{"id":375969,"date":"2018-04-13T14:33:59","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T19:33:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-child-support-payments.html"},"modified":"2025-06-17T14:44:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T19:44:29","slug":"pennsylvania-child-support-payments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-child-support-payments.html","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Child Support Payments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pennsylvania Child Support Payments<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/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

When parents separate or get divorced, child support is one of the issues they must resolve. They can only broach this issue once a decision is made on child custody. This is because it is almost always the non-custodial parent (NCP) who must pay child support to the other parent.<\/p>\r\n

The courts require NCPs to pay child support to ensure that the child receives the same care they would have received if their parents were together. This is based on the income-shares model<\/a> of child support, which Pennsylvania and most other states subscribe to.<\/p>\r\n

Once the parents or a judge determine the amount of child support<\/a> owed each month, the obligor (parent paying support) must comply with the terms of the child support order. If there is no court order, the paying parent must still make their child support payments on time.<\/p>\r\n

This article explains how to make child support payments in Pennsylvania<\/a>. It also examines the state\u2019s child support laws.<\/p>\r\n

How Do the Pennsylvania Courts Determine How Much Child Support the NCP Must Pay?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The courts defer to the Pennsylvania child support guidelines<\/a> when determining the NCP’s child support obligation. These guidelines are based on both parents’ income and the number of children they have together.<\/p>\r\n

When determining income, the courts include the following:<\/p>\r\n