Delaware Child Support Calculator

How is Child Support Calculated in Delaware?

Delaware calculates your child support using the Melson Formula to ensure both your needs and your children's needs are met first. Under 13 Del. C. § 514, the court allows each of you a self-support reserve, then covers the children's primary needs, and finally divides any remaining income to let your children share in both parents' standard of living.

Understanding the Delaware Melson Formula

In Delaware, child support can be adjusted if you have a shared parenting arrangement. This adjustment, governed by the Delaware Child Support Formula worksheet, applies when a child spends more than 109 overnights per year with the non-primary parent. The formula then modifies the calculation to account for the increased direct expenses paid by that parent during their parenting time.

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✓ Verified for 2026 Guidelines • Reviewed October 2026 by Harmoney

Delaware Child Support Guidelines at a Glance

Guideline Model Melson Formula
Governing Legal Authority 13 Del. C. § 514; Family Court Civil Rule 52(c)
Shared Custody Threshold 110 Overnights (30% time)
Age Support Ends Age 18 (or 19 if in High School)
Modification Standard 10% Change in Support Amount

Delaware Child Support FAQs


At what age does child support end in DE?

Child support in Delaware ends when a child turns 18, but it can continue until they graduate high school or turn 19, whichever occurs first, as required by 13 Del. C. § 501(d). If your child is still a full-time high school student on their 18th birthday, the support obligation continues until graduation or their 19th birthday.

How is child support calculated if one parent is unemployed in DE?

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, a Delaware court will impute income to them based on their earning capacity, considering their work history, qualifications, and local job opportunities. This practice, outlined in the instructions for the Delaware Child Support Formula, ensures a parent cannot avoid their financial responsibility by choosing not to work, though exceptions exist for disability.

How do I modify a child support order in DE?

You can modify a child support order in Delaware by proving a "real and substantial change of circumstances," and a 10% or greater change in the calculated support amount creates a presumption that this standard has been met. To begin, you must file a Petition for Modification with the Family Court based on a significant change in income, parenting time, or a child's needs.

Does DE child support cover college expenses?

No, Delaware law does not require a parent to pay for college expenses as part of a child support order, as the obligation terminates at age 18 or 19 upon high school graduation. Parents may, however, create a separate, legally binding agreement to contribute to post-secondary education costs, which can be enforced by the court.

How does DE handle health insurance and childcare costs?

Necessary work-related childcare expenses and the cost of health insurance premiums for the children are added to the basic child support obligation and are divided between the parents in proportion to their share of combined net income. These are treated as mandatory "add-on" expenses in the Delaware Child Support Formula, and the parent who pays them directly receives a credit in the calculation.