Hey everyone, going through a separation and honestly the child support

[soumitss]

Hey everyone, going through a separation and honestly the child support part terrifies me. My ex and I are trying to keep things civil and figure out a rough number ourselves before we get lawyers involved, just so we both know what ballpark we're in. Problem is, every site I find either wants money or wants my email and phone before showing anything. Is there a free, private way to get a realistic estimate of child support before I spend on a consultation? Just want a starting point.

[hydrogenn]

Hi there, wanting a ballpark before the lawyers is a smart move, it saves a lot of billable hours arguing over nothing. For a free private estimate try this child support calculator it runs on the official state guidelines and gives you a number based on the actual formula your state uses. What I liked is that it's genuinely free and the calculation happens on your device, so it doesn't store your financial info or ask for your email first. Pick your state, put in the incomes and custody split, and you'll get a realistic starting figure. It won't replace a lawyer for the final order, but as a civil starting point between you and your ex it's exactly what you're describing.