1 Child
~18%
At the national average
Data updated September 2026
2021 guideline data Melson Formula model OCSE FY2023 source
Montana Child Support Guidelines
Montana carries 28,342 Title IV-D cases - a light-third book on OCSE P-52 volume. 3 jurisdictions share the Melson Formula model with Montana.
- 18%
- 1-child base rate
- #18 of 51
- base-rate rank
- #49
- enforcement caseload rank
- 86.2%
- cases with order
$908/mo
One-child base rate at Montana's median income
18% of $60,560, the Census ACS 2022 median household income for Montana, divided across twelve months, 5% below 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
Montana 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
- 86.2% caseload with support order (OCSE P-64) #27 nationally
- 28,342 Title IV-D caseload (OCSE P-52) #49 by volume
- $2,216 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 Montana's one-child starting rate sits
Each bar counts states with a published one-child base rate in that 3-point guideline band. Montana is marked in its own band. Counts are exact from the 51-jurisdiction dataset.
Montana'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
Smaller Title IV-D caseload
Montana in the light-caseload third
28,342 active cases put Montana in the lightest third by OCSE P-52 volume (#49).
Montana carries 28,342 Title IV-D cases - a light-third book on OCSE P-52 volume. 3 jurisdictions share the Melson Formula model with Montana. Unlike capped states, the formula applies to full reported income before deductions. Nearest one-child rate peer: Alabama at 18% (Δ 0.0 pts). Montana 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 Montana to other guideline models →
On OCSE FY2023 tables, Montana ranks #27 of 51 on order-establishment share and #49 by caseload volume (~$2,216 distributed per case, our calc on P-4/P-52). Source: HHS Office of Child Support Services, FY 2023 Preliminary Report.
How Montana Calculates Child Support
Montana 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.
Melson Formula. Three-step: self-support reserve, primary child support, SOLA.
Montana guideline parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Formula Model | Melson Formula |
| Income Floor | None |
| Income Ceiling | Uncapped |
| Parenting Time Adjustment | Available |
| Median Household Income | $60,560/yr |
| Single-Child Base | 18% (rank #18 of 51) |
Not legal advice for Montana: figures here are published-guideline estimates only. Actual orders can differ under judicial discretion, deviation factors, and the current Montana schedule. Consult a family law attorney licensed in Montana.
Montana Child Support Enforcement
28,342
Active Cases
$62.8M
Annual Collections
86.2%
Cases with Orders
$2,216
Collected per case (our calculation)
Montana vs national average (51 reporting states)
Cases with orders 86.2%
national
86.2% of Montana'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)
D
State Support Program Score
48/100
Montana
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 D
86.2%
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 C
$2,216/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 B+
3.66% 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 Montana
The Montana interactive calculator is being finalized. Use the official state calculator below for your estimate.
Official MT CalculatorNearest one-child rate peers
Closest published starting percentages to Montana's 18% (MID band) - model stamps INC/PCT/MEL, not an A-Z clone list.
Read our methodology - how Montana guideline and OCSE figures on this page are sourced.
Data sources for Montana
Guideline parameters from Montana 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 Montana.