{"id":371404,"date":"2018-11-23T13:42:57","date_gmt":"2018-11-23T18:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/alaska-law\/alaska-child-support-guidelines.html"},"modified":"2025-05-19T10:22:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T15:22:18","slug":"alaska-child-support-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/alaska-law\/alaska-child-support-guidelines.html","title":{"rendered":"Alaska Child Support Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Alaska Child Support Guidelines<\/h1>\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

If two people bring a child into the world, they have a legal obligation to provide for their offspring. For parents who aren’t raising children together, child support<\/a> ensures the child’s needs are met. The state of Alaska uses child support guidelines to bring uniformity and fairness to the child support order process.<\/blockquote>\r\n

With different agencies making child support orders and different types of child custody arrangements affecting the amount of child support payments, things can get confusing in Alaska. This article will explain what the Alaska child support guidelines do<\/a>, how they work, and what’s covered by a child support order.<\/p>\r\n

Child Support in Alaska<\/h2>\r\n

It doesn’t matter if you were married for years before splitting up or if you only spent one night together. All parents carry an obligation to provide for their minor children. In most cases, families in a single household are assumed to meet their children’s needs. Once children aren’t in a two-parent home, child support is required<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Under Alaska law, parents must care for their children until they reach their 18th birthday<\/a>. This obligation is extended if the child hasn’t graduated from high school when they turn 18. In that case, it stays in place until the child either graduates from high school or reaches the age of 19.<\/p>\r\n

Each state is responsible for the collection, disbursement, and enforcement of child support payments. This requirement became federal law under Title IV-D of the 1975 Social Security Act<\/a>. All child support payments in Alaska are handled by the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED)<\/a> of the Alaska Department of Revenue.<\/p>\r\n

When it comes to creating child support orders, Alaska differs from most other states. It allows two separate government entities to create child support orders. In addition to the CSED, Alaska’s Superior Court<\/a> issues child support orders. Whether it’s an administrative order or a court order, the Alaska child support guidelines are used to calculate child support obligations.<\/p>\r\n

While the orders function in the same manner, there are notable differences between them. These are listed below:<\/p>\r\n

Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED)<\/b>:<\/h2>\r\n