Raising kids isn’t cheap—and when parents don’t live together, figuring out how to split financial responsibilities can feel overwhelming. That’s where our Iowa Child Support Calculator comes in. It’s a simple tool to help you get a rough idea of what child support might look like in your situation.
To get an estimate, the calculator asks for a few key details:
Parent 1 and Parent 2 Monthly Gross Incomes
This is how much each parent earns in a month before taxes or deductions. Include wages, bonuses, self-employment income, or anything else that counts as regular income.
Number of Children
Choose how many children you’re calculating support for. The calculator uses general percentages based on Iowa’s child support tables. While actual support amounts may be higher or lower depending on your specific case, this gives you a ballpark figure.
Custodial Parent
This is the parent the children live with most of the time. That parent usually receives child support from the other parent (known as the “obligor”).
Iowa uses something called the “Income Shares Model.” That means both parents’ incomes are added together to figure out how much they would spend on their children if they still lived in the same household. Then, the cost is split between the parents based on how much each one earns.
For example, if Parent 1 earns $3,000 a month and Parent 2 earns $2,000, Parent 1 makes 60% of the total income. If Parent 2 is the custodial parent, Parent 1 might be expected to pay about 60% of the support amount.
This calculator uses standard percentages to estimate the total cost of support, then assigns a portion of it to the non-custodial parent. It gives you a general idea, but your actual child support order might be different based on other factors like medical expenses, daycare costs, or shared custody.
This calculator doesn’t cover everything. Courts may adjust the numbers for things like:
Still, it’s a great starting point if you’re trying to understand what to expect.
If you're going through a divorce or custody case in Iowa, it's important to get guidance that fits your family’s needs. Our attorneys can walk you through the process and help make sure the final child support amount is fair and reasonable.
Need help? Contact O’Flaherty Law today—we’re here to support you and your family.
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