1 Child
~18%
At the national average
Data updated September 2026
2021 guideline data Melson Formula model OCSE FY2023 source
Delaware Child Support Guidelines
Delaware posts 76.4% of its Title IV-D caseload with an established order - thinner than two-thirds of reporting jurisdictions on OCSE P-64 (methodology and case-counting also move this share). 3 jurisdictions share the Melson Formula model with Delaware.
- 18%
- 1-child base rate
- #18 of 51
- base-rate rank
- #39
- enforcement caseload rank
- 76.4%
- cases with order
$1,053/mo
One-child base rate at Delaware's median income
18% of $70,176, the Census ACS 2022 median household income for Delaware, divided across twelve months, 11% above the median state. An index for comparing states, not a case estimate: guidelines apply to the obligor's income, or to combined parental income under the Income Shares model, and a court sets the actual order. How this is derived.
OCSE guideline posture brief
Delaware Title IV-D posture in this snapshot
Entity-varying stamps from NCSL guideline tables and OCSE FY2023 preliminary reporting (P-52 caseload, P-4 collections, P-64 order share) - not a clone nationwide scaffold.
- 18% published one-child starting rate #18 of 51
- Melson 3 jurisdictions share this model
- 76.4% caseload with support order (OCSE P-64) #49 nationally
- 73,679 Title IV-D caseload (OCSE P-52) #39 by volume
- $907 distributed collections per case (our calc)
- Alabama nearest rate peer (Δ 0.0 pts)
- 2021 guideline vintage on registry
One-child rate neighbourhood
Published starting percentages among the nearest rate peers (snapshot September 2026).
Melson Formula · MEL · MID
National context
Where Delaware's one-child starting rate sits
Each bar counts states with a published one-child base rate in that 3-point guideline band. Delaware is marked in its own band. Counts are exact from the 51-jurisdiction dataset.
Delaware's 18% published one-child base rate is higher than 19 of 51 recorded state rates. The comparison describes guideline starting percentages, not a complete child-support estimate.
Source: State guideline records, 51 jurisdictions with published one-child base rates
2 Children
~26%
At the national average
3 Children
~32%
0.7pp above average
4 Children
~36%
0.8pp above average
Income Cap
None
uncapped
Thinner order-establishment share
Delaware in the thinner-order third
Delaware sits in the bottom third on OCSE P-64 order share (76.4% · #49 of 51).
Delaware posts 76.4% of its Title IV-D caseload with an established order - thinner than two-thirds of reporting jurisdictions on OCSE P-64 (methodology and case-counting also move this share). 3 jurisdictions share the Melson Formula model with Delaware. Unlike capped states, the formula applies to full reported income before deductions. Nearest one-child rate peer: Alabama at 18% (Δ 0.0 pts). Delaware allows a parenting-time adjustment when the non-custodial parent exercises substantial overnight time. A percentage figure alone does not determine the dollar amount - compare Delaware to other guideline models →
On OCSE FY2023 tables, Delaware ranks #49 of 51 on order-establishment share and #39 by caseload volume (~$907 distributed per case, our calc on P-4/P-52). Source: HHS Office of Child Support Services, FY 2023 Preliminary Report.
How Delaware Calculates Child Support
Delaware uses the Melson Formula, a three-step calculation that first ensures each parent's self-support reserve, then determines primary child support needs, and finally adds a standard of living adjustment (SOLA). Its one-child base rate is in line with the national middle range. Pair the schedule math with Delaware's thinner-than-most order-establishment share when reading enforcement.
Melson Formula (Delaware Model). Three steps: self-support reserve, primary child support, standard of living adjustment (SOLA).
Delaware guideline parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Formula Model | Melson Formula |
| Income Floor | $1,000/mo |
| Income Ceiling | Uncapped |
| Parenting Time Adjustment | Available |
| Median Household Income | $70,176/yr |
| Single-Child Base | 18% (rank #18 of 51) |
Not legal advice for Delaware: figures here are published-guideline estimates only. Actual orders can differ under judicial discretion, deviation factors, and the current Delaware schedule. Consult a family law attorney licensed in Delaware.
Delaware Child Support Enforcement
73,679
Active Cases
$66.8M
Annual Collections
76.4%
Cases with Orders
$907
Collected per case (our calculation)
Delaware vs national average (51 reporting states)
Cases with orders 76.4%
national
76.4% of Delaware's caseload has a support order established; average across the 51 jurisdictions 86.6%.
Source: HHS Office of Child Support Services, FY 2023 Preliminary Report, Tables P-52 (caseload), P-4 (distributed collections) and P-64 (cases with orders)
F
State Support Program Score
6/100
Delaware
Based on order-establishment rate, per-case collection efficiency, and calculator access from federal OCSE and Census ACS data, not the guideline percentage itself, case outcomes, or any individual family's experience.
Order Establishment F
76.4%
Share of caseload with a support order in place (OCSE Table P-64); 51-state range 80.5%-93.8%, median 86.6%
Collection Efficiency F
$907/case
Dollars collected per enforcement case per year (OCSE Table P-4); 51-state range $1,522-$2,922, median $2,131
Income-Adjusted Collections F
1.29% of median income
Collections per case relative to state median household income (OCSE + Census ACS); 51-state range 2.39%-4.24%, median 3.16%
Calculator Access F
Not published
Whether the state publishes an official online support calculator
Interactive Calculator for Delaware
The Delaware interactive calculator is being finalized. Use the official state calculator below for your estimate.
Official DE CalculatorNearest one-child rate peers
Closest published starting percentages to Delaware's 18% (MID band) - model stamps INC/PCT/MEL, not an A-Z clone list.
Read our methodology - how Delaware guideline and OCSE figures on this page are sourced.
Data sources for Delaware
Guideline parameters from Delaware statutes and published schedules; enforcement columns from HHS OCSS FY2023 Preliminary Report (P-52 / P-4 / P-64). See methodology. Retrieved and formatted by PlainChildSupport for Delaware.