How is child support calculated in North Carolina?

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North Carolina   child support   is governed by   N.C.G.S. § 50-13.4   and the   North Carolina Child Support Guidelines   promulgated by the   Conference of Chief District Judges   (last revised effective Jan. 1, 2023).    1. The Three Worksheets   -   Worksheet A — Sole Custody  : Used when one parent has primary custody and the other parent has fewer than 123 overnights per year. -   Worksheet B — Shared Custody  : Used when each parent has the child   at least 123 overnights   per year (approximately one-third of the year). Includes a shared-parenting calculation that multiplies the basic obligation by 1.5. -   Worksheet C — Split Custody  : Used when each parent has primary custody of at least one of the children.    2. Calculation Steps   1. Determine each parent's   gross monthly income  . 2.   Combine   incomes. 3. Look up the   Basic Child Support Obligation   on the Schedule. 4. Add   adjustments   for work-related childcare, health insurance premium for the child, and extraordinary expenses. 5. Compute each parent's   pro rata share   by income. 6. For Worksheet B, apply the   shared-parenting   offset.    3. Gross Income Definition   Includes income from any source — salary, wages, commissions, bonuses, dividends, severance, pensions, retirement, gifts, prizes, alimony from prior marriages, unemployment, workers' comp, and disability. Excludes means-tested public assistance.    4. Self-Support Reserve   The Guidelines protect a minimum subsistence amount for the obligor — currently set at the federal poverty level for one person.    5. Duration (N.C.G.S. § 50-13.4(c))   Support continues until the child: - Reaches   age 18  , OR - If still in   primary or secondary school   when reaching 18, until   graduation, otherwise ceases to attend regularly, fails to make satisfactory academic progress, or reaches age 20  , whichever first.    6. Modification (N.C.G.S. § 50-13.7)   Modification requires either: - A   substantial change in circumstances  , OR - The order is at least   3 years old   AND a guideline recomputation differs by   15% or more  .    7. Deviation (Guideline § 4)   The guideline amount is   rebuttably presumed correct   but may be deviated from with   written findings   when application would be unjust or inappropriate (e.g., extraordinary travel costs for visitation, child's special needs).  This is legal information, not legal advice.