NY State Child Support Online Resources

To determine a noncustodial parent's ability to pay child support, the child support staff will investigate the noncustodial parent's income and assets. This investigation is completed through inquiries to employers and banks.

The NY state child support staff also conduct computer searches of the State Wage Reporting System, the New Hire Reporting System, and state and federal income tax information.

_{Skip Down To NY State Child Support Calculation Chart}

Local NY State child support staff will assist custodial parents to file a petition in Family Court to obtain a child support order. Information about the noncustodial parent's ability to pay is presented to the court to calculate the support amount. The court will use a standard guideline to figure out what the noncustodial parent will pay.

Generally, the child support amount is based on the noncustodial parent's adjusted gross income and on how many children are involved. The court then multiplies the adjusted gross income by the standard guideline percentage for the number of children involved.

These percentages are:

• 17% for one child,
• 25% for two children,
• 29% for three children,
• 31% for four children, and
• 35% or more for five or more children.

A share of child care, medical, and educational expenses are added to the percentage amount. The share of expenses plus the percentage amount is how they arrive at the basic child support amount.

The standard guideline percentage is applied to almost all parental income up to $130,000 (minus certain local and Social Security tax amounts). Income counted generally includes worker's compensation, disability payments, unemployment benefits, Social Security payments, and certain other forms of income.

The State of New York will also assist the custodial parent in obtaining and enforcing a court order for health insurance coverage for the child if it is available through the noncustodial parent. They will help file a petition with Family Court to get health insurance included in the support order and will enforce the coverage if it is available through the noncustodial parent's employer but has not been provided as ordered.

To modify a child support order in the state of New York, either parent or the State can file a petition in Family Court to request a modification to an existing child support order. The modification petition should be based on the fact that either the custodial or noncustodial parent's circumstances have materially changed.

Every two years the child support agency automatically reviews each child support order to determine cost of living increases. If the cost of living has increased by more than ten percent since the order was made or since the last review, the child support order amount will increase by the amount of the change in the cost of living.

The cost of living adjustments can be made without going to court. For non-temporary assistance or non-safety net cases, a notice is sent to both parents when a case is eligible for a cost of living adjustment, and either parent may request the adjustment. For cases where the custodial parent or child is on temporary or safety net assistance, the cost of living adjustment is automatically made when the case becomes eligible— without either parent requesting the adjustment.

This NY State Child Support Standards Chart can be used to determine an approximate annual child support obligation. It uses the latest data from the State of New York revised in April of 2010.

Helpful link to the Official New York State Child Support Resources

NYS Child Support Processing Center
PO Box 15363
Albany, NY 12212

NY State Child Support Helpline:
1-888-208-4485

_{Return to Main Child Support page from NY State Child Support}