North Carolina Child Support Guidelines
What are the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines? They are statewide rules that set a child support amount using each parent’s gross income, the number of overnights, health insurance premiums for the child, work-related childcare, and proven extraordinary expenses. Courts calculate support on Worksheet A, B, or C and usually include wage withholding and medical support language so payments are on time and trackable.
Start with the right worksheet and clean inputs. This guide explains the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines from the basics to advanced topics like deviations, credits, and interstate enforcement.
Start by situation
NC child support search journey: from first question to final order
1) Initial query
“How is child support calculated in North Carolina?” Learn the guideline definition, worksheet types, and inputs.
Related: Child Support Guidelines NC, NC child support calculation
2) Refined searches
“Worksheet A vs B vs C,” “medical support,” “childcare add-ons,” “deviation,” “retroactive.” Read medical support, add-ons, and deviation.
Related: North Carolina Child Support Guidelines, NC worksheet B shared custody
3) Final intent
“I need the right number and a clean order.” Go to checklist, sample calculation, and order and enforcement. Then book a review.
Related: guidelines for child support in NC, modify support, wage withholding
Worksheets A, B, and C under the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines
The Guidelines use three worksheets based on overnights and how children split time between homes:
- Worksheet A (Primary Custody) — one home has most overnights. See Worksheet A in NC.
- Worksheet B (Shared Custody) — substantial time in both homes. See Worksheet B in NC.
- Worksheet C (Split Custody) — siblings reside in different homes. See Worksheet C in NC.
Tip: A simple parenting-time calendar for the last 60 to 90 days helps confirm the right worksheet.
Guideline inputs: what the court needs to calculate support
Core inputs
- Gross income for each parent (wages, self-employment, bonuses, recurring commissions)
- Overnights for each home
- Health insurance premiums attributable to the child
- Work-related childcare (net of any credits)
- Extraordinary expenses (for example, special needs or agreed activities with real cost)
Proof that helps
- Recent pay stubs, W-2 or 1099, tax return
- Insurance statements that show the child portion of the premium
- Childcare contracts and payment receipts
- Schedules or calendars that show overnights
- Invoices for proven extraordinary costs
Medical support and unreimbursed expenses
Orders must set who carries insurance, the child’s coverage details, and how unreimbursed expenses are shared. Many orders split unreimbursed costs by income share with clear rules for notice and repayment. For a deeper dive, see Health Insurance and Childcare Add-Ons.
Childcare and extraordinary expenses
Work-related childcare is counted when it is needed to work or look for work. Extraordinary expenses may include special needs or agreed educational costs. Keep proof simple and dated so the numbers can be verified.
Example: Sample NC child support calculation (illustrative)
This shows how inputs flow through a worksheet. It is not legal advice for your case.
| Input | Parent A | Parent B |
|---|---|---|
| Gross monthly income | $4,500 | $3,000 |
| Overnights | 260 | 105 |
| Child’s health insurance premium | $120 | $0 |
| Work-related childcare | $0 | $300 |
| Extraordinary expenses | $0 | $0 |
With these inputs, the court would select the correct worksheet based on overnights, apply income shares, then adjust for insurance and childcare. The final number depends on the worksheet and the specific formula in the Guidelines.
Deviation from the Child Support Guidelines in NC
Most cases follow the Guidelines. A judge can set a different amount when the guideline number is not fair or not in the child’s best interests. Strong proof and written findings are required. Common reasons include special needs, high travel costs for exchanges, or very high income. Learn more: Deviation From Guidelines.
Retroactive support and payment credits
Courts can address support owed before the first order and support owed between filing and the first hearing. Bring clean proof of any direct payments so you receive proper credits. See Retroactive Support & Payment Credits.
Orders, wage withholding, and enforcement
Final orders usually include wage withholding so payments run through payroll and are tracked. For missed payments, the court can use compliance plans, arrears schedules, or contempt where appropriate.
Out-of-state orders and UIFSA
If your child support order is from another state, we register it in North Carolina under UIFSA and confirm which court has power to modify. This avoids duplicate cases and clears the path for enforcement. See related: Interstate & International.
People also ask about the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines
How do I calculate child support in NC?
What counts as income under the Guidelines?
Do courts always follow the NC Guidelines?
How are medical and dental costs handled?
Can child support be changed later?
What to bring and your first 72 hours with our team
Documents checklist
- Two months of pay stubs, W-2 or 1099, and the most recent tax return
- Health insurance premium statements that show the child portion
- Childcare invoices or contracts with payment history
- A simple overnight calendar for the past 60 to 90 days
- Any prior support orders or IV-D notices
Your first 72 hours
1) Strategy
Confirm the right worksheet and data sources.
2) Proof
Gather income, insurance, childcare, and add-on records.
3) Draft
Prepare the guideline worksheet and exhibits.
4) Order
Proposed language for wage withholding and medical support.
5) Follow-through
Confirm payroll and insurers process the order correctly.
Explore the NC child support hub
Your North Carolina Child Support Lawyer
Krispen Culbertson has handled guideline calculations, deviations, wage withholding, arrears ledgers, retroactive claims, and interstate enforcement for more than 20 years in District Courts across North Carolina.
Memberships: North Carolina State Bar; local family law sections. Courts: Weekly District Court calendars in Guilford County and surrounding counties.
Practice insight
Case study: In a shared custody case with high travel costs, we documented mileage, schedules, and airfare receipts. The court approved a limited deviation and added clean language on medical support. Payroll implemented the new amount the next cycle and billing confusion stopped.
Related resources in our custody and support library
Many families work through custody and support at the same time. You may also find these helpful:
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Culbertson & Associates
315 Spring Garden St Ste #300, Greensboro, NC 27401
Phone: (336) 272-4299 • Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
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