Alaska Child Support Guidelines
By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Nicole Prebeck, Esq. | Last reviewed January 13, 2023
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Parents have a legal obligation to care for their children. This is made clear by state laws that make it illegal to neglect or abandon your child. Similarly, parents must provide financial support for their children. Contrary to what some might think, even in joint legal custody situations either parent could be ordered to pay support depending on a variety of factors related to the financial health of a parent. It's important to note that joint legal custody situations are by far the most common legal custody arrangement nationwide. It is exceedingly rare for one parent's custodial authorities over a child to completely eliminated. Parents almost always share custodial powers over their children after they separate.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Alaska?
Alaska's Child Support Services Division provides a child support calculator, which takes into account a variety of factors in yielding figures for amounts of child support that a parent must shoulder. Examples of factors include the parenting schedule, as well as how decisions will be made about the child's health, education, and social issues. These factors are all central parts of parenting plans. For more information about child custody in Alaska, consider reviewing FindLaw's Alaska Child Custody Laws article. It addresses a variety of issues, including types of custody and other laws and legal issues related to child custody in the state.
Alaska Child Support Guidelines: The Basics
Statutory language is rarely written in a clear and concise manner, which is why it's helpful to first read an overview of the law. In the following table, you can find an overview of child support guidelines in Alaska as well as links to relevant statutes.
Calculating Child Support |
Consider reviewing the Alaska Court System's Self-Help Center for more information about calculating child support. You might also want to use the child support calculator, which is provided by Alaska's Child Support Services Division. |
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Defining Income for Child Support Calculations |
Under relevant state laws, the following are examples of what is considered income for purposes of calculating child support:
One-time, lump sum payments and income from need-based public benefits programs are NOT considered income. Examples of such programs include:
|
Deviating from the Guidelines |
Under relevant state law, the court is permitted to deviate from the usual child support formula if there are unusual circumstances present in a particular case that would make application of the formula unfair. Examples of such unusual circumstances include:
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Related Statute(s) |
At Chapter 25.25 of the Alaska Statutes, you'll find links to other laws within the scope of registration, enforcement, and modification of support orders. |
Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Alaska Child Support Guidelines: Related Resources
For additional information and resources related to this topic, please visit the links listed below.
Learn More About Alaska Child Support Guidelines From an Attorney
Child support obligations are taken seriously and failure to comply can have serious financial consequences. To learn more about child support guidelines in Alaska and how they apply to your particular situation, it's best to speak with a skilled child support attorney in your area.
Next Steps: Search for a Local Attorney
Contact a qualified attorney.