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Parents searching for “minimum child support by state” usually want a clean number they can rely on. In practice, child support law rarely works that way. There is no single U.S. minimum child support payment that applies nationwide. Every state sets its own guidelines, builds its own formulas, and applies its own low-income protections.
In 2026, the right way to think about minimum child support is not as a flat national fee, but as a legal framework that varies by state and by family.
Courts and child support agencies calculate a presumptive amount using income, parenting time, number of children, health insurance, child care, and other facts. Federal law requires guidelines and regular review, but leaves the math to the states.
Today, we prepared a practical breakdown of how minimum child support actually works in 2026, why the number looks different from state to state, and how to find the real minimum that applies in your situation.
Why There Is No National Minimum Child Support Amount
Child support law does not operate on a federal price list. Congress requires each state to maintain child support guidelines, but it does not impose a uniform dollar floor.
Federal rules require states to:
- Maintain one set of statewide guidelines
- Apply numeric criteria to calculate support
- Treat the guideline result as presumptively correct
- Review guidelines at least every 4 years
- Make guidelines and review reports publicly available
- Address children’s health care needs
- Avoid treating incarceration as voluntary unemployment
Within those guardrails, states design their own formulas. As a result, two parents with similar incomes can receive different presumptive child support amounts depending on where they live.
Parenting time credits, low-income adjustments, and how child care or medical costs are treated all vary.
The National Conference of State Legislatures, commonly referenced as the National Conference of State Legislatures, has long noted that states rely on different guideline models, which explains much of the variation across jurisdictions.
Note: That state-level flexibility is why consulting a jurisdiction-specific family law firm, such as Dellino Law in Seattle, can be critical when interpreting how guidelines apply to a real case.
The Real Answers to “What Is the Minimum Child Support in My State?”
In 2026, most accurate answers fall into one of three categories:
- A published presumptive minimum exists
- A low-income formula applies instead of a flat amount
- No single public minimum exists because the order is calculated case by case
That is why a state-by-state review must start with legal structure first, then talk about dollar floors.
The 2026 Legal Baseline Every Parent Should Know
Before looking at dollar amounts or state differences, every parent needs a clear picture of the federal rules and baseline legal principles that shape how child support works in 2026.
Child Support Is Guideline-Based, Not Built From Scratch
Federal regulation requires a rebuttable presumption that the guideline result is correct. Courts can deviate, but they generally must explain why the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate in that case. Parents rarely negotiate support from a blank page.
States Must Review Guidelines Every 4 Years
Federal rules require a quadrennial review, publication of review reports and effective dates, and public input. Even if a state does not make headlines with a change, its guidelines are still examined on a regular cycle.
Health Care Support Is Built Into the Framework
Guidelines must address how children’s health care needs are met, whether through insurance, cash medical support, or allocation of uncovered expenses. Basic support numbers often do not tell the full story.
Low-Income Protections Matter Most in “Minimum” Cases
What people call “minimum child support” is often a low-income adjustment rather than a flat fee. Many states use a self-support reserve so the paying parent retains enough income for basic living expenses. NCSL notes that most guideline systems include some version of this concept.
The Four Guideline Models That Drive State Differences
States rely on different mathematical models to calculate support. According to NCSL, the breakdown looks like this:
- Income Shares Model: Uses both parents’ incomes and allocates support proportionally. This is the most common model.
- Percentage of Income Model: Applies a percentage to the noncustodial parent’s income.
- Melson Formula: A more complex system that builds in parental basic needs before calculating child support.
- District of Columbia Hybrid Model: A varying percentage approach adjusted by formula.
NCSL’s classification identifies 41 states using Income Shares, 6 using Percentage of Income, 3 using the Melson Formula, and the District of Columbia using a hybrid approach.
2026 Updates That Directly Affect Minimum Calculations
Some states publish updates or values that are especially relevant when parents ask about minimum support.
Washington: 2026 Changes and the Self-Support Reserve
The Washington Department of Social and Health Services confirms that legislative changes adopted in 2025 took effect January 1, 2026. The Economic Table now covers combined monthly income from a minimum of $2,200 to a maximum of $50,000.
Washington courts also publish the 2026 self-support reserve. As of January 13, 2026, the reserve increased to $2,394, reflecting 180% of the federal poverty guideline for one person.
Practical impact: even when the per-child floor remains nominal, changes to the self-support reserve can materially affect low-income calculations.
Hawaii: A Published Minimum Child Support Amount
Hawaii stands out because it publishes a clear minimum. The Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency states that guideline-calculated support must be followed unless an exceptional circumstance allows departure, and it expressly identifies a minimum child support amount of $91 per child per month.
The Hawaii Judiciary confirms that the 2024 guidelines remain in effect and govern cases in 2026 unless updated again.
North Carolina: A Low-Income Minimum Order Example
North Carolina’s guideline materials explain a self-support reserve approach. For obligors with adjusted gross income below $1,150.00, the guidelines require, absent deviation, a minimum support order of $50.
That figure is not universal. It applies only under specific low-income conditions, which illustrates how “minimum child support” usually works in practice.
Florida: No Single Flat Minimum
Florida’s statute handles minimum support differently. When an obligor’s net income falls below the guideline schedule, courts still order support on a case-by-case basis.
The statute uses a “total minimum child support amount” framework tied to poverty guideline calculations rather than a single statewide dollar floor.
Practical impact: asking for “the minimum” in Florida can be misleading without looking at income, expenses, and statutory formulas.
New York: 2026 Chart and Self-Support Reserve
New York released its 2026 Child Support Standards Chart on 03/01/2026. The chart lists:
- A 2026 self-support reserve of $21,546
- A 2026 HHS poverty guideline amount for one person of $15,960
The chart also includes low-income ranges where annual obligations can be as low as $300. The chart is an approximation tool, not a substitute for statutory calculation under Family Court Act § 413.
Practical impact: New York offers helpful public benchmarks, but the actual order still depends on statutory rules and case facts.
State-by-State Snapshot for 2026: Guideline Models
The table below provides a reliable national map of the baseline guideline model used in each state. It offers a strong starting point for understanding how minimum child support works in 2026.
Model classification reflects NCSL’s state model summary.
What “Minimum Child Support” Usually Includes, and What It Does Not
A frequent mistake is assuming the minimum represents the entire monthly obligation. In many cases, it does not.
Child support orders often include or allocate:
- Health insurance premiums for the child
- Uncovered medical expenses
- Work-related child care costs
- Educational or special-needs expenses in certain cases
- Parenting time adjustments
Federal rules require health care needs to be addressed in guideline design. State statutes often specify how child care and medical expenses are added to the base amount. Florida’s statute provides a clear example of this layered approach.
Pennsylvania’s 2026 Rules
Pennsylvania illustrates why even parents focused on the lowest possible number must pay attention to guideline updates.
The Pennsylvania Code provides that support is determined under the support guidelines, applies a rebuttable presumption to the guideline result, and requires review at least every 4 years.
The controlling issue is not a static statewide minimum. The current schedule, formulas, and deviation standards drive the outcome.
How to Find the Real Minimum in Your Case
Finding the real minimum child support amount in your situation requires starting with official state rules and walking through the same steps courts and agencies use to calculate support.
Step 1: Start With Official State Sources
Use primary sources such as:
- State judiciary child support guideline pages
- State child support enforcement agencies
- Statutes or court rules
- Official calculators or worksheets
Arizona’s judiciary site, Indiana’s DCS materials, Hawaii Judiciary, North Carolina DHHS, and Washington DSHS offer solid examples of reliable starting points.
Step 2: Check the Effective Date
Guidelines change. Some states implement major updates quietly. Washington clearly flagged its January 1, 2026 changes. Arizona and other states identify review cycles and active versions on court pages.
Step 3: Identify the Type of Minimum Your State Uses
Common structures include:
- Flat published minimums, such as Hawaii’s $91 per child per month
- Low-income minimum orders, such as North Carolina’s $50 under a defined threshold
- Formula-based minimum needs, as used in Florida
- Chart and reserve-based low-income frameworks, as seen in New York
Step 4: Include All Required Inputs
The minimum can change based on:
- Number of children
- Parenting time
- Child care costs
- Health insurance
- Other support obligations
- Evidence supporting deviation
Step 5: Review Deviation Rules
Guideline amounts are presumptive, not automatic. Courts can deviate when justified, but federal regulation requires deviations to be documented with findings.
Federal Context That Affects State Minimums in 2026
Low-income adjustments often reference federal poverty guidelines. For 2026, the HHS poverty guideline for one person in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia is $15,960, with higher figures for Alaska and Hawaii.
States tie these figures directly into their systems:
- Washington uses 180% of the federal poverty guideline to calculate its self-support reserve
- New York’s 2026 chart lists both the poverty guideline and the self-support reserve
As federal poverty guidelines change, state minimum calculations often follow.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
- Confusing a minimum order with a universal payment – Minimum orders often apply only in low-income scenarios and can be adjusted by added costs.
- Using outdated calculators or charts – Guideline updates matter. Always verify effective dates.
- Ignoring medical and child care costs – Basic support is often only part of the obligation.
- Assuming interstate moves reset support – Jurisdiction and modification rules are more complicated. Official guidance matters.
FAQs
Final Takeaway
In 2026, “minimum child support by state” is a useful search phrase, but an incomplete legal answer.
The real minimum depends on the state’s guideline model, low-income protections, self-support reserve, effective guideline version, and case-specific facts. Federal law requires consistency and regular review, but it does not set a national dollar amount.
When checking a specific state, rely on official court or child support agency sources and confirm effective dates before trusting any quoted minimum.
