Separate child support from spousal support.
Organize the two questions separately, then check how your state connects them.
Start with the purpose of the payment
| Question | Child support | Spousal support |
|---|---|---|
| Who is the payment intended to support? | The children covered by the order | A spouse or former spouse |
| What should I identify first? | The state guideline, children and parenting arrangement | The applicable type of support and state law |
| Does this site provide a complete answer? | Guideline calculators for 42 states; official calculator links for the rest | Selected state formulas, advisory ranges and statutory limits; see each state’s scope |
One number should not hide the other
Keep a separate line for each obligation in your planning budget. If someone has a $700 child-support obligation and a $400 spousal-support obligation, listing only “support: $1,100” hides the different purposes and assumptions. These are hypothetical budget figures, not guideline results.
When comparing scenarios, show the income before support, each payment, and the income adjustments required by the worksheet. Do not automatically subtract one support amount from the other. Whether an amount changes the income used in another calculation depends on the relevant rules.
New York illustrates the interaction
New York’s post-divorce worksheets calculate maintenance and then account for maintenance when calculating child support in the combined scenario. A change in maintenance can therefore change the income allocation used in the child-support worksheet. See maintenance worksheet UD-8(2) and child-support worksheet UD-8(3). That sequence should not be copied to another state without checking its rules.
Prepare two sets of questions
- For child support: Which children are covered? Which income definition applies? How are parenting time, insurance, child care and other supported children treated?
- For spousal support: Is the request for temporary or post-divorce support? What legal factors apply? Is there an existing agreement or order? Who will determine the amount and duration?
Gather existing orders and agreements before using an estimate. An informal budget or a new calculator result does not replace the terms already in an order.
Use the tool that fits the question
Start with the state guide for child support. Select child support, spousal support, or both in your state worksheet. The final printable report includes the requested components and their sources. A total appears only when payment direction and state-specific income adjustments are verified. Use the coverage report to understand unavailable amounts; a blank result is not zero. The property inventory is a separate organizational tool; assigning an asset in a draft does not determine either support obligation.
Next: prepare the income records and check what a result includes.
Updated September 17, 2026. Published by Kestervale LLC. Educational information, not legal advice. Report a correction.