Montana Child Support Guidelines Information
State law requires the District Court, the Child Support Services Division (CSSD), and the Office of Administrative Hearings to use these Guidelines for all child support cases.
The CSSD is required to develop and distribute child support guidelines to determine child support obligations. The Montana guidelines are based on a formula in which the income of both parents are considered. The guidelines must consider certain factors as set out in, MCA 40-4-204(2) and 40-6-116(5) .
Guidelines Forms and Instructions
Guidelines Review
Per MCA 40-5-209 the child support guidelines must be reviewed at minimum every four years. The review is to determine that the needs of Montana families are being met. The next guidelines review will be completed in December 2028. The Guidelines Review and Oversight Committee (GROC) is tasked with performing the reviews and making any recommended updates to the guidelines.
The document titled “Guidelines History” explains how Montana determined the model it would follow for calculating child support obligations.
GROC Meeting Minutes
Guidelines Review Reports
2020 Quadrennial Guidelines Report
2024 Quadrennial Guidelines Report
If you have any guidelines questions or comments or would like to be part of the Guidelines Review and Oversight Committee (GROC) please send an email to: guidelines@mt.gov.