Reviewed August 2026
Child Support in Missouri
Missouri calculates child support under the income shares model. Courts use the Form 14 worksheet to compute the presumed correct child support amount. The worksheet combines both parents' gross incomes into a schedule of basic support obligations. It then divides that amount between them based on their share of the combined income. Missouri circuit courts hear child support matters. The Family Support Division within the Department of Social Services is the state's IV-D agency. It helps parents apply for services and enforces existing orders.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how child support works under Missouri law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Missouri paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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The income shares model and Form 14
Missouri courts use Form 14, a worksheet built around the income shares model, to calculate the presumed correct child support amount in every case. The form starts with each parent's gross monthly income and combines the two figures. That combined income is applied to a schedule of basic child support obligations based on the number of children. Adjustments for health insurance and work-related child care are added. The total is then divided between the parents based on their proportional share of the combined income. A court can deviate from the Form 14 amount if it finds that amount unjust or inappropriate after considering all relevant factors.
Applying for services through DSS
Missouri's Family Support Division, part of the Department of Social Services, is the state's IV-D agency. It can help with locating a parent, establishing paternity, and starting or enforcing a child support and medical support order. A parent applies for services through the division's application portal and can manage an existing case through Missouri's online customer portal. The division also offers a call center for parents who prefer to work by phone instead of online.
Who hears a Missouri child support case
Missouri circuit courts decide child support matters as part of a dissolution of marriage, paternity action, or standalone support case. They apply the Form 14 income shares calculation to the parents' documented income. The Family Support Division can request that the circuit court establish or enforce an order.
Modifying an existing order
A Missouri child support order can be modified when a parent shows changed circumstances so substantial and continuing that the existing terms have become unreasonable. The Family Support Division offers guidance and resources on changing a support order. A parent can request the division's help or file directly with the circuit court that has jurisdiction over the case.
Enforcement tools
The Family Support Division can pursue income withholding directly from a paying parent's wages and intercept state and federal tax refunds against parents who fall behind. A parent who does not comply with a circuit court support order can be held in contempt of court. Additional administrative remedies, including license suspension, are available for cases with significant arrears.
Sources: Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division, Child Support
Not independently confirmed
- Direct verified link to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.01 and the current Form 14 worksheet document
- Exact statutory citation for the substantial-and-continuing modification standard
Child Support in Missouri: frequently asked questions
Does Missouri use the income shares model for child support?+
Yes. Missouri courts use Form 14, built around the income shares model, to calculate the presumed correct support amount. It combines both parents' gross income, applies it to a schedule of basic obligations, and divides the result based on each parent's share of the combined income.
How do I apply for child support services in Missouri?+
You apply through Missouri's Family Support Division, part of the Department of Social Services, using the division's application portal. The division can help locate a parent, establish paternity, and start or enforce a child and medical support order.
What court hears child support cases in Missouri?+
Missouri circuit courts decide child support matters, applying the Form 14 income shares calculation to the parents' documented income. This holds whether the case arises from a divorce, paternity action, or standalone petition.
When can I modify my Missouri child support order?+
Generally when you can show changed circumstances so substantial and continuing that the existing order has become unreasonable. The Family Support Division offers resources on changing an order, and you can request its help or file directly with the circuit court.
What happens if a parent stops paying child support in Missouri?+
The Family Support Division can pursue income withholding and intercept state and federal tax refunds. A parent who does not comply with a circuit court order can also be held in contempt, and license suspension is available for cases with significant arrears.
Is there an official Missouri child support calculator?+
Missouri's Form 14 worksheet is the official tool courts use to calculate support. Confirm the current version through the Missouri courts or the Family Support Division before estimating an amount.
This page is general information about child support in Missouri, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Missouri's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Missouri. Virdix does not prepare or file Missouri divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Missouri.
More Missouri divorce guides
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In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Missouri, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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