How North Carolina Calculates Child Support for Two Children

North Carolina does not set a fixed dollar amount for child support — instead, a formula based on both parents' income determines what each parent owes

North Carolina uses an income shares model, which means the court calculates how much it would cost to raise your children, then splits that cost between parents based on what percentage of the household income each parent earns. For two children, the percentage of income owed is typically between 14% and 22%, depending on the combined income of both parents and which parent has custody.

The actual dollar amount depends on three things: how much each parent earns, how much time each parent spends with the children, and whether either parent pays for health insurance or child care. Because these numbers are different for every family, there is no single "correct" amount that applies to all cases with two children.

If you are trying to figure out what you might owe or what you might receive, you need to know both parents' gross monthly income (before taxes) and the custody arrangement. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services publishes a child support guidelines worksheet that shows how the calculation works step by step.

Key Takeaways

• North Carolina calculates child support as a percentage of combined parental income, not a flat amount per child.
• The percentage owed for two children ranges from roughly 14% to 22% of combined income, depending on how much each parent earns.
• The actual dollar amount also depends on custody time, health insurance costs, and child care expenses.
• You can read the official child support guidelines worksheet from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to see how your situation would calculate.
• If parents agree on an amount, a judge must still approve it to make sure it meets state guidelines or there is a written reason why it does not.

How the income shares formula works in North Carolina

The formula starts by adding together both parents' gross monthly income. Gross income includes wages, salary, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, and some types of benefits — but not child support you are already paying for other children or spousal support you are already paying.

Once you have the combined income, North Carolina's child support guidelines table tells you what percentage of that income should go toward child support for two children. The table changes based on income level. For example, if combined income is $3,000 per month, the guideline percentage might be 18%. If combined income is $8,000 per month, it might be 16%. The percentages are lower at higher income levels because the cost of raising children does not increase dollar-for-dollar with income.

That percentage is then split between the parents based on each parent's share of the combined income. If one parent earns 60% of the combined income and the other earns 40%, the parent earning 60% pays 60% of the total child support obligation. The parent with primary custody may also receive a credit if they are paying for health insurance or child care.

What counts as income for child support in North Carolina

North Carolina's definition of income is broader than just a paycheck. The court includes:

• Wages, salary, and hourly pay
• Bonuses and commissions
• Self-employment income (business profit after business expenses)
• Rental income from property
• Interest and dividend income
• Social Security benefits (but not Supplemental Security Income)
• Unemployment benefits
• Military allowances and housing
• Pension and retirement distributions

Income that does not count includes child support you are already paying for other children, spousal support you are already paying, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and means-tested public information like TANF or food stamps.

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed — meaning they could earn more but choose not to — the court may assign them imputed income based on what they could reasonably earn. This prevents a parent from deliberately lowering their income to reduce their child support obligation.

How custody time affects the amount owed

The percentage of time each parent spends with the children can lower the amount one parent owes. If both parents share custody roughly equally (each parent has the children at least 123 overnights per year), the calculation adjusts to account for the fact that both parents are directly spending money on the children during their time.

The parent with less custody time typically pays more, because the other parent is covering more of the day-to-day costs like food, utilities, and housing. If one parent has the children 80% of the time and the other has them 20%, the adjustment is larger.

However, even with equal custody, one parent usually still owes the other if their income is significantly higher. The formula assumes that the higher-earning parent should contribute more toward the children's standard of living, regardless of how much time they spend with them.

Health insurance and child care costs

If one parent pays for the children's health insurance, that cost is subtracted from their income before calculating the percentage owed. For example, if a parent's gross income is $4,000 per month and they pay $200 per month for health insurance for the children, their income for child support purposes is treated as $3,800.

Child care expenses work the same way. If a parent pays for daycare or after-school care so they can work, that cost reduces their income for the calculation. This recognizes that the parent is already spending money directly on the children's care.

The parent receiving child support does not automatically pay for health insurance, but the court often orders the higher-earning parent to carry it and may order the other parent to reimburse a portion of the premium. This is separate from the base child support amount.

Finding the official North Carolina child support guidelines

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services publishes the official Child Support Guidelines document each year. This document contains the income table that shows what percentage applies at different income levels for one child, two children, three children, and so on.

You can read the guidelines and the calculation worksheet from the DHHS website under the Child Support Services section. The worksheet walks through each step: listing both parents' income, explore the percentage from the table, adjusting for custody time, subtracting health insurance and child care, and arriving at the final amount.

If you are working with a family law attorney, they will use this same worksheet. If you are representing yourself in court, having the completed worksheet ready shows the judge that you understand the calculation and have done the math correctly.

What happens if parents agree on a different amount

Parents can agree to pay more or less than the guideline amount, but the agreement must be put in writing and approved by a judge. The judge will review the agreement to make sure both parents understand what they are agreeing to and that the amount is not so low that it harms the children's welfare.

If the agreed amount is different from the guideline, the judge usually requires a written explanation of why the parents believe the guideline amount is unfair or inappropriate in their situation. Common reasons include one parent having significant debt, one parent having other children to support, or both parents wanting to prioritize college savings.

An agreement to pay less than the guideline does not mean the court will automatically reject it, but it does mean the judge will look more carefully at whether the children's needs are still being met.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does North Carolina charge more per child if there are two children instead of one?

No. The percentage owed for two children is lower than for one child because the cost of adding a second child to a household is less than the cost of the first child. For example, you do not need two houses or two electric bills. The guideline percentage for two children might be 18%, while for one child it might be 20% of combined income.

What if one parent makes much more money than the other?

The higher-earning parent pays a larger share of the child support obligation based on their percentage of combined income. However, North Carolina's guidelines table caps the calculation at a certain income level (this amount changes yearly), so extremely high earners do not automatically owe an extremely high amount. Above that cap, the judge has discretion to set an amount based on the children's actual needs and the parents' standard of living.

Can child support change if one parent loses their job?

Yes, but only if the job loss is involuntary and the parent is making a good-faith effort to find new work. A parent cannot straightforward quit their job to lower their child support obligation. If a parent loses income, they can file a motion to modify the child support order, but the court will review the circumstances to make sure the change is genuine.

Do I have to use the guideline amount, or can I negotiate something different?

You can negotiate a different amount, but a judge must approve it. If you and the other parent reach an agreement outside of court, put it in writing and have it signed by both of you. The judge will review it to make sure it is fair and that the children's needs are being met before making it an official court order.

Where do I find the current income table for North Carolina?

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services publishes updated guidelines each year, usually in July. You can read the current guidelines and worksheet from their website under Child Support Services. Your family law attorney or the local child support enforcement office can also provide you with a copy.