Delaware Child Support 2026

On $5,000 / $3,000 monthly gross · 2 children · Parent A 70% custody · Parent B pays, our engine estimates about $183 per month ($2,196 annually) for Delaware.

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.

Compared with Texas (~$750) and California (~$183) on the same vignette, Delaware sits at dense rank #6.

Delaware follows income shares (or a Melson/hybrid variant routed as income shares). This ranking hub uses a simplified shared schedule so we do not invent official table cells; Delaware therefore may match other income-shares states on the 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.

Deep-link to the interactive calculator: /child-support-calculator/delaware.

Change Parent A/B incomes, custody percent, children, and add-ons on the Delaware calculator page. Rankings stay locked to the vignette for apples-to-apples comparison.

Official agency tools remain authoritative when they diverge from our educational estimate.

Case-specific deviations, imputed income, and multi-family credits

Full official income-shares lookup tables unique to each state

Health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary medical add-ons (unless entered in the calculator)

Interstate UIFSA enforcement details and arrears

Tax dependency / child tax credit interactions (see related tools)