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Child Support Calculator (indicative) — how much child support will be paid?

Child support (alimenty in Polish law) is a financial obligation paid by one parent to cover the child's reasonable needs. In Poland there is no statutory child support table — the family court sets the amount individually based on two key factors: the child's justified needs and the paying parent's earning capacity and assets. The indicative algorithm used by lawyers and mediators divides the child's maintenance costs proportionally to each parent's income. The paying parent's share is calculated as a ratio of their net income to the combined net income of both parents. Indicative child support equals the child's monthly needs multiplied by this share. This calculator is intended for parents preparing for court proceedings, mediation, or settlement negotiations. It gives a quick order-of-magnitude estimate of what a court might award given particular income levels and needs. It does not replace legal advice. Enter the child's monthly needs (total of all expenses: food, clothing, education, healthcare, entertainment), the paying parent's net income, and the receiving parent's net income. The calculator returns an indicative child support figure and the percentage share of costs.

Reviewed byRedakcja Liczbnik
Calculator
PLN
PLN
PLN
Indicative child supportIndicative child support1,250.00PLN
Paying parent's share (%)
62.5
Child's monthly needs
2,000.00 PLN

How the child support calculator works

The calculator applies an indicative cost-sharing algorithm: 1. Paying parent's share = payingParentIncome / (payingParentIncome + receivingParentIncome) × 100% 2. Indicative child support = monthlyNeeds × (payingParentIncome / combinedIncome) Example: needs PLN 2,000, paying parent income PLN 5,000, receiving parent income PLN 3,000 → share = 5,000/8,000 = 62.5% → support = PLN 1,250. Edge case: if combined income is zero or monthly needs are zero, the result is PLN 0 (division-by-zero protection). All amounts are rounded to the nearest grosz (cent). Note: courts also consider earning capacity (not just actual income), costs paid directly by the paying parent (e.g. school fees), and other individual circumstances.

Example: needs PLN 2,000, incomes PLN 5,000 and PLN 3,000

Child's needs: PLN 2,000/month. Paying parent (father) net income: PLN 5,000. Receiving parent (mother) net income: PLN 3,000. Combined income: PLN 8,000. Father's share: 5,000/8,000 = 62.5%. Indicative child support: PLN 2,000 × 62.5% = PLN 1,250/month. If needs rise to PLN 3,000 (e.g. tutoring, medication), indicative support would be PLN 1,875. If incomes are equal (5,000/5,000), the share is 50% and support = PLN 1,000 for PLN 2,000 in needs.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in Poland?

Polish family courts consider two main factors: the child's justified monthly needs (food, clothing, education, healthcare, housing costs) and the paying parent's earning capacity and assets. There is no statutory table. An indicative method divides the total cost proportionally to each parent's income — the paying parent's share equals their income divided by the combined income of both parents.

What is a typical child support amount in Poland?

There is no fixed amount. In practice, courts award between PLN 500 and several thousand zloty per month per child, depending on the child's age, needs, and the parents' financial situation. For a paying parent earning PLN 5,000 net and child needs of PLN 2,000, the indicative figure is around PLN 1,000–1,500.

Does the calculator give the exact court-ordered amount?

No — the calculator gives an indicative estimate only. The final amount is set by the family court, which considers additional factors such as the child's health condition, educational costs, costs already paid directly by the paying parent, and the standard of living of the family before separation.

What expenses count as the child's "justified needs"?

Justified needs include food, clothing and footwear, housing costs (rent share, utilities), education (school materials, tuition, extracurricular activities), healthcare and medication, entertainment, culture, and other reasonable expenses proportionate to the family's standard of living.

Can child support be changed after a court order?

Yes — either parent can file a claim to modify child support if circumstances have changed: the child's needs have increased, the paying parent's financial situation has worsened, or the receiving parent's income has significantly increased. The court assesses the change in circumstances from the date of the last order.

From what date does child support apply?

Court-ordered child support is typically granted from the date the petition is filed, not the date of the judgment. Child support agreed in a settlement applies from the date of that agreement. Each instalment has a 3-year limitation period.

Indicative result

This result is purely indicative and does not constitute legal or judicial advice. The final child support amount is determined by the family court or agreed by the parties in a settlement. The calculator does not account for all case-specific circumstances: the child's health, direct expenses paid by the paying parent, housing situation, or earning capacity beyond the stated income. Please consult a family law solicitor or legal adviser before making any legal decisions.