What is child support?

Child support is an amount paid to a co-parent to aid in the raising and caring for a dependent or child. The amount itself is calculated by a formula set out by the Washington state legislature.

Navigating child support isn't just about spreadsheets and statutory guidelines—it’s about protecting your child's future and ensuring your financial stability. We’re here to guide you through every step.

How is child support calculated?

In Washington, child support is calculated by completing a form called a Child Support Worksheet (similar to an income tax form) which comes with instructions.

  1. Each parent’s net income is determined by taking each person’s net income and taking out certain allowable deductions.
  2. Those numbers are combined to create your family’s net income.
  3. Using that number and the worksheet’s chart, you can pinpoint the state’s estimate for the amount that a family with your net income spends on “basic support” (defined more later) for each child.

  4. That cost is then divided between the parents according to their percentages of the net family income.

Psst! Our firm has a computer program that simplifies the calculations process immensely.

CASE EXAMPLE

Parent A has a net income of $3,000 per month, and Parent B with a net income of $6,000 per month, for a net family income of $9,000 per month. If they had two children, the chart would say that the expected cost of raising those children is $767 per month per child, or a total of $1,534 per month. Parent A has 1/3 (approx. 33%) of the net family income, and Parent B has 2/3 (approx. 67%). Therefore, Parent A would be responsible for about $511 of the $1,534, and Parent B would be responsible for about $1,023.

My co-parent and I have complex job situations. How will our net incomes be calculated?

Your Seattle child support attorney will use the full-time income of both parents to determine your family’s net income. If one parent does not have a full-time income, but is capable of earning a full-time income, then normally the state will impute a full-time income to that person. Of course there can be arguments as to what income that parent is capable of earning.

When might the court deviate from normal calculations?

If one child lived with Parent A primarily and the other child primarily lived with Parent B, split custody calculations may be used by their Seattle child support attorney to offset the respective obligations between the parents. Other reasons for deviation can include:

  • Unusual wealth
  • Tax planning
  • Children from other relationships
  • Significant amount of time spent with the other parent (especially if there is a 50/50 parenting plan)

What deductions aren't applied in calculating parents' net incomes?

This can be thoroughly addressed by a Seattle family attorney. However, one example is that, to avoid people being able to artificially lower their income through income deferral, voluntary retirement contributions are capped at $5,000 per year. You can still contribute more, you just won’t get credit in the child support calculation.

Who receives child support payments?

The primary residential parent for the children (ie. the person who houses them the majority of the time) receives support payments from their co-parents.

Both parents have a child support obligation, and it is assumed that the primary residential parent fulfills their obligation in housing them. Child support is meant for co-parents to supplement the budget in their children’s primary home to the extent that the children are adequately suppoterd.

Unfortunately, Washington law does not currently have a provision that ensures the non-primary residential parent has adequate funds available for the expenses of the children in their home. You may want to discuss this point further with your Seattle child support law firm.

CASE EXAMPLE (cont.)

If Parent A, from our previous example, is the primary residential parent, then Parent B would be paying $1,023 per month to Parent A, to make sure that Parent A has $1,534 available to meet the various expenses for the child.

You don't have to figure out these complex financial disclosures alone. Our team handles the math so you can focus on your family.

What types of expenses are considered?

"Basic support" for children encompasses more than just direct costs like food and clothing. However, expenses that vary significantly from family to family, such as daycare or health insurance, are not included under the definition of "basic support".

“Basic support” includes indirect expenses such as needing a larger home with more bedrooms, heating a larger home, transporting the children, etc. The more variable expenses not covered under basic support’s umbrella, are divided between the parents by the same percentages of income as the basic child support.

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Make sure to discuss your potential support with your Seattle child support lawyer early in your case so you can start planning your realistic financial future.

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