In North Carolina, child support for one child is calculated primarily based on the combined gross incomes of the parents, the amount of time the child spends with each parent, and additional expenses such as health insurance and childcare costs. The state uses specific worksheets to determine the amount:
- Worksheet A is used when one parent has primary physical custody (the child lives with one parent more than two-thirds of the time).
- Worksheet B applies when parents share joint custody, with the child spending at least one-third of the time with each parent.
- Worksheet C is for split custody situations, typically when each parent has a child from the relationship.
The calculation starts by determining each parent's gross income, then subtracting deductions like support for other children. The basic child support obligation is based on a schedule reflecting average child expenses, to which childcare, health insurance premiums, and extraordinary expenses are added. The total obligation is then divided between the parents proportionally to their incomes
. For example, if one parent is the primary custodian, the child support amount might be roughly proportional to the noncustodial parent's income share. The minimum child support order in NC is $50 per month
. There is no fixed "average" amount because the payment depends heavily on the parents' incomes and custody arrangements; child support can range from as low as $50 to over $2,500 per month for one child in high-income cases
. To get an estimate for your specific situation, you can use North Carolina's online child support calculators which apply the official worksheets and guidelines
. In summary, for one child in North Carolina, child support is calculated based on:
- Both parents' gross incomes,
- Custody time split,
- Childcare and health insurance expenses,
- Minimum payment of $50,
- Using Worksheet A if one parent has primary custody.
The exact amount varies case by case but can be estimated using state worksheets or online calculators.
