South Dakota Child Support Calculator & Guide (2025)

Overview of South Dakota Child Support

South Dakota uses the Income Shares Model under SDCL §25-7-6.1. Both parents' net incomes are combined to determine the support obligation, following the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have enjoyed if the parents lived together.

South Dakota uses net income rather than gross income for its calculations, which means mandatory deductions such as taxes are already accounted for when determining the support obligation.

How Child Support Is Calculated in South Dakota

The South Dakota child support formula works as follows:

1. Determine each parent's monthly net income: Start with gross income and subtract taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and other allowable deductions
2. Calculate combined monthly net income for both parents
3. Find the base obligation from the South Dakota child support schedule based on combined net income and number of children
4. Allocate each parent's share proportionally based on their percentage of combined net income
5. Add health insurance premiums for the child
6. Add childcare costs
7. Add extraordinary medical expenses shared proportionally between the parents

Key Factors in South Dakota Calculations

Net Income Basis

South Dakota uses net income for child support calculations. This means all mandatory deductions including federal income taxes, Social Security, and Medicare are subtracted before the child support calculation begins, providing a more accurate picture of actual available income.

Self-Support Reserve

South Dakota maintains a self-support reserve of $1,015 per month (2024). This ensures that the parent obligated to pay support retains enough income to meet their own basic living needs. If the support calculation would leave the obligor below this threshold, the obligation may be reduced.

Parenting Time Adjustments

South Dakota provides adjustments for parenting time arrangements. When the non-custodial parent has significant overnight parenting time with the child, the support calculation may be adjusted to account for the expenses incurred during that parenting time.

Extraordinary Medical Expenses

Extraordinary medical expenses not covered by insurance are shared proportionally between the parents. These are added on top of the base support obligation and allocated based on each parent's share of combined income.

Minimum and Maximum Amounts

Minimum: South Dakota does not have a fixed statutory minimum, but the self-support reserve ensures the obligor retains at least $1,015/month for their own needs.

Maximum: The support schedule extends to higher combined income levels, and the court has discretion for high-income cases above the schedule.

Modification and Enforcement

Modification

South Dakota allows modification when:

• There has been a material change in circumstances
• A significant change in either parent's income has occurred
• Parenting time arrangements have changed
• The child's needs have materially changed

Enforcement

The South Dakota Department of Social Services - Child Support enforces child support through:

• Income withholding from paychecks
• Tax refund interception
• Driver's license suspension
• Professional license suspension
• Credit bureau reporting
• Contempt of court proceedings
• Liens on property and financial accounts

Get your South Dakota estimate: Use our free South Dakota child support calculator to see what you might owe or receive under South Dakota guidelines.