New Jersey Child Support Calculator (2026)
New Jersey calculates child support under income-shares guidelines (N.J. Ct. R. 5:6A; N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23; Rules Appendix IX-A through IX-H). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: combined net weekly income of both parents.
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 New Jersey 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
New Jersey 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 (N.J. Ct. R. 5:6A; N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23; Rules Appendix IX-A through IX-H). The calculator above interpolates the official schedule for a quick estimate — health-insurance, child-care, and parenting-time adjustments come on top.
How New Jersey Calculates Child Support
New Jersey uses the Income Shares Model under Court Rule 5:6A and Rules Appendix IX (IX-A through IX-H). Uniquely, NJ's Appendix IX-F schedule is denominated in WEEKLY combined NET income (not monthly/annual gross, as in most income-shares states) — the basic obligation is read off the schedule and split between parents by each one's share of the combined net income. Appendix IX-F itself was substantively revised effective September 1, 2025, based on a 2024 marginal-cost re-analysis of Consumer Expenditure Survey data; Appendices IX-A, IX-B, IX-E and IX-H get a separate annual updating amendment each June 1 (self-support reserve, poverty guideline, tax-withholding tables) — most recently effective June 1, 2026.
Statutory basis: N.J. Ct. R. 5:6A; N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23; Rules Appendix IX-A through IX-H. Exact figure: official New Jersey calculator.
Official Schedule — Excerpt
Basic support obligation at selected combined incomes (combined net weekly income of both parents), from the official New Jersey schedule:
| Combined income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $770 | $244 | $291 | $330 |
| $1,150 | $319 | $366 | $426 |
| $1,730 | $396 | $450 | $542 |
| $2,310 | $458 | $516 | $642 |
Worked Example
Two children, combined net weekly income $1,150 (~$59,800/yr): Appendix IX-F lists a basic obligation of $366/week. If the Parent of Alternate Residence (PAR, the non-custodial parent) nets $700/week (60.9% of the combined income) and the Parent of Primary Residence (PPR) nets $450/week (39.1%), the PAR's proportional share is 0.609 × $366 ≈ $223/week, payable to the PPR (before health-insurance/childcare add-ons or parenting-time adjustments). Converted to a monthly figure per NJ practice: $223 × 4.3 ≈ $959/month.
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- Child's extraordinary medical, educational, or therapeutic needs beyond what the schedule assumes
- Other legal dependents / prior existing support obligations of a parent
- Parenting-time arrangements that fit neither the Sole-Parenting nor Shared-Parenting Worksheet
- Combined net income above the $187,200/year (~$3,600/week) schedule cap — 'Extreme Parental Income Situations'
- Significant disparity in parents' standard of living, or substantial assets/income otherwise available to the child
- Obligor's net income at or near the self-support reserve, triggering the low-income adjustment
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a maximum (cap) on child support in New Jersey?
Yes — the Appendix IX-F schedule applies only up to $187,200 combined net income per year ($3,600/week); the schedule itself may not be extrapolated beyond that. Above the cap, the court sets a supplemental, discretionary amount using the factors in N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23 instead of the formula.
What counts as income under NJ's guidelines?
Appendix IX-B defines income broadly — wages, bonuses, overtime, commissions, self-employment income, unemployment and workers' comp, investment income, and more. Unlike most income-shares states that start from GROSS income, New Jersey's schedule runs on NET income (after taxes, mandatory union dues, and mandatory retirement contributions), using the Appendix IX-H combined tax-withholding tables to convert gross to net.
How does shared custody change the amount?
When the non-custodial parent (the 'Parent of Alternate Residence') has roughly 28% or more of overnights per year (about 103+ nights), the Shared-Parenting Worksheet applies instead of the Sole-Parenting Worksheet: the basic obligation is increased to reflect duplicated fixed costs in both households, then divided between parents by both their income share and their share of overnights, typically lowering the paying parent's net obligation versus a sole-parenting order.
Until what age does NJ child support run, and does it cover college?
Support presumptively terminates at age 19, but can be extended — on request, before the child turns 19 — up to a hard maximum of age 23, generally for a child still enrolled full-time in high school or a post-secondary program, or with a disability. Courts can also allocate a portion of college/post-secondary costs as part of a support order or guidelines deviation under Appendix IX-A §18 and the Newburgh v. Arrigo factors.