Spousal and Child Support

Parents are obliged to support their minor children financially, and the calculation of the amount of financial support for the child is an inevitable stage of divorce. The state of Delaware follows a complicated method called the Melson Model. This model is a variation of the Income Shares Model that is used in many states. When using the Income Shares Model, the court calculates the amount of support based on the standard of living that a child would have experienced if the parents had not divorced. The Melson Model introduces additional indicators, such as the allocation of a "self-support allowance" to each spouse and a "standard of living adjustment," resulting in more complex calculations. The Delaware Family Court website provides an online calculator that helps parents to immediately calculate the amount of child support for a particular case.