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

Montana requires the use of the official Child Support Guidelines Worksheets A through E
published by the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) for child support calculations.
This template provides the substantive content and calculation methodology to help you
prepare — but you must transfer your figures to the official DPHHS worksheets before filing.
The official forms are available at https://dphhs.mt.gov/cssd/services/Guidelines.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATION WORKSHEET

State of Montana — Modified Melson Formula

Court: [________________________________]
County: [________________________________]
Cause Number: [________________________________]
Judge: [________________________________]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Party and Children Information
2. Gross Income Determination
3. Self-Support Allowance
4. Primary Support Obligation
5. Standard of Living Adjustment (SOLA)
6. Additional Expenses
7. Total Child Support Obligation
8. Deviations from Guidelines
9. Duration and Termination
10. Montana-Specific Notes

1. PARTY AND CHILDREN INFORMATION

Parent A:
Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Employer: [________________________________]

Parent B:
Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Employer: [________________________________]

Children Subject to This Order:

Custody/Parenting Arrangement:
☐ Primary residence with Parent A
☐ Primary residence with Parent B
☐ Shared parenting (each parent has child at least 110 overnights)
☐ Split custody (each parent has primary residence of at least one child)

2. GROSS INCOME DETERMINATION

☐ Income imputed to Parent A — Basis: [________________________________]
☐ Income imputed to Parent B — Basis: [________________________________]

3. SELF-SUPPORT ALLOWANCE

Current Self-Support Allowance amount: $[________] per month
(Based on [____] Federal Poverty Level for 1 person x 1.3)

4. PRIMARY SUPPORT OBLIGATION

Combined Income Available for Support: $[________]

Number of children subject to this order: [____]

Primary Support Obligation (from Guidelines Table): $[________] per month

5. STANDARD OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (SOLA)

6. ADDITIONAL EXPENSES

7. TOTAL CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION

Obligor (parent who pays): ☐ Parent A ☐ Parent B
Monthly child support payment amount: $[________]

8. DEVIATIONS FROM GUIDELINES

☐ No deviation requested
☐ Deviation requested — Basis:

☐ The financial resources of the child
☐ The physical and emotional condition of the child
☐ The educational and medical needs of the child
☐ The standard of living the child would have enjoyed
☐ The cost of day care
☐ The parenting plan arrangement
☐ The needs of any person the parent is legally obligated to support
☐ The financial resources and needs of both parents
☐ The age of the child
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Requested adjustment: $[________] per month (☐ increase / ☐ decrease)
Justification: [________________________________]

9. DURATION AND TERMINATION

Child support shall continue for each child until:
☐ The child reaches age 18
☐ The child reaches age 19 while attending high school
☐ The child is emancipated
☐ Other: [________________________________]

10. MONTANA-SPECIFIC NOTES

• Modified Melson Formula: Montana is one of a few states using the Modified Melson Formula, which includes a self-support allowance, primary support, and a standard of living adjustment (SOLA).
• Self-Support Allowance: Each parent retains a personal allowance of 1.3 times the federal poverty level for one person before any support is calculated.
• Three-Stage Calculation: (1) Self-support reserve; (2) Primary support obligation from guidelines table; (3) SOLA to share additional income with the child.
• DPHHS Guidelines: The Montana Child Support Services Division (CSSD) publishes updated guidelines tables annually at dphhs.mt.gov.
• Clear and Convincing Standard: Deviation from guidelines requires clear and convincing evidence (§ 40-4-204(3)), a higher standard than most states.
• Modification: Either party may seek modification upon a showing of changed circumstances.

VERIFICATION

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

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

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

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-204
• Mont. Code Ann. § 40-5-209 — Periodic Review of Guidelines
• Montana DPHHS — Child Support Guidelines
• ARM 37.62.101 et seq. — Administrative Rules