What Is the Melson Formula?
The most sophisticated U.S. model, used by Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana: a self-support reserve, primary support, and a standard-of-living adjustment.
The Melson Formula starts from the principle that both parents and the child are entitled to a minimum standard of living. It protects each parent’s self-support reserve before anyone pays support.
The three building blocks
- Self-Support Reserve (SSR) — each parent keeps enough to meet basic needs
- Primary Support — a percentage of remaining income ensures the child shares in the parents’ standard of living
- Standard-of-Living Adjustment (SLA) — a further adjustment so the child benefits from additional income
Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana each publish their own SSR, POVC (primary obligation of visitation and care) table, and percentages. Our calculators apply the published parameters; where the full combined-output table is loaded it is marked official, otherwise it is a model estimate pending verification.
Why do only three states use Melson?
It is mathematically more complex to administer than the other models, so most states adopted Income Shares instead. The three Melson states value its built-in poverty protection.
This article is general education, not legal or tax advice. For your exact number, open your state calculator.
Not legal or financial advice. This estimate follows the state’s statutory guideline formula but cannot capture every factor a court considers (health insurance, childcare, prior orders, deviations, imputed income).