How Child Support Is Calculated in New Hampshire

New Hampshire guidelines apply a percentage to the parents' combined net income, then divide the total between the parents. The percentage depends on the number of children and the combined income; for combined net income of $15,000 or less it is 25.6% for one child, 35.5% for two, 42.5% for three and 45% for four or more, and the percentages decline as income rises (for $125,000 or more: 19%, 26%, 31% and 33.5%).

The Department of Health and Human Services provides child support enforcement services automatically in public assistance cases, and the commissioner may accept applications for services from people who do not receive public assistance. For people who have never received TANF cash assistance, the department must charge the fee required by federal law (section 454(6) of the Social Security Act), and it may charge fees for services in other cases.

Child support continues until the child marries, joins the armed services, is emancipated by court order, or turns 18. If the child is still a full-time student in elementary or secondary school, a charter school, or a qualifying home education program at 18, support continues until the child graduates or until 2 months after the child turns 19, whichever comes first. A support order cannot require a parent to pay an adult child's college expenses, except as allowed by RSA 461-A:21.

Either parent can apply to the court (or to DHHS, if DHHS issued the order) to modify support 3 years after the last support order without showing a substantial change in circumstances, and may apply at any time based on a substantial change in circumstances. DHHS must notify parents in its cases at least every 3 years of their right to request a review, and must review public assistance cases at least every 3 years. A modification cannot take effect before the other party received notice of the petition. When support ends for one of several children, that is a substantial change for modification purposes.

All support orders must provide for wage assignment from the paying parent, and each support payment becomes a judgment when due. The Department of Health and Human Services can certify a parent who is not complying with a support order (or who ignores child support or paternity subpoenas) to licensing boards to suspend, revoke or deny licenses, after giving notice. Courts may require security for support payments and hear contempt motions for nonpayment; a parent's contempt motion must be reviewed within 30 days, and when arrears reach 8 weeks of support the arrears may be sent to court mediation.