Equal or shared custody does not mean no child support. Each state decides how much time with both parents changes the amount, and the rules range from a credit for every overnight to no automatic change at all. Here is how all 50 states handle it.
Quick answer: With 50/50 custody the higher earner usually still pays, but less. 17 states use a cross-credit, usually multiplying the basic amount by 1.5 for two homes. 20 give a credit or formula reduction for overnights. 10 have a set rule only for shared or equal time. 3 (New York, Texas and Washington) make no automatic adjustment for time.
"When it counts" is the time the children must spend with each parent before the shared-time rule applies. Select a state to open its calculator, where you can enter your own overnights and see the official sources.
| State | Type | When it counts | How support changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Shared/equal-time rule | Court-ordered 50/50 shared physical custody only (Rule 32, Form CS-42-S). | The basic obligation is multiplied by 150% plus costs, each parent is credited with half plus the costs they pay, and the parent owing more pays the difference. |
| Alaska | Cross-credit | Each parent has at least 30% of overnights (110 a year), Civil Rule 90.3(b). | Each parent's primary amount is multiplied by the other parent's time share, and the difference is multiplied by 1.5, capped at the primary amount. |
| Arizona | Overnight credit | Parenting time table starts at 20 days a year (2022 guidelines). | A percentage (2.5% at 20-34 days, rising with more time) of the basic obligation is subtracted from the paying parent's share. |
| Arkansas | Shared/equal-time rule | Approximately equal time; the court may adjust from 141 overnights (Administrative Order 10). | With equal time the two parents' obligations are offset; below that any reduction is up to the court. |
| California | Overnight credit | No minimum. Every percentage of time counts. | The time share (H%) is built into the guideline formula K x [HN - (H% x TN)]. |
| Colorado | Overnight credit | Credit from the first overnight (C.R.S. 14-10-115). | Each parent gets a credit percentage of the basic obligation for their overnights, subtracted from their share. |
| Connecticut | Shared/equal-time rule | Shared physical custody: substantially equal time. | The presumptive order is the support amount of the parent with the higher net income, paid to the other. Shared custody is also a deviation criterion. |
| Delaware | Overnight credit | 80 or more overnights with the other parent (10% for 80-124, 30% for 125-163); shared placement above 163 each. | Melson formula. In shared placement each household counts as having half of each child. |
| Florida | Cross-credit | At least 20% of overnights (73 a year). | Each obligation is multiplied by 1.5 and by the other parent's overnight percentage; the parent owing more pays the difference. |
| Georgia | Overnight credit | Court-ordered parenting time, averaged over two years; up to 182.5 days counted (rule effective January 1, 2026). | A continuous formula using each parent's days raised to the 2.5 power adjusts the noncustodial parent's share. |
| Hawaii | Overnight credit | More than 143 overnights a year (extensive time-sharing); equal time at about 183. | Support is reduced gradually toward the equal time-sharing amount, which is half the difference between the two parents' amounts. |
| Idaho | Cross-credit | More than 25% of overnights with each parent (92 or more a year), Rule 120. | The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, split by income and by the other parent's time, then offset. No one pays more than without the adjustment. |
| Illinois | Cross-credit | 146 or more overnights a year with each parent; 110 from January 1, 2027 (Public Act 104-0733). | The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each share is multiplied by the other parent's time, and the amounts are offset. |
| Indiana | Overnight credit | Parenting time credit from 52 overnights a year (Guideline 6). | A credit from the Guideline 6 table is subtracted from the weekly amount. Our Indiana calculator does not apply this credit yet. |
| Iowa | Overnight credit | More than 127 overnights: 15% credit; 148 or more: 20%; 167 or more: 25%. Joint (equally shared) physical care by court order. | The credit comes off the paying parent's share. In joint physical care each share is multiplied by 1.5 and by .5, then offset. |
| Kansas | Overnight credit | 35% or more of time with the other parent; equal time has its own formula. | A 10%, 20% or 30% adjustment. With equal time, the court may use the Direct Expense Formula. |
| Kentucky | Overnight credit | 88 or more overnights a year with the other parent (the credit must be requested). | A credit from 15% (88-115 overnights) to 50% (182-182.5) of the total table obligation is subtracted from the paying parent's amount. |
| Louisiana | Cross-credit | Shared custody: approximately equal time (R.S. 9:315.9). | The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each share by the other parent's time, then offset. In joint custody over 73 days a credit is possible but has no formula. |
| Maine | Shared/equal-time rule | Substantially equal care (form FM-040-A). | Support is based on 1.5 times the basic obligation split between the parents; the higher earner pays the difference, capped at their regular share. |
| Maryland | Cross-credit | Each parent has at least 25% of overnights (92 a year). | The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each share by the other parent's time, and the parent owing more pays the difference. |
| Massachusetts | Shared/equal-time rule | Shared parenting plan: time and expenses shared approximately equally. | Each parent's share is worked out and the difference is paid. |
| Michigan | Overnight credit | Any overnights that can be determined. | The parenting time offset formula uses each parent's overnights raised to the 2.5 power. |
| Minnesota | Overnight credit | Any court-ordered parenting time, averaged over two years. | The parenting expense adjustment formula uses each parent's overnights cubed. |
| Mississippi | Shared/equal-time rule | Joint custody with equal parenting time in orders after July 1, 2026 (HB 1662). | Support is figured as if each parent were the payer, and the parent with the higher amount pays the difference. |
| Missouri | Overnight credit | 36 or more overnights a year (Form 14, line 11). | An adjustment from 6% (36-72 overnights) to 34% (181-183) of the basic amount. With equal time the higher earner is presumed to pay. |
| Montana | Overnight credit | More than 110 days a year with each parent. | Each parent's obligation is reduced by .0069 for each day over 110 with that parent, and the amounts are offset. |
| Nebraska | Cross-credit | More than 142 days a year: joint custody worksheet presumed; 109-142 days: the court may use it. | The table amount is multiplied by 1.5 and split by income and time, then offset. |
| Nevada | Shared/equal-time rule | At least 146 days a year with each parent (joint physical custody). | Each parent's obligation is calculated from their own income and the two are offset. |
| New Hampshire | Shared/equal-time rule | Each parent has more than 40%, with similar incomes and expenses split 50/50. | Support is presumed to be $0; otherwise the court decides the adjustment. |
| New Jersey | Overnight credit | Shared parenting from 28% of overnights (about two a week); a smaller adjustment applies below that. | A fixed and variable cost model adjusts each parent's share for the time the child spends in each home. |
| New Mexico | Cross-credit | At least 35% of the year in each home (about 128 days), Worksheet B. | The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each share by the other parent's time, then offset. |
| New York | No automatic adjustment | No threshold. The CSSA does not credit overnights. | With equal time, the higher earner is treated as the noncustodial parent and pays the CSSA amount. |
| North Carolina | Cross-credit | At least 123 overnights a year with each parent (Worksheet B). | The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, adjusted for each parent's time, then offset. |
| North Dakota | Shared/equal-time rule | Equal residential responsibility. | Each parent's obligation is offset. Extended parenting time over 100 overnights is a separate reduction. |
| Ohio | Overnight credit | 90 or more court-ordered overnights a year. | A 10% reduction of the paying parent's annual obligation. |
| Oklahoma | Cross-credit | 121 or more overnights for the parent with less time. | The base is multiplied by 2 (121-131), 1.75 (132-143) or 1.5 (144 or more), shares are weighted by the other parent's time, then offset. |
| Oregon | Overnight credit | Credit from the first overnight. | Each parent gets a parenting time credit for their overnights (about 49.75% at 182). |
| Pennsylvania | Overnight credit | 40% or more of overnights (146 a year), Rule 1910.16-4(c). | The paying parent's overnight percentage minus 30 is subtracted from their income share. |
| Rhode Island | Shared/equal-time rule | Each parent has the children at least 49% of the time (shared placement). | Each parent's share is calculated, and the smaller is subtracted from the larger. |
| South Carolina | Cross-credit | 129 or more overnights: Worksheet C in full; 110-128 phases in. | The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each share by the other parent's time, then offset. |
| South Dakota | Cross-credit | 180 or more nights with each parent; an abatement can apply for 6 or more nights a month. | Shared parenting uses a cross-credit with a 1.5 multiplier. |
| Tennessee | Overnight credit | 92 or more days a year with the other parent (68 or fewer increases support). | The base obligation is multiplied by days x .0109589 and offset against the other parent's share. |
| Texas | No automatic adjustment | No equal-time rule. | The guideline percentage of the paying parent's net resources applies; time is only a reason the court may deviate. |
| Utah | Overnight credit | More than 30% (111 or more overnights): joint physical custody. | A reduction that grows above 130 overnights. An equal schedule counts 183 nights for the lower earner. |
| Vermont | Cross-credit | 30% or more of overnights with each parent. | A 1.5 multiplier with a time credit; a $50 minimum applies if the result flips. |
| Virginia | Cross-credit | More than 90 days a year. | A cross-credit with a 1.4 multiplier. |
| Washington | No automatic adjustment | No formula. | Residential time is a reason the court may deviate from the standard amount. |
| West Virginia | Cross-credit | More than 127 days a year with each parent. | A cross-credit with a 1.6 multiplier. |
| Wisconsin | Cross-credit | At least 25% of overnights with each parent (92 a year). | Each parent's income x the percentage x 150%, weighted by the other parent's time, then offset; the payer owes the lower of that and the standard amount. |
| Wyoming | Cross-credit | More than 25% of overnights with each parent. | A cross-credit with a 150% multiplier. |
Say the basic support amount for one child is $1,000 a month, Parent A earns 60% of the combined income and Parent B 40%, and the child spends equal time in each home.
This is an illustration of the method only. Real cases add child care, health insurance and each state's own thresholds, so use your state's calculator for an estimate.
Often, yes. In most states the parent with the higher income still pays with equal time, but usually much less than with a standard schedule. In a few states, such as New Hampshire, equal time with similar incomes can mean no support at all.
Many states multiply the basic support amount by 1.5 because two homes cost more than one. Each parent's share of that larger amount is then weighted by the time the child spends with the other parent, and the two results are offset.
It depends on the state. California, Colorado, Oregon, Michigan and Minnesota count time from the first overnight, many states start at 25% to 40% of overnights, and some only adjust when time is approximately equal.
Not automatically. Texas applies its percentage of the paying parent's net resources, and the amount of possession time is only a reason a court may deviate from the guideline.
Usually the overnights come from the court order or written parenting plan, and several states average them over one or two years. Actual time that differs from the order can be a reason to ask the court to modify support.
Each row comes from that state's calculator page on this site, which cites and links the official statute, court rule or guideline. Rules were reviewed on October 22, 2026. Read how we build and check our calculators, compare the income cap and minimum child support in every state, see the 2026 changes by state, or report a problem on our contact page.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Courts can deviate from these rules.