South Dakota child support guidelines
South Dakota uses an income-shares guideline under SDCL Chapter 25-7 — support is based on both parents’ net incomes. This page explains it and links the official DSS calculator; it doesn’t compute your amount.
How the South Dakota formula works
The guideline works in steps:
- Combine both parents’ net monthly incomes;
- Find the basic obligation on the Child Support Obligation Schedule for that income and the number of children;
- Allocate it proportionally by each parent’s income share;
- Add health insurance and childcare, and apply the shared-parenting worksheet when it fits.
South Dakota uses official form SE-481A; the online calculator covers combined net income up to $30,000/month.
Shared parenting, imputed income, and modification
South Dakota’s shared-parenting adjustment turns on a high threshold: under SDCL § 25-7-6.27, when a detailed plan gives the child at least 180 overnights a year in each home (roughly equal time), the court may grant a cross-credit based on the nights with each parent. Income can be imputed — § 25-7-6.4 presumes each parent can work at least 1,820 hours/year at minimum wage absent a disability or long incarceration. Support ends at 18, or 19 if still a full-time high-school student, and a recalculation 20% or more off the current order (§ 25-7-6.9) justifies modification.
Use the official calculator
The South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support publishes the official Obligation Calculator and worksheet (linked above). Use it for an estimate; this page only explains the model. The 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 unjust. For advice on your situation, consult a South Dakota family-law attorney.
Reviewed by Aqil Abbas Khan, Founder & Editor of ToolsNexus
This page is general information, not legal advice. Child support in South Dakota is set by South Dakota’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 South Dakota calculator for an actual estimate, and consult a licensed family-law attorney in South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
- South Dakota uses an income-shares model under South Dakota Codified Law Chapter 25-7. It combines both parents' net monthly incomes, finds the basic obligation on the Child Support Obligation Schedule for the number of children, and allocates it by each parent's share — with a separate worksheet for shared parenting.
- What goes into the South Dakota formula?
- Both parents' net monthly incomes, the number of children, health insurance and childcare costs, and the parenting arrangement. South Dakota uses official form SE-481A (Child Support Obligation Worksheet Based on Income Shares); the online calculator covers combined net income up to $30,000 per month.
- When does shared parenting change the amount?
- Under SDCL § 25-7-6.27, when a detailed parenting plan gives the child at least 180 overnights a year in each home (roughly equal time), the court may grant a cross-credit based on the number of nights with each parent. Below that threshold the standard worksheet applies, so the 180-night line is the main swing factor.
- Can income be imputed, and until what age is support paid?
- Yes. Under SDCL § 25-7-6.4 a court presumes each parent can work at least 1,820 hours a year at minimum wage unless there is a disability or long incarceration, so income can be imputed to a non-working parent. Support ends at 18, or 19 if the child is still a full-time high-school student. A recalculation 20% or more off the current order justifies modification.
- Where do I get an official estimate?
- Use the South Dakota Child Support Obligation Calculator linked on this page, published by the Department of Social Services. This page explains the model but does not compute an amount, and it is not legal advice.