Delaware child support guidelines
Delaware is one of only three states that use the Melson Formula — a detailed, needs-based model. This page explains how it works and links Delaware’s official Family Court calculator; it doesn’t compute your figure.
The Melson Formula, step by step
Rather than a flat percentage, Delaware’s method (13 Del. Code § 501; Family Court Civil Rules 500–510) works in three stages:
- Self-support first — each parent keeps a basic allowance (about $1,570/month for 2026, tied to the federal poverty guidelines) for their own essential living costs.
- The children’s primary needs — met next, and split between the parents in proportion to their incomes.
- Standard of Living Adjustment (SOLA) — 12% to 21% of any income left over (by number of children) is added, so children benefit as parental income rises.
It also folds in childcare and health-insurance costs and the number of overnights with each parent.
Age, modification, and why we don’t show a number
Support runs to 18, or 19 if still enrolled in high school. Delaware accepts a modification petition after 2.5 years, or earlier on proof of a substantial change causing at least a 10% difference; the formula itself is reviewed every four years. Getting the self-support allowances, the income proration, and the overnight adjustment right is what the official Family Court calculator above is built to do — a figure guessed from gross income would miss most of the model.
For a real case
The formula is the starting point; a Delaware court can adjust for the child’s best interests. For advice on your situation, consult a Delaware family-law attorney.
Reviewed by Aqil Abbas Khan, Founder & Editor of ToolsNexus
This page is general information, not legal advice. Child support in Delaware is set by Delaware’s official guidelines, and the amount in any real case is determined by the court or the state child-support agency using the official worksheet — not by this page. Guideline figures, schedules, and adjustments change over time and depend on facts specific to your situation (each parent’s income, parenting time, health-insurance and childcare costs, and other factors a court may consider). Use the official Delaware calculator for an actual estimate, and consult a licensed family-law attorney in Delaware for advice about your circumstances. ToolsNexus is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
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Frequently asked questions
- How is child support calculated in Delaware?
- Delaware uses the Melson Formula (13 Del. Code § 501; Family Court Civil Rules 500–510) — a needs-based, three-step method. First each parent keeps a basic self-support allowance; then the children's primary needs are met, shared between the parents in proportion to income; then a share of any remaining income (a standard-of-living adjustment) is added. Both parents' incomes, childcare and health-insurance costs, and the number of overnights all factor in.
- What is the Melson Formula?
- It's a model used by only three states — Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana. Unlike a flat percentage, it reserves each parent's own basic living costs before calculating support, then covers the children's needs, then shares surplus income. The goal is to keep both parents self-sufficient while children benefit from a rising standard of living.
- What are the self-support allowance and SOLA percentages?
- Delaware sets a self-support allowance — about $1,570 a month for 2026, tied to the federal poverty guidelines and updated every two years — that each parent keeps before support is figured. The standard-of-living adjustment (SOLA) then adds between 12% and 21% of remaining income depending on the number of children.
- Until what age is support paid, and when can it change?
- Support continues to age 18, or 19 if the child is still enrolled in high school. Delaware accepts a modification petition after 2.5 years from the last order, or earlier on proof of a substantial change causing at least a 10% difference in the calculated amount. The formula itself is reviewed every four years.
- Where do I get an official estimate?
- Use the Delaware Family Court's official online child support calculator linked on this page. This page explains the model but does not compute an amount, and it isn't legal advice.