Delaware
$183
Income shares · monthly
- Annual
- $2,196
- Dense rank
- #6
Compare different states
2026
2026Delaware vs California Child Support
Delaware and California both estimate $183/mo on the vignette.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Key finding
Delaware and California tie on monthly estimate
Both estimate $183/mo on $5,000 / $3,000 monthly gross · 2 children · Parent A 70% custody · Parent B pays. Income-shares ties often reflect this hub’s simplified shared schedule.
Side-by-side child support scoreboard
California
$183
Income shares · monthly
- Annual
- $2,196
- Dense rank
- #6
Key takeaways — Delaware vs California
- Delaware and California both estimate about $183/mo on $5,000 / $3,000 monthly gross · 2 children · Parent A 70% custody · Parent B pays.
- Delaware: Income shares. California: Income shares.
- Dense ranks: Delaware #6; California #6 (#1 = highest monthly estimate).
- If either side uses income shares, remember this hub’s simplified shared schedule can cause ties that official worksheets would not.
- Personalize at /child-support-calculator.
Rule contrast (2026)
| Topic | Delaware | California |
|---|---|---|
| Guideline model | Income shares | Income shares |
| Vignette monthly | $183 | $183 |
| Vignette annual | $2,196 | $2,196 |
| Dense rank | #6 | #6 |
| Guideline citation | Delaware Child Support Guidelines (Melson Formula) — Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 52 | California Family Code §§ 4050–4076 (Income Shares) |
| Official resource | https://courts.delaware.gov/family/childsupport/ | https://childsupport.ca.gov/guideline-calculator/ |
Paying-parent income ladder
| Parent B gross | DE monthly | CA monthly | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $0 | $50 | $50 |
| $3,000 | $183 | $183 | $0 |
| $5,000 | $536 | $536 | $0 |
| $8,000 | $701.54 | $701.54 | $0 |
How to read Delaware vs California
Delaware vs California child support in 2026
This page compares guideline estimates for Delaware (DE) and California (CA) on $5,000 / $3,000 monthly gross · 2 children · Parent A 70% custody · Parent B pays, calculated from our engine.
Monthly estimates tie at about $183. That often means both rows use the simplified income-shares schedule — not that official tables are identical.
Delaware uses an income-shares guideline model (NCSL). This hub’s engine uses a simplified shared income-shares schedule — many income-shares states therefore tie on the locked vignette. Delaware uses the Melson Formula (developed by a Delaware Family Court judge, Dalton v. Clanton, 559 A.2d 1197). The Melson Formula is a more complex variant of the income shares model: it first deducts each parent's self-support reserve, then calculates primary support obligations, and children share in any remaining income. This calculator uses a simplified income shares approximation — actual Melson Formula results will differ. Use the official Delaware calculator for precise amounts.
California uses an income-shares guideline model (NCSL). This hub’s engine uses a simplified shared income-shares schedule — many income-shares states therefore tie on the locked vignette. California uses income shares model. Estimates typically vary by ±10-15% due to court discretion and case-specific circumstances.
Guideline model contrast
Delaware citation: Delaware Child Support Guidelines (Melson Formula) — Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 52. California citation: California Family Code §§ 4050–4076 (Income Shares).
Profiles: /child-support-by-state/delaware and /child-support-by-state/california.
Not legal advice — court worksheets and agency calculators control.
How the gap can change with income
The ladder below recomputes monthly estimates as Parent B’s gross monthly income changes (Parent A income and custody stay at vignette defaults).
Percentage-of-income states often scale more steeply with obligor income than the simplified income-shares schedule.
Limits of this comparison
No invented per-state income-shares table numbers. Melson/hybrid accuracy notes still apply where relevant.
Health insurance, childcare add-ons, and multi-family credits are omitted on the ranking vignette.
Who this comparison helps
Useful if…
- •Parents weighing Delaware vs California orientation numbers
- •Editors illustrating percentage-of-income vs income-shares gaps
- •Users deciding which state calculator to open next
Use official tools if…
- •Treating a hub tie as identical official guidelines
- •Litigation strategy without counsel
- •Interstate jurisdiction questions beyond this vignette
Comparison checklist
- 1Confirm models: Income shares vs Income shares.
- 2Read accuracy notes on both state profiles.
- 3Run custom incomes at /child-support-calculator.
- 4Cross-check each state’s official calculator.
What the monthly gap means
Identical vignette estimates — often because both use the simplified income-shares schedule. Official worksheets can still differ.
Limits of this comparison
We do not invent per-state income-shares table numbers. Melson/hybrid notes, add-ons, and deviations may change real outcomes. Use each state’s official calculator.
Delaware vs California child support FAQs
Delaware and California tie at about $183/mo on this vignette (often because both use the simplified income-shares schedule).
Delaware: Income shares (Delaware Child Support Guidelines (Melson Formula) — Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 52). California: Income shares (California Family Code §§ 4050–4076 (Income Shares)).
No. This educational engine shares one simplified income-shares schedule across those states. Official tables, worksheets, and deviations differ — confirm with each state’s calculator.
Not necessarily. Recompute with the income ladder on this page or the child support calculator — percentage-of-income and income-shares paths scale differently.
Both estimate the same monthly on this vignette; open each official calculator to see how real worksheets diverge.
No. Educational engine output only. Courts apply official guidelines and evidence.
Compare another pair
Compare any two states
Guideline estimates on $5,000 / $3,000 monthly gross · 2 children · Parent A 70% custody · Parent B pays.
Related child support comparisons
Related tools
Child support calculatorModel any incomes, custody, and stateChildcare cost by stateCenter-based infant and preschool costsChild tax credit calculatorFederal CTC / ACTC estimatesUS paycheck calculatorFederal, state, and FICA take-homeDTI calculatorDebt-to-income with support paymentsState tax compareSide-by-side state income tax