We present a new method to estimate time delays from light curves of lensed
quasars. The method is based on chi (2) minimization between the data and
a numerical model light curve. A linear variation can be included in order
to correct for slow long-term microlensing effects in one of the lensed ima
ges. An iterative version of the method can be applied in order to correct
for higher-order microlensing effects. The method is tested on simulated li
ght curves. When higher-order microlensing effects are present, the time de
lay is best constrained with the iterative method. Analysis of a published
data set for the lensed double Q 0957+561 yields results in agreement with
other published estimates.