West Virginia Child Support Calculator (2026)
West Virginia calculates child support under income-shares guidelines (W. Va. Code § 48-13-101 et seq. (schedule at § 48-13-301; above-table formula at § 48-13-303)). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: combined monthly adjusted gross 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 West Virginia 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
West Virginia 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 (W. Va. Code § 48-13-101 et seq. (schedule at § 48-13-301; above-table formula at § 48-13-303)). The calculator above interpolates the official schedule for a quick estimate — health-insurance, child-care, and parenting-time adjustments come on top.
How West Virginia Calculates Child Support
West Virginia uses the Income Shares model under W. Va. Code §§ 48-13-101 through 48-13-303: the parents' combined monthly adjusted gross income is run through the official schedule of monthly basic child support obligations in § 48-13-301, then the total obligation is split between the parents in proportion to their respective share of that combined income (§ 48-13-201). The current schedule was revised in 2023 (2023 Regular Session SB 573 and 2023 First Special Session HB 112) following the Support Enforcement Commission's guidelines review; the next quadrennial review is scheduled for 2026.
Statutory basis: W. Va. Code § 48-13-101 et seq. (schedule at § 48-13-301; above-table formula at § 48-13-303). Exact figure: official West Virginia calculator.
Official Schedule — Excerpt
Basic support obligation at selected combined incomes (combined monthly adjusted gross income of both parents), from the official West Virginia schedule:
| Combined income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,300 | $543 | $826 | $999 |
| $5,000 | $782 | $1,181 | $1,416 |
| $7,500 | $957 | $1,432 | $1,699 |
| $10,000 | $1,121 | $1,657 | $1,944 |
Worked Example
Two children, combined monthly adjusted gross income of $5,000 (Parent A earns $3,000/mo = 60% share, Parent B earns $2,000/mo = 40% share). The § 48-13-301 schedule sets the basic obligation for 2 children at a $5,000 combined income at $1,181/month. Parent A's presumptive share is 60% × $1,181 = $708.60 (≈$709/month), before adding each parent's proportional share of health insurance premiums, work-related child care, or other extraordinary expenses under § 48-13-202, and before any shared-parenting adjustment under §§ 48-13-401 to -404 if the paying parent has substantial overnight time with the children.
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- Special needs of a disabled child or of an obligor
- Educational expenses for private, parochial, trade, or post-secondary schooling
- Families with more than six children (beyond the table's six-child column)
- Extraordinarily high long-distance visitation/transportation costs
- Obligor's pre-existing duty to support other children
- Whether the guideline amount would reduce the obligor's household income below the federal poverty level
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cap on how much child support can be ordered in West Virginia?
Not a hard cap. The official schedule (§ 48-13-301) tops out at $35,000/month combined adjusted gross income (support of $2,527–$5,799/month depending on the number of children), but for income above that level § 48-13-303 keeps adding support using fixed marginal percentages (8.8%–19.6% of the excess, depending on the number of children), so the obligation keeps rising with income.
What counts as income for West Virginia child support?
West Virginia defines 'gross income' very broadly (W. Va. Code § 48-1-228): wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, tips, self-employment income (net of ordinary business expenses), pensions, Social Security, unemployment and workers' compensation benefits, interest, dividends, royalties, in-kind compensation, and averaged seasonal/sporadic income. It excludes means-tested benefits (TANF, SSI, food stamps) and child support received for other children.
How does shared or split custody affect West Virginia child support?
When parents share meaningful overnight time, the court uses the Basic Shared Parenting Worksheet under §§ 48-13-401 to -404, which divides the basic obligation between the parents in proportion to income and then adjusts it for the actual time each parent has the children. The exact overnight threshold that triggers the shared-parenting worksheet is set out in the official worksheet instructions.
Until what age does child support run in West Virginia, and does it cover college?
Per BCSE guidance, a support order generally stays in effect until the youngest child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever is later. West Virginia has no general statutory duty for parents to pay for a child's college expenses, though extraordinary/post-secondary educational expenses can be a basis for the court to deviate from the guideline amount under § 48-13-702.