How to Use the South Dakota Child Support Calculator
Enter what you know and press Calculate Estimate. The calculator follows the support obligation schedule in SDCL 25-7-6.2 and the related sections of SDCL chapter 25-7.
- Enter each parent's gross monthly income. The calculator turns it into monthly net income.
- Choose the number of children and the parent the children live with most of the time.
- Enter the children's health insurance and work-related child care as monthly amounts, and say who pays them.
- Enter the overnights a year the children spend with the other parent, or tick the shared parenting box if each parent has at least 180 nights.
Your numbers are sent with the form, not placed in the page address, and this site does not store them. This is a planning estimate. A South Dakota court or child support referee sets the actual amount.
South Dakota Child Support Schedule in 2026
Looking for the South Dakota child support guidelines for 2026? The schedule in SDCL 25-7-6.2 was last changed by SL 2022, ch 80, which also set the self-support reserve at $871 a month. The deduction, medical support and abatement sections were amended by SL 2022, ch 81. We found no newer change to the schedule for 2026.
How South Dakota Calculates Child Support
- Find each parent's monthly net income: gross income (SDCL 25-7-6.3) minus the deductions in SDCL 25-7-6.7: income tax for a single taxpayer, Social Security and Medicare, retirement contributions up to 10% of gross income, unreimbursed business expenses and payments on other support orders.
- Add both parents' net incomes and read the combined obligation from the schedule for the number of children.
- Split it by each parent's share of combined net income. The noncustodial parent's share is the child support order.
- Share the children's health insurance by income, and any child care the court allocates.
The custodial parent's share is presumed to be spent directly on the child.
The South Dakota Support Obligation Schedule
Sample rows (combined monthly net income):
| Combined monthly net income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|
| $951-$1,000 | $129 | $129 | $129 |
| $1,951-$2,000 | $501 | $729 | $862 |
| $3,951-$4,000 | $889 | $1,332 | $1,596 |
| $5,951-$6,000 | $1,077 | $1,593 | $1,869 |
| $9,951-$10,000 | $1,490 | $2,183 | $2,535 |
| $19,951-$20,000 | $2,576 | $3,694 | $4,284 |
| $29,951-$30,000 | $3,651 | $5,286 | $6,062 |
The schedule runs in $50 brackets from $0-$950 up to $30,000 a month, with columns for one to six children. Above $30,000, SDCL 25-7-6.9 says support is set at an appropriate level based on the child's actual needs and standard of living.
Self-Support Reserve
The emboldened (bold) part of the schedule includes a self-support reserve of $871 a month for a paying parent with a limited ability to pay. If the obligation using only the noncustodial parent's own net income falls in the bold area, it is compared with that parent's proportionate share using both incomes, and the lesser amount is the order.
In this calculator the bold area ends at $1,200 net income for one child, $1,350 for two, $1,550 for three, $1,700 for four, $1,850 for five and $2,000 for six children. The lowest amount in the schedule is $79 a month.
Abatement and Shared Parenting
- Abatement (SDCL 25-7-6.14): if the child stays with the noncustodial parent six or more nights a month under a custody order, the court may reduce basic support by 38% to 66% of the daily support amount for those nights. Daily support is the basic monthly amount times 12, divided by 365. It is up to the court, so the calculator shows the possible range separately.
- Shared parenting cross credit (SDCL 25-7-6.27): if a detailed shared parenting plan gives each parent at least 180 nights a year and the parents share expenses by income, the court may multiply the schedule amount by 1.5, split it by income, multiply each parent's part by the share of nights the child spends with the other parent and have the parent with the larger amount pay the difference.
An abatement may not exceed the cross credit. If the parenting time is not used, the abated support must be repaid.
South Dakota Child Support Examples
In each example Parent B is the custodial parent. Amounts are monthly and come from this calculator.
Example 1: One child
A earns $5,000 and B earns $3,000 gross. Net incomes are $4,199 and $2,592 ($6,791 combined). The schedule gives $1,157, and A's 61.8% share is $715.39 a month.
Example 2: Two children with insurance and child care
A earns $6,000 and B earns $4,000. Combined net income is $8,353, so the schedule gives $1,932. A's 59.3% share is $1,146.53. B pays $200 insurance and $600 child care, and A adds 59.3% of those: $1,621.28 a month.
Example 3: Shared parenting
A earns $7,000 and B earns $5,000, two children, equal nights. The $2,168 schedule amount times 1.5 is $3,252. A's half-time part is $933.48 and B's is $692.52, so A pays $240.96 a month.
Example 4: Self-support reserve
A earns $1,100 (net $1,016) and B earns $5,000, one child. A's proportionate share is $195.80, but A's own income is in the bold area, where the schedule shows $179. A pays the lesser: $179 a month.
Example 5: Abatement
A earns $6,000 and B earns $3,000, one child, 100 overnights a year with A. A's share is $805.04. The court may abate $83.81 to $145.57, for about $659 to $721 a month.
These are illustrations produced from the statutes, not court rulings.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Dakota Child Support
Is this the official South Dakota child support calculator?
No. ChildSupportCalculator.xyz is an independent tool and is not affiliated with the State of South Dakota, its courts or the Department of Social Services. It applies SDCL 25-7-6.2 and related sections. A court or child support referee sets the actual amount.
Does South Dakota use gross or net income for child support?
Net income. Each parent's gross income is reduced by income tax, Social Security and Medicare and other allowed deductions, and the two net incomes are added to read the schedule.
How is child support calculated in South Dakota?
Find the combined obligation in the schedule at both parents' combined monthly net income, then split it by each parent's share of that income. The noncustodial parent pays their share, plus their share of health insurance and any child care the court allocates.
What is the minimum child support in South Dakota?
The lowest amount in the schedule is $79 a month, at combined net income up to $950. Low-income paying parents are protected by an $871 self-support reserve in the bold area of the schedule.
How does 50/50 custody work for child support in South Dakota?
If each parent has at least 180 nights a year under a detailed shared parenting plan, the court may grant a cross credit: 1.5 times the schedule amount is split by income, each part is multiplied by the other parent's share of nights, and the larger amount pays the difference.
Does visitation reduce child support in South Dakota?
It can. If the child spends six or more nights a month with the noncustodial parent, the court may abate 38% to 66% of the daily support amount for those nights. It is not automatic.
Is child care included in South Dakota child support?
The court may allocate reasonable child care needed for work, a job search or training between the parents. The statute does not set a formula; this calculator splits it by income share.
Is there an income cap for child support in South Dakota?
The schedule ends at $30,000 of combined monthly net income. Above that, support is set at an appropriate level based on the child's actual needs and standard of living.
When did South Dakota last update the child support schedule?
The current schedule in SDCL 25-7-6.2 comes from SL 2022, ch 80, which also set the $871 self-support reserve.
Does the South Dakota calculator need my personal details or a login?
No. This site needs no login and does not store your numbers.
