In New York, child support is tied to custody: generally the parent who does not have primary physical custody pays support to the parent who does. The amount is set by the Child Support Standards Act, which applies a percentage of the parents’ combined income based on the number of children — 17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and at least 35% for five or more — with adjustments for health insurance, child care, and other factors.
Custody and child support are separate questions in New York, but they connect. In most arrangements, the non-custodial parent (the one without primary physical custody) pays child support to the custodial parent, since the custodial parent is covering the day-to-day costs of raising the child.
New York calculates the basic amount under the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA). It takes the parents’ combined income up to a statutory cap and applies a set percentage based on the number of children: 17% for one, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and no less than 35% for five or more. That basic amount is then divided between the parents in proportion to their incomes.
On top of the basic amount, courts add shares of certain expenses — health insurance, unreimbursed medical costs, and child care needed for work — and can adjust for other circumstances. In shared-custody situations where time is closely split, the calculation can be more complex, and the higher earner often still pays support.
Because the numbers depend on income, custody arrangement, and add-on expenses, parents frequently consult a New York custody or family law attorney to understand what support will actually look like in their situation.
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Who pays child support in New York?
Generally the parent without primary physical custody pays support to the custodial parent. In closely shared arrangements, the higher-earning parent often pays.
How much is child support in New York?
The Child Support Standards Act applies a percentage of combined parental income by number of children: 17% for one, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and at least 35% for five or more, plus add-ons like health insurance and child care.
Does joint custody eliminate child support in New York?
Not usually. Even with shared time, support is often owed — commonly by the higher earner — based on the CSSA calculation and the parents' incomes.