusted parental gross income.
Enter the income above to see the guideline estimate.
Simplified guideline estimate, interpolated from the official schedule — before health-insurance, childcare, and parenting-time adjustments. For the exact figure use the official Kentucky calculator.
Your Case Details
Answer a few questions to see your estimated range.
Approximate gap between higher-earner and lower-earner.
Estimated Monthly Support
$840 — $1,560
State formulas vary significantly. This estimate uses national averages — your state's guidelines may produce a different number.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Kentucky uses the income-shares model: both parents' incomes are combined, the official schedule sets a basic support obligation, and each parent owes their proportional share (KRS 403.212). The calculator above interpolates the official schedule for a quick estimate — health-insurance, child-care, and parenting-time adjustments come on top.
How Kentucky Calculates Child Support
Kentucky follows the income shares model under KRS 403.212: the parents' combined monthly adjusted gross income is applied to the child support table codified in the statute itself, which lists basic support amounts by number of children (1 to 6+); the obligation is split in proportion to each parent's income share (worksheet CS-71 of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services / Attorney General). A major overhaul came with HB 501 (2022 Ky. Acts ch. 122, effective July 14, 2022), adding a new self-support reserve, income-imputation rules, and a parenting-time credit (KRS 403.2121/403.2122); the table itself was last revised by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 219 (effective July 1, 2025) and now covers combined monthly income up to $30,000 (previously $15,000).
Statutory basis: KRS 403.212. Exact figure: official Kentucky calculator.
Official Schedule — Excerpt
Basic support obligation at selected combined incomes (combined monthly adjusted parental gross income), from the official Kentucky schedule:
| Combined income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,300 | $517 | $759 | $917 |
| $5,000 | $751 | $1,103 | $1,332 |
| $7,500 | $962 | $1,372 | $1,643 |
| $10,000 | $1,099 | $1,533 | $1,844 |
Worked Example
Combined monthly adjusted gross income of both parents: $5,000, two children → basic support obligation per the official table: $1,103/month (KRS 403.212(9)). If the paying parent (obligor) earns $2,000 of the $5,000 (= 40% of combined income), they pay 40% × $1,103 = $441/month — before add-ons for health-insurance and child-care costs (KRS 403.211) and before any parenting-time credit starting at 73 visitation days/year (KRS 403.2121/403.2122).
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- Extraordinary medical, dental, educational, job-training, or other special needs of the child
- A parent's own extraordinary needs, such as their own medical expenses
- The child's own independent financial resources
- Combined adjusted parental income exceeding the top of the guidelines table ($30,000/month)
- An agreement between the parents, knowingly and voluntarily made, for a different amount (except where public assistance is received)
- A parent's repeated failure to exercise court-ordered visitation/parenting time
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cap on child support in Kentucky?
There is no hard dollar cap, but the statutory table ends at $30,000 combined monthly adjusted parental income (top row: $2,003 for 1 child up to $4,314 for 6 or more children). Above that, the amount is in the court's discretion (KRS 403.212(7)).
What counts as income for Kentucky child support?
'Gross income' covers essentially every source — wages, salaries, bonuses, retirement and pension funds, commissions, dividends, interest, capital gains, Social Security and disability benefits, SSI, gifts/prizes, and spousal support received. Expressly excluded are means-tested public assistance (incl. Title IV-A) and food stamps (KRS 403.212(3)(b)).
How does shared or split custody affect support in Kentucky?
Starting at 73 visitation days per year, an automatic parenting-time credit applies under KRS 403.2121/403.2122, ranging from 10.5% (73-87 days) to 50% (182-182.5 days, true equal time). In a true split-custody situation (each parent has sole custody of different joint children), two separate worksheets are prepared and only the difference between the two amounts is paid (KRS 403.212(8)).
Until what age does child support run in Kentucky, and does it cover college?
Generally until the 18th birthday (KRS 403.213); if the child is still a full-time high school student, the obligation continues until graduation or the end of the school year in which the child turns 19. Kentucky has no statutory obligation to fund college.