How Child Support Is Calculated in North Dakota

Child support guidelines are set by the Department of Health and Human Services. The basic calculation assumes one parent is the primary caregiver and applies the paying parent's (obligor's) net income and the number of children to a support schedule; separate rules cover equal or shared residential responsibility. The department publishes an official guidelines calculator.

Parents can apply for services from North Dakota Health and Human Services Child Support online, by printing and returning a paper application, or by contacting the office to request an application. The agency offers Full Services and Limited Services cases. The application pages read do not state an application fee.

Child support ordered until a child reaches majority (18) continues until the end of the month the child graduates from high school or turns 19, whichever comes first, if the child is 18, still enrolled in and attending high school, and living with the parent who receives support. The parent receiving support can file a free declaration with the child support agency to keep support going. A court can also order support after 18 if the parents agree or the court finds it appropriate.

If an order was entered at least one year before a motion to amend is filed, the court must change support to match the guidelines amount, even without a material change in circumstances, unless the guideline amount is shown to be wrong for the case. Within one year of the order, the person asking must also show a material change of circumstances. The child support agency reviews orders it enforces and must seek an amendment if the current amount is under 85% or over 115% of the guidelines amount. Either parent can ask Child Support for a review by sending a Request for a Review form; the agency says Full Services cases can be reviewed every 18 months, and a parent may instead file a motion directly with the court.

On Full Services cases, Child Support can intercept federal tax refunds ($500 past-due owed to the parent, or $150 owed to the state) and state tax refunds ($25 past-due); report to credit bureaus after one month past-due; deny passports ($2,500 past-due); suspend driver's, occupational and recreational licenses and block vehicle registration (2 months or $2,000 past-due, whichever is less, or a broken payment plan); list the parent on the Lien Registry; intercept gaming and lottery winnings; freeze and seize bank accounts and other assets; seek an order to show cause hearing, where failure to appear can lead to an arrest warrant; and refer willful nonpayment for criminal prosecution (up to a Class C felony). Simple interest is charged on past-due support ordered by a North Dakota court (10% for 2026). Support can also be collected through income withholding from wages.

North Dakota's child support program is part of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. It establishes paternity, establishes support orders, enforces orders, reviews and adjusts orders, and handles intergovernmental cases. Apply with the online form or a printed application mailed back. Payments can be made by income withholding, autopay, bank account, cash, check or money order, credit or debit card, or PayPal or Venmo, and parents can view their case 24/7 through the Parent Login.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (Child Support) offers a downloadable Guidelines Calculator (Excel) to estimate a support amount. It says the calculator is for informational purposes only, is not legal advice, and the results are an estimate that depends on the accuracy of the information entered; Windows-based products are recommended. The Child Support Guidelines are used by Child Support, private attorneys and the courts when calculating support.