North Dakota Child Support Calculator (2026)
North Dakota calculates child support under percentage-of-income guidelines (N.D. Admin. Code ch. 75-02-04.1 (schedule at § 75-02-04.1-10); N.D.C.C. § 14-09-09.7). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: obligor's monthly net income (not combined with the other parent's income).
Enter the income above to see the guideline estimate.
Simplified guideline estimate — before health-insurance, childcare, and parenting-time adjustments. For the exact figure use the official North Dakota 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
North Dakota calculates child support as a percentage of obligor's monthly net income (not combined with the other parent's income) under the official guidelines (N.D. Admin. Code ch. 75-02-04.1 (schedule at § 75-02-04.1-10); N.D.C.C. § 14-09-09.7) — the exact rate depends on income level and the number of children. The calculator above interpolates the official schedule for a quick estimate; adjustments come on top.
How North Dakota Calculates Child Support
North Dakota does not use a combined-income model. Instead, N.D. Admin. Code ch. 75-02-04.1 calculates the presumptive support obligation from a lookup schedule (§ 75-02-04.1-10) applied ONLY to the obligor's (paying parent's) monthly net income — the custodial parent's income is not part of the base calculation. 'Net income' is a hypothetical figure: gross income minus a hypothetical single-filer federal income tax, a hypothetical state tax equal to 11% of that federal amount, FICA/self-employment tax, and specific allowed deductions (§ 75-02-04.1-01(6)). The guidelines undergo a federally required quadrennial review; the most recent amendments took effect July 1, 2023, but that revision explicitly left the dollar schedule unchanged — the schedule in force has been unchanged since its last amendment effective January 1, 2019.
Statutory basis: N.D. Admin. Code ch. 75-02-04.1 (schedule at § 75-02-04.1-10); N.D.C.C. § 14-09-09.7. Exact figure: official North Dakota calculator.
Official Schedule — Excerpt
Basic support obligation at selected combined incomes (obligor's monthly net income (not combined with the other parent's income)), from the official North Dakota schedule:
| Combined income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $431 | $562 | $665 |
| $3,000 | $590 | $846 | $1,007 |
| $5,000 | $907 | $1,415 | $1,691 |
| $8,000 | $1,382 | $2,269 | $2,717 |
Worked Example
An obligor with $4,000 in monthly net income who owes support for two children pays $1,131/month under the § 75-02-04.1-10 schedule — this figure does not change based on the other parent's income. If a court order gives that obligor more than 100 overnights per year with the children ('extended parenting time'), the amount is further reduced using the § 75-02-04.1-08.1 overnight-based formula; if the parents instead have true 50/50 equal residential responsibility, § 75-02-04.1-08.2 requires calculating a separate obligation for each parent (as if the other had primary responsibility) and offsetting them, with only the difference owed.
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- Support is sought for more than six children (increased need)
- Obligor's monthly net income exceeds $25,000 and the child has demonstrated additional needs
- Educational costs voluntarily incurred at private schools with the obligor's prior written concurrence
- Increased needs of children with disabling conditions or chronic illness
- Increased needs of children age twelve or older
- Obligee's net income is at least three times higher than the obligor's net income (reduced needs of the child)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Dakota child support depend on the other parent's income?
No. Unlike 'income shares' states, North Dakota's guidelines (N.D. Admin. Code § 75-02-04.1-10) calculate the base support amount from the obligor's (paying parent's) net monthly income alone. The obligee's income isn't part of the formula, though a large income gap can be grounds for a deviation: if the obligee's net income is at least three times higher than the obligor's, the court may reduce the amount under § 75-02-04.1-09(2)(p).
What counts as income for North Dakota child support?
'Gross income' under § 75-02-04.1-01(4) includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, Social Security, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, pensions, retirement distributions, and even imputed earning-capacity income for an unemployed or underemployed obligor. It excludes means-tested public assistance and certain non-liquidable employee benefits. From that, 'net income' subtracts a hypothetical single-filer federal tax, a hypothetical state tax (11% of the federal amount), FICA/self-employment tax, and specific allowed deductions such as the child's health insurance premium share.
How does shared or extended parenting time affect the North Dakota amount?
If the obligor has more than 100 court-ordered overnights per year with the child ('extended parenting time'), § 75-02-04.1-08.1 reduces the schedule amount using a formula tied to the overnight count. If the parents instead have true equal (50/50) residential responsibility, § 75-02-04.1-08.2 requires a separate support obligation to be calculated for each parent as if the other had primary residential responsibility, and the two obligations are offset, with only the difference paid.
Until what age does child support last in North Dakota, and does it cover college?
Under North Dakota's mutual duty of support (N.D.C.C. § 14-09-08), support generally runs until the child turns 18. If the child is still enrolled in and attending high school and turns 18 before their expected graduation date, support automatically continues until the end of the month of graduation or the child's 19th birthday, whichever occurs first (N.D.C.C. § 14-09-08.2). The guidelines do not require support to continue through college.