Explanation for the New RBC Child Support Calculator
Introducing RBC - The Corrected Child Support Formula
Relational Benefit Coefficient (RBC)
The Relational Benefit Coefficient, or RBC, starts with a simple premise:
Parenting Time is valuable to Parent, Child, and society. Time with your child is the most valuable form of support a Parent can give, and a valuable asset received. And because parenting time is a finite temporary period, and what happens within its duration has measurable immediate & long-term economic and non-economic consequences, it, therefore, has intrinsic value.
In fact, Parenting Time value, and potential value, far outweighs any alleged or actual expense.
Logically, this must be the case or child rearing, with all of its known challenges, would never be sought.
This is obvious to any parent. If Parenting Time did not have such value, custody battles would not exist. Indeed, the desire for raising children itself would be nonsensical.
What is the bottom line?
The parent with the fewest days with their child is getting the short-end of the stick, as is the child, and should be compensated accordingly.
There is a mountain of data and reasons to back-up these premises:
1) The current CS formula is flawed and non-custodial parents are overpaying an average of 75% more than the formula's own factors assume;
2) NCPs routinely pay more out-of-pocket expenses than CPs (due to weekends with meals and activities);
3) The elephant in the room: Parenting Time, in and of itself, is of primary value to both Child and Parent, and needs to be assigned a consistent value.
While traditional child support formulas focus almost entirely on financial expenses in the moment, RBC recognizes that the real foundation of a child’s well-being is a strong, ongoing relationship with both parents.
And, conversely, that bond also has economic and non-economic value to Parents as individuals.
As such, RBC measures and values the actual days spent together — the meals shared, the bedtime stories told, the rides to school, the daily life moments that shape a child’s sense of security and belonging.
Under RBC, both parents have equal responsibility and opportunity to invest in their child’s life.
If one parent misses parenting days compared to a 50/50 balance, the model assigns a clear, transparent monetary value to each lost day — based on well-established legal valuations for companionship and the current statutory fine when parenting time is missed (MCL - Section 552.644).
This means the conversation shifts from “How much can we take from one parent?” to “How can we ensure both parents share the privilege and responsibility of raising their child?”
The RBC Child Support Calculator
The RBC Calculator is an easy-to-use tool that instantly shows the financial value of time spent — or missed — with your child. You simply enter:
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The number of children.
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The number of days each parent had parenting time in a month.