•Model was created by Judge Elwood F. Melson from Delaware.
•While it was similar to Income Shares in reflecting the principal that parents should support their children in proportion their incomes, there were two major differences.
•First, a self-support reserve was calculated for each parent. Then the basic needs of the children were calculated. Finally, the non-basic needs of the children were calculated.
•It is calculated in the following way:
a.Parents’ basic needs (Self-Support Reserve) must first be meet before child support can be calculated (In Delaware, it is $1,000).
b.Children’s basic poverty needs must be met (In Delaware, it is $500).
c.SSR and child’s basic poverty needs are subtracted from obligator’s monthly net income to find available income for SOLA (Standard of Living Adjustment – based on number of children).
d. Available income is multiple by SOLA.
e. Additional income should be allocated toward child support.
•Three states currently use method – Hawaii, Delaware, and Montana.
•Unlike Income Shares and Percent-of-Obligator Income Models, Melson does not use does not Betson or Gaag economic studies (See table)
•Three states use Net as their income base (See table)