Child Support Calculation Worksheet

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT WORKSHEET

Delaware requires the use of official Form 509 (Child Support Calculation) for child support calculations under the Melson Formula.
This template provides the substantive content and calculation methodology to help you
prepare — but you must transfer your figures to the official worksheet before filing.
The official form is available at https://courts.delaware.gov/family/support/forms.aspx.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATION WORKSHEET

State of Delaware — Melson Formula (Family Court Rules 500-510)

Table of Contents

1. Case Information
2. Children Subject to This Order
3. Income Determination
4. Self-Support Allowance
5. Primary Child Support Need (PCSN)
6. Primary Support Obligation
7. Standard of Living Adjustment (SOLA)
8. Additional Adjustments
9. Total Child Support Obligation
10. Deviation Factors
11. Duration and Modification
12. State-Specific Notes
13. Sources and References

1. Case Information

2. Children Subject to This Order

Total Number of Children: [____]

Custody Arrangement:
☐ Primary Residence with Parent A
☐ Primary Residence with Parent B
☐ Shared Residence (each parent has 128+ overnights/year)
☐ Split Custody

3. Income Determination

Parent A — Monthly Income

Parent A — Deductions:

Parent B — Monthly Income

Parent B — Deductions:

4. Self-Support Allowance

☐ Parent A's income below self-support allowance
☐ Parent B's income below self-support allowance

5. Primary Child Support Need (PCSN)

6. Primary Support Obligation

7. Standard of Living Adjustment (SOLA)

8. Additional Adjustments

Health Insurance

Extraordinary Expenses

9. Total Child Support Obligation

Monthly Child Support Payment: $ [________________________________]

10. Deviation Factors

☐ No deviation requested

☐ Deviation requested based on:

☐ Extraordinary medical expenses
☐ Extraordinary educational expenses
☐ Special needs of the child
☐ Child's independent income or assets
☐ Tax consequences
☐ Shared custody arrangement
☐ Travel expenses for visitation
☐ Significant disparity in parents' living standards
☐ Prior debts of either parent
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Proposed deviation amount: $ [________________________________]

Justification:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

11. Duration and Modification

Duration of Support:

• Support continues until the child reaches age 18, or
• Through high school graduation if the child turns 18 during the school year (but not beyond age 19)
• ☐ Child is emancipated
• ☐ Child marries
• ☐ Child enters active military duty
• ☐ Other terminating event: [________________________________]

Modification:

☐ This is a modification of a prior order dated [__/__/____]
☐ Existing order amount: $ [____________] per month
☐ Recalculated amount: $ [____________] per month
☐ Material change in circumstances: ☐ Yes ☐ No

12. State-Specific Notes

1. Melson Formula: Delaware uses the Melson Formula, a unique variation of the Income Shares Model developed by Judge Elwood F. Melson Jr. Only Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana use this approach.

2. Three Core Principles: (a) Children's needs come first; (b) Parents deserve self-support — both parents retain a minimum for basic necessities; (c) Children share in prosperity through the SOLA.

3. Net Income Basis: Unlike most Income Shares states that use gross income, the Melson Formula uses net income after taxes and mandatory deductions.

4. Self-Support Allowance: The self-support reserve ensures that the obligor retains enough income for basic living needs. This amount is periodically updated by the Family Court.

5. 2026 Review: The entire Melson Formula is scheduled for a comprehensive review in 2026, which may result in updated guideline amounts and self-support thresholds.

6. Rebuttable Presumption: The Melson Formula creates a rebuttable presumption that the calculated amount is correct. Deviation requires written findings.

13. Sources and References

• Delaware Family Court — Child Support
• Delaware Family Court Civil Rules 500-510
• Delaware Code Title 13, Chapter 5
• Melson Formula Explanation — Macconi Law

CERTIFICATION

I declare under penalty of perjury that the information provided in this worksheet is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Parent A Signature: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]

Parent B Signature: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]

Attorney for Parent A: [________________________________] Bar #: [____________]

Attorney for Parent B: [________________________________] Bar #: [____________]