Michigan Child Support Calculator

Michigan uses the Michigan Child Support Formula (MCL 552.519) and the Michigan Child Support Formula Manual. Base ('general care') support is calculated with the General Care Equation, {A + [B x (C - D)]} x E = G, where A is the base support and B is the marginal percentage for the family's income bracket in the General Care Support Table, C is the combined monthly net family income, D is the bracket's lower income level, and E is the parent's share of the combined income. Each parent's base support is then adjusted by Michigan's parental time offset, which is based on the annual overnights each parent has with the children. Work-related childcare and the child's health insurance premiums are added and apportioned by income share.

Income in Michigan includes earnings from all sources including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment income, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, disability insurance, workers' compensation, and spousal support received. Michigan courts may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed without just cause.

Michigan's formula includes a parental time offset that applies to every order, not just when a parent reaches a particular overnight threshold. The offset uses each parent's approximate annual overnights and each parent's base support obligation in the equation [(Ao^2.5 x Bs) - (Bo^2.5 x As)] / (Ao^2.5 + Bo^2.5). Because overnights are raised to the power of 2.5, the offset grows faster than time itself as a parent's share of overnights increases, so the more overnights a parent has, the more their net obligation is reduced under the Michigan Child Support Formula (MCL 552.519).

Yes, either parent can petition to modify child support when there has been a substantial change in circumstances. Michigan allows modification when the difference between the existing order and the newly calculated formula amount meets the threshold set by the Michigan Child Support Formula (generally a change of more than 10% or $50 per month, whichever is greater). Common reasons include significant income changes, changes in overnights, changes in childcare or medical costs, or a child aging out of the order.

In Michigan, child support generally continues until the child turns 18. If the child is still attending high school full time and living with the parent receiving support, the court may order support to continue until age 19 years and 6 months. Support may continue past these ages for a child with a serious disability by agreement or court order. Michigan courts generally cannot order parents to pay for college as part of child support.

Yes. Under the Michigan Child Support Formula (MCL 552.519), work-related and education-related childcare costs and the cost of health insurance premiums for the child are added to the base support obligation before it is divided between the parents. Each parent's share of these additional costs is proportional to their share of the combined income.

This calculator provides an estimate based on the Michigan Child Support Formula. Actual court-ordered support may differ because the friend of the court and judges may deviate from the formula based on factors including the child's special needs, extraordinary expenses, the financial resources of each parent, and other relevant circumstances. Consult a Michigan family law attorney for an accurate assessment.