Support in Missouri (2026)

Missouri’s Form 14 Child Support Calculation

Missouri’s child support system is built around Form 14, the standardized worksheet mandated by Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.01. Form 14 is not merely a guideline — it produces a presumed correct child support amount that courts must follow unless they make specific written findings explaining why the calculated amount would be unjust or inappropriate in the particular case. This presumptive weight gives Form 14 a central role in every child support determination in the state.

The Form 14 worksheet is structured as a line-by-line calculation that begins with each parent’s gross monthly income on Line 1 and proceeds through a series of defined adjustments. Lines 2 through 5 address adjustments for other court-ordered child support, other children in the household, and the costs of health insurance and work-related child care attributable to the children at issue. The parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined on Line 6, and the basic child support amount is identified from a schedule of basic child support obligations incorporated into the form, which scales based on the combined income and the number of children.

What makes Missouri’s Form 14 distinctive is the Line 11 adjustment for custody and parenting time. When the non-custodial parent exercises overnight parenting time exceeding approximately 92 overnights per year, the court may apply a downward adjustment to reflect the direct costs that parent bears during their parenting time. For parents with approximately equal parenting time, the form calculates separate obligations for each parent and offsets them, so that the higher-income parent pays the net difference. This structured approach to shared-custody adjustments provides more predictability than states that leave the adjustment entirely to judicial discretion.

How Missouri Calculates Child Support

Missouri uses an income shares model governed by R.S.Mo. Section 452.340 and the standardized Form 14 calculation. Form 14 is Missouri’s official child support worksheet, and it produces a presumed correct amount of support that courts must follow unless they make specific written findings that the amount is unjust or inappropriate.

The Form 14 calculation starts with each parent’s gross monthly income, which encompasses all income from any source — wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, pensions, Social Security, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, disability benefits, rental income, dividends, and other recurring income. Self-employment income is included after allowable business deductions. Courts may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed without good cause.

From gross income, Form 14 applies a series of adjustments: a credit for other court-ordered child support obligations, a credit for other children in the household, and deductions for the cost of health insurance and work-related child care. The parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the basic child support amount is identified from a schedule built into the form. Each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined adjusted income.

For a broader explanation of income shares models, see our guide on how child support is calculated. You can also estimate your potential obligation using our child support calculator.

Custody and Parenting Time Adjustments

Form 14 includes a line 11 adjustment for custody arrangements where the non-custodial parent exercises significant parenting time. When the non-custodial parent has the child for overnight periods exceeding a specified threshold (typically more than 92 overnights per year), the court may adjust the support amount to reflect the reduced costs to the custodial parent and the increased direct spending by the non-custodial parent.

In cases of approximately equal parenting time, Missouri courts may apply the split or shared custody provisions of Form 14, which calculate separate obligations and offset them so that the parent with the higher income pays the difference.

Modifying or Terminating Child Support

Either parent may seek modification by showing a substantial and continuing change of circumstances that makes the existing order unreasonable. Missouri also allows modification when the current order differs from the presumed Form 14 amount by 20% or more.

Child support in Missouri generally continues until the child turns 18. However, support continues until age 21 if the child is enrolled in and attending a secondary school, vocational school, or college program and is making progress toward a degree, provided the child has not yet received a first bachelor’s degree. Support also terminates upon the child’s marriage, emancipation, or entry into military service.

Enforcement of Child Support Orders

Missouri’s Family Support Division has extensive enforcement authority:

• Income withholding orders (mandatory for most orders)
• Interception of state and federal tax refunds
• Suspension of driver’s licenses, recreational licenses, and professional licenses
• Liens on real and personal property
• Reporting to credit bureaus
• Contempt of court proceedings, which can result in fines or incarceration

Arrearages accrue interest and cannot be retroactively forgiven. Modifications take effect from the date the motion to modify is filed.

Maintenance (Alimony) in Missouri

Missouri uses the term “maintenance” rather than alimony. Maintenance is governed by R.S.Mo. Section 452.335 and is available when a spouse demonstrates that they lack sufficient property to provide for their reasonable needs and are unable to support themselves through appropriate employment.

While Missouri does not have a binding statutory formula, courts frequently reference an advisory formula as a starting point:

• Amount: 30% of the payor’s gross monthly income minus 20% of the payee’s gross monthly income
• Duration: Varies based on the length of the marriage and other circumstances

This formula is a guideline, not a mandate. Courts retain discretion to deviate based on the facts of each case.

Factors in Maintenance Determinations

Under R.S.Mo. Section 452.335, the court considers:

• The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to them and their ability to meet needs independently
• The time necessary for the party seeking maintenance to acquire sufficient education or training to find appropriate employment
• The comparative earning capacity of each spouse
• The standard of living established during the marriage
• The obligations and assets, including the marital property apportioned to each spouse, and the separate property of each spouse
• The duration of the marriage
• The age, physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance
• The ability of the paying spouse to meet their own needs while paying maintenance
• The conduct of the parties during the marriage
• Any other relevant factors

Missouri courts also consider whether the paying spouse can meet both their own needs and the maintenance obligation. The advisory formula is typically adjusted downward if the total of maintenance and child support would leave the paying spouse unable to meet basic living expenses.

Modification and Termination of Maintenance

Maintenance may be modified upon a showing of a substantial and continuing change of circumstances. Common grounds include significant income changes, job loss, retirement, or a material improvement in the recipient’s financial condition.

Maintenance terminates upon the death of either party or the remarriage of the recipient. Missouri also provides that maintenance may be terminated or modified if the recipient is cohabiting with another person in a conjugal relationship.

Courts may designate maintenance as modifiable or non-modifiable in the original order. If the parties agree to non-modifiable maintenance as part of a settlement, neither party can later petition to change the amount or duration.

When to Seek Legal Guidance

Missouri’s Form 14 calculation and the advisory maintenance formula provide useful starting points, but the final outcome depends on many case-specific factors. If you are evaluating a child support or maintenance issue, consider scheduling a free consultation with an experienced family law professional.

Statutes referenced: R.S.Mo. Section 452.340 (child support), Missouri Supreme Court Form 14, R.S.Mo. Section 452.335 (maintenance).

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support calculated in Missouri?

Missouri uses the income shares model under R.S.Mo. Section 452.340 and the standardized Form 14 calculation. Form 14 is Missouri’s official child support worksheet that produces a presumed correct amount. Both parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the basic support amount is identified from a schedule built into the form. Each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of combined adjusted income.

How long does child support last in Missouri?

Child support continues until the child turns 18. However, support continues until age 21 if the child is enrolled in and attending a secondary school, vocational school, or college program and is making progress toward a degree (provided the child has not yet received a first bachelor’s degree). Support also terminates upon marriage, emancipation, or military service.

Can the Form 14 amount be deviated from in Missouri?

Yes. While the Form 14 amount is presumed correct, the court may deviate if it makes specific written findings that the amount is unjust or inappropriate. Deviation factors include extraordinary medical or educational expenses, shared custody arrangements, and other relevant circumstances.

Does Missouri use a formula for spousal maintenance?

Missouri does not have a binding formula, but courts frequently reference an advisory formula as a starting point. The court ultimately exercises discretion based on factors including the marriage duration, standard of living, each party’s financial resources and earning capacity, and the conduct of the parties during the marriage.

How does the Form 14 Line 11 adjustment work for shared parenting time?

When the non-custodial parent exercises overnight parenting time exceeding approximately 92 overnights per year, the Line 11 adjustment on Form 14 reduces the support obligation to account for the direct costs that parent incurs. For approximately equal parenting time, the form calculates each parent’s hypothetical obligation and offsets them, so the higher-income parent pays the net difference to the lower-income parent.

Can child support in Missouri extend past age 18 for college expenses?

Yes. Under R.S.Mo. Section 452.340, child support can continue until age 21 if the child is enrolled in and attending a secondary school, vocational school, or college program and is making satisfactory progress toward a degree, provided the child has not yet received a first bachelor’s degree. The court may allocate the cost of post-secondary education between the parents based on their respective financial resources.

How This Guide Was Researched

This guide draws on R.S.Mo. Section 452.340 (child support obligations), Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.01 (Form 14 worksheet and its presumptive weight), and R.S.Mo. Section 452.335 (maintenance eligibility, factors, and the advisory formula). The Form 14 line-by-line calculation — including the Line 11 parenting time adjustment and the schedule of basic child support obligations — was verified against the current Missouri Courts Form 14 instructions and commentary. Modification standards were confirmed under R.S.Mo. Section 452.370 (20% deviation threshold and substantial change of circumstances). Enforcement mechanisms were reviewed through the Missouri Family Support Division.

Sources and Legal References

This guide is based on publicly available legal information and official sources, including:

• R.S.Mo. §§ 452.340-452.370 (child support: obligation, calculation, modification, and enforcement)
• Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.01 (Form 14: presumed correct worksheet, schedule of basic obligations, Line 11 parenting time adjustment)
• R.S.Mo. § 452.335 (maintenance: eligibility threshold, ten statutory factors, advisory formula, modifiable vs. non-modifiable designations)
• R.S.Mo. § 452.370 (modification of support and maintenance: substantial and continuing change, 20% deviation threshold)
• R.S.Mo. § 452.340.5 (extended support to age 21 for post-secondary education)

Official Missouri Resources

• Missouri Courts — Divorce
• Missouri Courts — Representing Yourself in a Family Law Case
• Missouri Dissolution of Marriage Forms

Additional Missouri Resources

• Missouri Family Support Division
• Missouri Bar Association — Family Law

For more about how we research our guides, see our editorial policy and sources methodology.

Related Guides

Learn more about related family law topics:

• Child Support in Missouri: A Complete Overview
• Divorce in Missouri
• Child custody in Missouri
• How child support is calculated
• Child support enforcement
• How alimony works
• How to file for child support
• Child support calculator