How Rhode Island Calculates Child Support: The FC-78 Worksheet
Rhode Island subtracts the worksheet deductions from each parent’s monthly gross income, rounds the combined amount up to the next $50, reads the schedule for the number of children and has the non-custodial parent pay his or her percentage, weekly.
Step 1: Gross income and deductions
Start with each parent’s monthly gross income (line 1). Subtract the required deductions (line 2): preexisting child support payments; health insurance premiums or medical cash contributions; the credit for additional minor dependents; and the parent’s share of work-related child care. The court may also allow optional deductions (line 3), such as pension payments, life insurance, extraordinary medical expenses, the income tax exemption adjustment and assigned marital debts (Form FC-78).
Additional minor dependents
A parent who supports other minor children gets a deduction equal to half the schedule amount for those children at the parent’s own gross income: one additional child at $2,580 (rounded to $2,600) is $507 ÷ 2 = $253.50, and two additional children at $2,288 (rounded to $2,300) is $698 ÷ 2 = $349 (Administrative Order 2023-02, Exhibit 5).
Step 2: Combine, round up and read the schedule
Add the adjusted incomes (line 4). “Because the tables are calculated using $50.00 increments, round the combined adjusted gross income upward to the next highest $50.00 increment,” even when the income is closer to the lower row. Then read the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations for the number of children (line 6), which includes the self-support reserve.
Step 3: The percentage share
Divide each parent’s adjusted income by the combined income (line 5). The order’s examples use whole-number percentages. The non-custodial parent’s obligation is that percentage times the total obligation (line 9), and the order is that amount for the non-custodial parent only (line 10).
The order’s own example
Two children; gross incomes of $2,580 and $2,288 and no deductions:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly gross income: custodial / non-custodial parent (line 1) | $2,580 / $2,288 |
| Combined income, rounded up to $4,900 | $4,868 |
| Percentage share (line 5) | 53% / 47% |
| Basic obligation for two children (line 6) | $1,356 |
| Non-custodial parent’s 47% share, monthly (line 9) | $637.32 |
| Weekly order, ÷ 4.3 (line 11) | $148 |
With one child the weekly order is $99 and with three $178. The Rhode Island child support calculator reproduces these.
What to gather
Pay records and tax returns, orders for other children, insurance premium statements and child care invoices.
Weekly amounts
Rhode Island orders are expressed per week: the monthly amount is divided by 4.3 and the order can be weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. In the example, $637.32 a month is $148.21, or $148 a week.
Frequently asked questions
Does Rhode Island use gross or net income for child support?
Gross monthly income, less the deductions on worksheet FC-78.
How does Rhode Island round combined income?
Always upward to the next $50 increment of the schedule.
What is the Rhode Island credit for other children?
Half the schedule amount for the additional minor dependents at the parent's own gross income.
Is Rhode Island child support paid weekly?
Orders are expressed weekly, bi-weekly or monthly; the weekly figure is the monthly amount divided by 4.3.
Who pays child support in Rhode Island?
The non-custodial parent pays his or her percentage share of the total obligation; the custodial parent's column is left blank.
Official sources
- Rhode Island Family Court Administrative Order 2023-02: schedule, worksheet and examples
- Form FC-78: Child Support Guideline Worksheet
- R.I. Gen. Laws 15-5-16.2: child support
A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Rhode Island statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Rhode Island attorney.