Michigan Child Support Calculator
Michigan sets child support with the Michigan Child Support Formula, a manual and supplement published by the State Court Administrative Office. The current edition took effect on January 2025. This calculator follows its General Care Equation for each parent's base support, the low-income equations, the parental time offset for overnights, and the medical, health insurance and child care shares.
After taxes and allowable deductions
After taxes and allowable deductions
Out of 365; the rest are with Parent B
Net of subsidies and tax credits
Net of subsidies and tax credits
The children's share of the premium only
The children's share of the premium only
Estimated monthly child support
Parent A (pays support)
Annual amount
Who pays
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Combined monthly net income | $7,000.00 |
| Parent A income share 57.14% of combined net income | 0.5714 |
| Parent A base support | $792.00 |
| Parent B base support | $594.00 |
| Base support after the parental time offset 100 overnights with Parent A, 265 with Parent B; Parent A pays | $681.00 |
| Ordinary medical (Parent A's share of $16.67 a month) | $9.53 |
| Monthly child support Parent A pays | $691.00 |
This is a guideline estimate under MCL 552.605; 2025 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual (SCAO) for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for the official worksheet or a family-law attorney. Courts can deviate from guideline amounts based on statutory factors, and inputs like income determination or imputed income are ultimately decided by the court.
Michigan child support at a glance
| Model | Income shares (monthly net income) |
| Low Income Threshold | $1,255 a month |
| Parenting time | Offset equation, overnights^2.5 |
| Ordinary medical | $200 a child a year |
| Children in the tables | 1–5 or more |
| Formula effective | January 2025 |
Base support from the General Care Equation
Add both parents' monthly net incomes, counting a parent's income only if it is above the Low Income Threshold. Find the table line with the highest income level that does not exceed that family income, take its base support plus its marginal percentage of the income over the level, and multiply by the parent's share of family income (rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent). Above the top level of $17,871.57 a month the top line continues, and a court may use discretion when income greatly exceeds it.
Low incomes
A parent with monthly net income at or below the $1,255 Low Income Threshold pays 10% of their own income as base support. Just above it, the Low Income Transition Equation (10% of the threshold plus 50%–70% of the income over it, depending on the number of children) applies when it is lower than the General Care result.
Parenting time offset and add-ons
Both parents' base support is netted with the parental time offset, which applies whenever the children spend overnights with both parents. Equal time with equal incomes means no payment; with equal time, the higher-income parent pays some support. The paying parent then adds their share of the other parent's health insurance premium and child care, less the other parent's share of their own, and their share of the presumed ordinary medical amount ($200 a child a year).
Frequently asked questions
Does Michigan use gross or net income for child support?
Net income. The formula starts from all income and subtracts income and FICA taxes and the deductions the manual allows, such as required union dues, nondiscretionary retirement contributions and the cost of the parent's own health coverage. Enter each parent's monthly net income; the calculator does not compute taxes.
How do overnights affect child support in Michigan?
Through the parental time offset equation. Each parent's base support is weighted by the other parent's annual overnights raised to the 2.5 power, so small amounts of time change little and the reduction grows as time approaches equal. The offset applies whenever the number of overnights with each parent can be determined, and every order must state the overnights used.
What is the low income threshold in Michigan child support?
$1,255 of monthly net income in the 2025 supplement. A parent at or below it pays 10% of their income as base support, and their income is left out of the family income used for the other parent.
Is there a cap on child support in Michigan?
No fixed cap. The General Care Support Tables end at $17,871.57 of monthly family net income, and above it the top line's marginal percentage continues. When income greatly exceeds that level, the court may use the table or fashion another result that meets each child's needs.
Who pays for health insurance and medical costs?
Premiums for the children are shared by income: the paying parent's share of the other parent's premium is added and the other parent's share of the payer's premium is subtracted. Most orders also include an annual ordinary medical amount ($200 a child in the supplement), with the payer's share paid monthly and costs above it shared by the order's percentages.
Can a Michigan court deviate from the formula?
Yes, when applying the formula would be unjust or inappropriate, for example for a child's special needs or extraordinary educational expenses. The court must record why and still follow the rest of the formula; deviations cannot rest only on disagreement with the formula's policies.