Williams | Robinson | Wiggins

How Form 14 works under the updated Rule 88.01 schedule that took effect January 1, 2026.

Along with custody and the division of property, child support is one of the most frequently contested issues in a Missouri divorce or paternity case. Missouri calculates the presumed amount using a standardized worksheet called Form 14, and on January 1, 2026, a new Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations took effect under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.01. That update can change the presumed support amount even when nothing else about a family's circumstances has changed. Here is how the calculation works, what changed, and when an existing order may be eligible for modification.

How Missouri calculates child support. Missouri uses an "income shares" model under § 452.340, RSMo, and Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.01. The idea behind the model is straightforward: a child should receive roughly the same proportion of parental income they would have received if both parents lived in the same household. The Form 14 worksheet combines both parents' monthly gross incomes, looks up the basic child support obligation on the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations based on that combined income and the number of children, and then divides that obligation between the parents in proportion to their individual incomes. The worksheet then adjusts the result for costs like health insurance and work-related child care, and credits the paying parent for overnight parenting time — the more overnights a parent has with the child, the lower that parent's support obligation tends to be.

What changed on January 1, 2026. By order dated March 4, 2025, the Supreme Court of Missouri adopted a new Form 14 Child Support Amount Calculation Worksheet together with an updated Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, both effective January 1, 2026. The update reflects current economic data on the cost of raising children and replaces the schedule that had been in place beforehand. Because the schedule itself sets the presumed basic support obligation for a given combined income and number of children, this kind of update can shift the calculated amount up or down for a family whose income and parenting arrangement have not changed at all — simply because the underlying schedule changed.

Does the new schedule automatically change my existing order? No. A Missouri child support order stays in effect as written until a court modifies it. The new schedule does not retroactively rewrite existing orders, but it does change what the Form 14 worksheet would produce if the calculation were run again today — which is exactly the kind of change that can open the door to a modification request.

When can a child support order be modified? Under § 452.370, RSMo, a court will modify child support upon a showing of a change in circumstances so substantial and continuing as to make the existing terms unreasonable. Missouri law creates a useful shortcut: if recalculating the Form 14 worksheet under current guidelines — including the new schedule — would change the support amount by 20 percent or more from the existing order, that difference alone is treated as a prima facie showing of a substantial and continuing change, at least where the existing order was based on the presumed Form 14 amount. That doesn't guarantee a modification will be granted; the court still considers whether the change is likely to continue rather than being temporary, along with each parent's overall financial resources. But it does mean that the January 2026 schedule update, on its own, may be enough to justify revisiting an order that has not otherwise changed.

What happens if support isn't paid. Missouri takes nonpayment seriously. Under § 568.040, RSMo, a parent who knowingly fails to provide court-ordered support commits the crime of nonsupport — a class A misdemeanor, which becomes a class E felony if the arrearage exceeds an aggregate of twelve monthly payments. The Missouri Family Support Division also has civil tools available to enforce and collect unpaid support, separate from any criminal case. If you are owed support that isn't being paid, or you are facing enforcement action yourself, those are both situations where getting advice early matters.

Run the numbers yourself. Our firm provides a Form 14 child support calculator you can use to get a preliminary estimate of the presumed support amount under the current schedule: form14.wrw.law. A calculator result is a helpful starting point, but it is not a substitute for review by an attorney — the worksheet has to be completed correctly, supported by accurate income and expense information, and, in a contested case, defended in court.

Summary. Missouri child support is calculated under an income-shares model using the Form 14 worksheet, and the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations that feeds that worksheet changed on January 1, 2026, under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.01. Existing orders are not automatically changed by the new schedule, but a resulting difference of 20 percent or more from an existing order can support a modification request. Whether you are establishing support for the first time, believe your existing order should be revisited in light of the new schedule, or are dealing with a support arrearage, the details of your specific numbers make a real difference.

Did you know? The above information is presented by Williams | Robinson | Wiggins as a public service and to generally outline the law in a particular area. It is not provided and is not intended as legal advice tailored to you or to your unique situation. Every legal matter depends upon specific facts which an attorney hired by you must consider in forming legal opinions and advice.

Need more information? If you have questions about establishing, calculating, or modifying child support, you may contact us at(573) 341-2266 to obtain more detailed assistance.