Family & Legal Money

Child support formulas by state, alimony, childcare costs and the money questions that come with family life.

Calculators 1

Work out a number using the rates we publish.

Childcare Cost Calculator: The Cost Against One Income What care costs a year, what a dependent care FSA takes off it, and what share of the lower earner’s take-home pay is left once it is paid.

Guides 2

How a rule works, and what it means for you.

Guide

529 Plans: The Rules, and What Changed

Money goes in after tax, grows without tax, and comes out without tax if it is spent on the right things. The details decide whether that holds.

Guide

The Child Tax Credit: Who Qualifies and How Much

The credit is per child, it phases out above an income threshold, and part of it can come back as a refund even if you owe no tax.

Comparisons 1

Ranked picks, with the criteria stated first.

Comparison

Best 529 Plans for 2026, Ranked by State Tax Break

If your own state offers a meaningful tax deduction for contributing to its own plan, use that plan first and stop there. If it does not, my529 is a strong default for its highly customizable investme