Rhode Island child support guidelines
Rhode Island uses an income-shares guideline under R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16.2 — support is based on both parents’ incomes. This page explains it and links the official OCS worksheet; it doesn’t compute your amount.
How the Rhode Island formula works
Following the seven-step Form FC-78 worksheet:
- Combine both parents’ gross monthly incomes;
- Find the basic obligation on the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations for the number of children;
- Allocate it proportionally by each parent’s income share;
- Add health insurance and childcare, and account for prior support obligations.
The current schedule is set by Administrative Order 23-02 (effective July 1, 2023).
Shared placement, the self-support reserve, and modification
Rhode Island’s key parenting-time line is 128 overnights (about 35%): at or above it, the Family Court applies a shared-placement adjustment that lowers the obligation for direct spending during that time. With true 50/50 placement (about 182 overnights each), the court cross-calculates — each parent’s obligation is figured as if the other had custody, and the higher earner pays the difference. A self-support reserve of about $1,325/month protects a low-earning obligor. Support ends at 18 and high-school graduation (up to 19 if still in school at 18), and a change producing an order 10% or more different is grounds to modify.
Use the official worksheet
The Rhode Island Office of Child Support Services publishes the official guidelines and Form FC-78 worksheet (linked above). Use it for an estimate; this page only explains the model. The Family Court has final authority over the amount.
For a real case
The guideline amount is presumed correct but can be adjusted when it would be unfair. For advice on your situation, consult a Rhode Island family-law attorney.
Reviewed by Aqil Abbas Khan, Founder & Editor of ToolsNexus
This page is general information, not legal advice. Child support in Rhode Island is set by Rhode Island’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 Rhode Island calculator for an actual estimate, and consult a licensed family-law attorney in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
- Rhode Island uses an income-shares model under R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16.2. Following the seven-step Form FC-78 worksheet, it combines both parents' gross monthly incomes, finds the basic obligation on the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations, and allocates it by each parent's share of the combined income.
- What goes into the Rhode Island formula?
- Both parents' gross monthly incomes, the number of children, annual health insurance premiums for the children, work-related childcare, and any pre-existing child support obligations. The current schedule comes from Administrative Order 23-02, effective July 1, 2023.
- How does shared physical placement change support?
- When the non-custodial parent has 128 or more overnights a year (about 35%), the Family Court applies a shared-placement adjustment that reduces the obligation for direct spending during that time. With true 50/50 placement (about 182 overnights each), the court cross-calculates — each parent’s obligation is figured as if the other had custody, and the higher earner pays the difference.
- Is there a self-support reserve, and until what age is support paid?
- Yes. A self-support reserve of about $1,325 a month protects a low-earning paying parent. Support generally ends at 18 and high-school graduation; if the child is still in high school at 18, it continues until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first. A change producing an order 10% or more different is grounds to modify.
- Where do I get an official estimate?
- Use the Rhode Island Child Support Guidelines and Form FC-78 worksheet linked on this page, published by the Office of Child Support Services. This page explains the model but does not compute an amount, and it is not legal advice.