Child Custody Calculator

How Courts Decide Custody

Every state uses the best interests of the child standard. Courts look at the existing bond between each parent and the child, each parent's ability to meet the child's day-to-day needs, school and community ties, whether each parent is likely to support the child's relationship with the other parent, any history of domestic violence, and the child's own preferences if they are old enough to express them thoughtfully.

Custody and Child Support

Parenting time directly affects child support calculations in most states. More time with the child generally means lower child support obligations. At 50/50 custody, the higher-earning parent typically pays support to the lower earner to equalize the child's standard of living across both homes. Use our child support calculator to see how different custody percentages affect the payment amount in your state.

Frequently Asked Questions