Missouri Child Support — How It Works

Missouri calculates child support with Form 14 — an income-shares worksheet built on both parents’ combined income under RSMo § 452.340. This page explains the rules and links the official court forms; it doesn’t compute your amount.

How the Missouri formula works

Form 14 works in steps:

Combine both parents’ adjusted gross incomes;
Find the presumed obligation on the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations for that income and the number of children;
Allocate it proportionally by each parent’s share of the combined income;
Adjust for health insurance, childcare, and the Line 11 visitation credit.

The Supreme Court of Missouri updated Form 14 effective January 1, 2026, so download the current schedule before running numbers.

The Line 11 visitation credit, duration, and modification

Missouri’s parenting-time adjustment lives on Line 11, a chart that credits the paying parent by overnights: under 36 overnights a year is a 6% reduction, scaling up to roughly 34% near equal time (181–183 overnights). On duration, support generally ends at 18 but can continue to 21 for a child enrolled in and attending post-secondary or vocational school who meets the statute’s conditions — later than most states. To modify, RSMo § 452.370 treats a recalculation that is 20% or more different from the current order as a prima facie showing of the substantial and continuing change required; income can be imputed to a voluntarily unemployed or underemployed parent.

Use the official worksheet

The Supreme Court of Missouri publishes Form 14, its directions, and the support schedule (linked above). Use them for an estimate; this page only explains the model. The court has final authority and can rebut the presumed amount.

For a real case

The Form 14 amount is presumed correct but can be rebutted when it would be unjust. For advice on your situation, consult a Missouri family-law attorney.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in Missouri?

Missouri uses an income-shares approach through Form 14, the Child Support Amount Calculation Worksheet, under RSMo § 452.340. It combines both parents' adjusted gross incomes, finds the presumed obligation on the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, and allocates it by each parent's share, producing the presumed correct amount.

What is Form 14?

Form 14 is Missouri's official worksheet for calculating the presumed child support amount. The Missouri Courts publish three documents you need: the worksheet (CS 01 Form 14), the directions for completing it, and the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations. The Supreme Court updated Form 14 effective January 1, 2026.

How does overnight time change the Missouri amount (Line 11)?

Form 14 Line 11 gives the paying parent a visitation credit based on overnights, from a chart: fewer than 36 overnights a year is a 6% reduction, scaling up to about 34% at 181–183 overnights (near-equal time). Because the credit steps with overnights, counting them accurately matters.

Until what age is support paid, and when can it change?

Missouri support generally ends at 18, but continues to 21 for a child enrolled in and attending post-secondary or vocational school who meets the statute’s enrollment and credit-hour conditions. Under RSMo § 452.370, a recalculation that is 20% or more different from the current order is a prima facie showing of the substantial and continuing change needed to modify.

Where do I get the official worksheet?

Use the Missouri Courts child-support forms (Form 14) linked on this page. This page explains the model but does not compute an amount, and it is not legal advice.

Missouri child support guidelines

How the Missouri formula works

The Line 11 visitation credit, duration, and modification

Use the official worksheet

For a real case

Sources

Frequently asked questions