What is Child Support

Child support is a court-ordered financial obligation that requires one parent to make regular payments to the other parent to help cover the costs of raising their child. In Washington State, child support payments are calculated based on various factors including both parents’ income, the number of children, healthcare costs, daycare expenses, and custody arrangements.

How to Calculate Washington State Child Support Payments

Step 1: Enter the number of children for whom support is being calculated. This will affect the base support amount as the percentage increases with each additional child.

Step 2: Input your monthly net income. This should include all sources of income after taxes and mandatory deductions.

Step 3: Enter the other parent’s monthly net income. This information is crucial for determining the proportional share of support.

Step 4: Add any monthly healthcare costs associated with the children. This includes medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums.

Step 5: Include monthly daycare or childcare expenses if applicable. These costs are typically shared proportionally between parents.

Step 6: Select the appropriate custody arrangement. This affects the final calculation as shared custody typically results in adjusted support amounts.

Step 7: Review the calculated results, which will show your estimated monthly payment along with a detailed breakdown of how the amount was determined. The explanation includes the combined income, your income share percentage, base support amount, and your contribution to additional expenses.