Arizona Child Support Calculations

If you're a parent in Arizona and not raising your children together with the other birth parent, you're no doubt familiar with child support. Regardless of the relationship between them, parents are obligated to provide for their kids. Child support is designed to see that the needs of the child are met. Given how different each case is, it's natural to wonder how child support payments are calculated.

Child support calculations follow the Arizona child support guidelines, which are updated every few years to remain effective. In this article, we'll pull back the curtain on the child support calculation process. We'll explain the model that the system is based on and break down the entire procedure step by step. Read on for a better understanding of child support calculations in Arizona.

Arizona Child Support Calculations - Basic Information

Court-ordered child support ensures that children who aren't being raised in a two-parent household have their basic needs supported as if they were. States oversee the administration of child support based on federal law through Title IV-D of the Social Security Act of 1975.

The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) of the Arizona Department of Economic Security handles almost all aspects of child support in the state. This includes:

• Collecting and distributing child support payments
• Enforcement on accounts in arrears (behind on payments)
• Most modification requests

Child support orders are often part of divorce proceedings or child custody hearings. The parent with physical custody of the child/children can also petition for child support from the other birth parent. All child support orders require approval from the Arizona courts. They also handle an expedited version of the child support modification request process.

A parent's child support obligation lasts until the end of the youngest child's 18th birthday month. This termination date is extended if the child hasn't graduated from high school by then. It lasts until their 19th birthday or their graduation day, whichever comes first. Other reasons for termination include the child getting married, joining the military, or declaring emancipation from their parents.

The parent who has physical custody of the child/children for most days per year is the custodial parent. It's typical for the non-custodial parent to make child support payments through the DCSS to the custodial parent. This is affected by the number of days the non-custodial parent has the child/children. Each parenting plan is different, so child support amounts differ as well.

The Child Support Calculation Process in Arizona

As mentioned before, courts are required to make every effort to calculate child support by using the Arizona child support guidelines. While deviations are permitted, they require a written explanation from the court. Deviations include when the child support obligation calculated by the guidelines forces a parent's income below the self-support (poverty) reserve.

Arizona child support calculations are based on an income shares model. This system is designed to determine and replicate the amount of money that would have been spent on the child living with both parents in the same household. The goal is a balance of providing enough financial support for the child while not overwhelming the parents.

The calculations involve a lot of financial information and crunching of numbers. Child support calculators offered by counties in Arizona can provide an estimate of child support payments, but these totals are not official. An approximation of the steps used by Arizona courts in calculating child support obligations is as follows:

Step 1 - Determining the Gross Income for Each Parent

Under an income shares model, the income of both parents is instrumental in determining child support obligations. Each parent is responsible for paying a share. While the noncustodial parent makes payments through the DCSS, the custodial parent's share is assumed to be directly spent on the child's needs.

Parents are required to make full financial disclosure on any possible income. Sources can include any of the following:

• Annuities
• Bonuses
• Capital gains
• Commissions
• Disability benefits
• Dividends
• Gambling winnings
• Interest
• Lottery winnings
• Military disability benefits
• Military pay
• Pensions
• Prizes
• Recurring gifts
• Salaries
• Severance pay
• Social Security benefits (determined case-by-case)
• Spousal maintenance
• Trust income
• Unemployment insurance benefits
• Wages
• Workers' compensation benefits

This gives each parent a gross income amount to begin the process with.

Step 2 - Applying Applicable Adjustments and Deductions

Qualifying deductions and adjustments are applied to each parent's gross income amount. These can include spousal support (alimony) payments or child support payments to a different birth parent. The court determines whether or not a deduction is eligible. The new amount for each parent is their adjusted child support income.

Step 3 - Adding the Adjusted Child Support Income of Both Parents Together and Determining the Basic Child Support Obligation

The adjusted child support income totals for each parent are added together to create the combined adjusted child support income. This combined adjusted child support income serves as the approximate amount of disposable income available for the parents if they were in a two-parent household.

The combined adjusted child support income is then located on the Schedule of Basic Support Obligation in the Arizona Child Support Guidelines and cross-referenced by the number of children on the order. The resulting amount is the Basic Child Support Obligation for the parents.

Step 4 - Applying Adjustments to the Basic Child Support Obligation

Certain expenses are so important to a child's well-being that they're added right after the basic child support obligation is determined. These are necessities that are often part of a child support case, such as inclusion under a health insurance policy or extraordinary medical costs. Childcare costs, medical insurance premiums, education expenses, and more become part of the basic child support obligation.

Step 5 - Allocating the Combined Child Support Obligation

It's time to determine how much of the combined child support obligation each parent is responsible for. Multiply the percentage each parent contributed to the combined adjusted child support income amount against the combined child support obligation. This determines each parent's share.

This may sound more confusing than it is. Let's use an example. In Step 3, Alex's adjusted child support income was $6,000, while Blake's was $2,000 for a total of $8,000. This means that:

• Alex's share of the combined child support obligation is 75% ($6,000 is 75% of $8,000)
• Blake's share is 25% ($2,000 is 25% of $8,000)

If Blake is the custodial parent, Alex will pay their share to the DSCC.

Step 6 - Apply Adjustments for Parenting Time or Deviations

The more time the noncustodial parent spends with their child/children, the less their child support obligation. The Arizona Child Parenting Time Table reflects the percentage the child support payments are reduced due to the amount of time they have physical custody of the child/children.

Other adjustments are possible through deviations. If the guidelines call for a child support payment that reduces a parent's income below the self-support (poverty) reserve, the court can impose a lower minimum payment.

Arizona Child Support Calculations: Review

Calculating child support payment amounts involves a complicated process designed for fairness to all while protecting the best interests of the child. The table below offers a recap of what you've learned about child support calculation in Arizona.

Disclaimer: Arizona laws can change through higher court rulings that include federal decisions, the passage of new legislation, ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most up-to-date information possible, consult an Arizona family law attorney to confirm current laws in the state of Arizona.

Arizona Child Support Calculations: Related Resources

• Arizona Child Support Payments
• Arizona Child Support Modifications
• Arizona Child Support Guidelines
• Arizona Child Support Services
• Arizona Courts Locator

Issues With Child Support Calculations In Arizona? An Attorney Can Help

If you don't understand how the Arizona child support calculation process works, figuring out which parent pays or how to use the child support calculator is a frustrating experience. Get your questions about daycare, medical expenses, and healthcare expenses answered by an Arizona child support attorney. Their legal advice can put your mind at ease and find the best solution possible.