Alaska Child Support Calculator – Accurate & Easy to Use

What Is the Alaska Child Support Calculator?

The Alaska Child Support Calculator is an online tool that estimates the monthly child support payment one parent may owe. It uses the guidelines from Alaska law and takes into account:

• Custody type (sole, shared, or divided custody)
• Number of children
• Gross annual income of each parent
• Deductions (taxes, retirement contributions, other support obligations)
• Health insurance costs for the children
• Parenting time (overnights) in shared custody cases

Important note: The calculator is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for legal advice or a court order.

How the Alaska Calculator Works

The calculator follows Alaska Civil Rule 90.3, which outlines percentage-based formulas.

1. Sole / Primary Custody

• One parent (the obligor) pays support to the other.
• Support is based on a percentage of the obligor’s adjusted annual income:
  • 20% for 1 child
  • 27% for 2 children
  • 33% for 3 children
  • 36% for 4 children
  • 39% for 5 or more children
• Payments are capped at $138,000 adjusted income per year.

2. Shared Custody

• Applies when both parents have the child at least 110 nights per year.
• Each parent’s income and overnights are considered.
• The formula offsets the obligations, and the parent with the higher share usually pays the difference.

3. Divided Custody

• Used when each parent has at least one child living with them full-time.
• The calculator determines what each parent would owe the other, then subtracts the amounts to find the net transfer.

4. Health Insurance Adjustments

• The calculator adds or subtracts health insurance costs depending on who pays for coverage.

Example: How a Calculation Might Look

Let’s say Parent One earns $60,000 a year, has $5,000 in deductions, and provides health insurance for one child.

• Adjusted income: ~$50,910 (after deductions and FICA adjustment)
• Base support: 20% = $10,182 annually
• Health insurance cost: $1,200 annually
• Total obligation: ~$11,382 annually or about $948 per month

This number is an estimate. The court makes the final determination.

Why Use the Calculator?

Parents often find child support rules confusing. The calculator simplifies things by:

Giving a quick estimate before going to court
Helping both parents budget and plan ahead
Allowing parents to compare different custody scenarios
Reducing confusion about how income and deductions impact support

Limitations to Keep in Mind

• The calculator is not legal advice.
• It may not cover complex situations (e.g., self-employment income, extraordinary medical expenses, arrears).
• Actual court-ordered support could differ from the estimate.

If your case involves special circumstances, it’s wise to talk to a family law attorney or the Alaska Child Support Services Division (CSSD).