06/04/2026
Parents in Manhattan and throughout New York can agree to a child support amount that differs from the statutory formula, but only if the agreement meets specific legal requirements. Under Domestic Relations Law (DRL) 240(1-b), the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) establishes a percentage-based formula that produces what courts call the “presumptively correct” amount of support. However, the law also allows parents to deviate from that amount through mediation or negotiation, as long as they calculate the guideline figure first, state it in the agreement, and explain why they chose a different number.
https://www.besinquelaw.com/deviate-mediation-child-support-drl-240-1-b/