Arizona Child Support Guidelines

Determining child support is not a simple task. Every situation is different. The parents' incomes, the child custody arrangement, and various expenses all need consideration in any child support case. Arizona uses a set of guidelines designed to meet the needs of minor children and be just and reasonable for the parents.

Arizona's guidelines do a significant amount of complicated number-crunching to arrive at the payment amounts in a child support court order. This article looks at the guidelines, how they work, and what to expect if you're going through the child support determination process. Read on for a better understanding of child support guidelines in the state of Arizona.

Arizona Child Support Guidelines: Basics

Child support is a way to ensure a child's needs get met despite their parents not raising them in the same household. Parents must provide for their children regardless of their relationship with the other birth parent. This lasts until the end of the youngest child's 18th birthday month. If the child hasn't graduated high school by then, support terminates on either the last day of the month they graduate or their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

Children of divorce or a long-term domestic relationship that ended are assumed to be the offspring of the adults. In other child support cases, establishing paternity is necessary. Parents can sign an Acknowledgement of Paternity at the hospital after the child is born or at any point. A court can order genetic testing to prove parentage and the obligation.

Under federal law created by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act of 1975, each state must maintain an operation to oversee child support payments. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), part of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, oversees all aspects of child support in the state.

Arizona uses guidelines for a uniform method of determining child support. Any deviations from the guidelines need a written explanation from the court. The guidelines operate for the following purposes:

• To establish a standard of support for children consistent with their reasonable needs and the ability of the parents to pay
• To make child support orders consistent for people in similar circumstances
• To give parents and courts guidance in establishing child support orders and to promote settlements
• To follow federal law, state law, and any amendments

Arizona's child support guidelines aim to meet the child's needs while making the parents' financial burden as manageable as possible. The following are considered necessities for the child's well-being:

• Food
• Clothing
• Work-related daycare expenses
• Educational expenses
• Extraordinary medical expenses
• Health insurance premiums/health care coverage
• Reasonable childcare expenses
• Shelter
• All other requirements assigned by the court

The custodial parent has physical custody of the child for most of the overnights. The other birth parent is the noncustodial parent, but they can also have physical custody of the child. The Arizona child support guidelines apply the amount of parenting time the noncustodial parent has as a reduction to their child support obligation.

The DCSS handles all Arizona child support applications, payments, disbursements, modifications, and enforcement. A child support order may come from divorce proceedings, child custody hearings, or filed for by a birth parent. In most cases, the noncustodial parent makes payments to the custodial parent through the DCSS.

Determining Child Support Payments in Arizona

The Arizona child support guidelines use the same measuring stick for each child support case. While some deviations are allowed, the court must apply the guidelines whenever possible.

Arizona's guidelines follow an income shares model. This system determines how much support the child would have received from both parents in a single household. We explain the complicated process in great detail in FindLaw's Arizona Child Support Calculations article. We'll go over it here as well.

Step 1: Determine the Child Support Income for Each Parent

Each parent must give full financial disclosure of their gross income, listing all sources of income. This is followed by taking all applicable deductions from each parent's income. The result is each parent's child support income.

Step 2: Apply Support Adjustments to the Child Support Income of Each Parent

If either parent is making child support payments to a different birth parent or spousal maintenance payments (alimony), the payments get deducted from their child support income amount. Not all spousal support payments are eligible. Having an adopted child can also affect the payment amount. Speak with a DCSS caseworker or a family law attorney for confirmation.

Step 3: Use the Combined Adjusted Child Support Income to Determine the Basic Child Support Obligation

Add the adjusted child support income totals to create the combined adjusted child support income. Find this monthly amount on the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligation (page 44 of the Guidelines) and cross-reference it with the number of children eligible for child support. This provides you with the basic child support obligation.

Step 4: Make Adjustments to the Basic Child Support Obligation

Childcare costs, medical insurance premiums, a 10% bump for children over 12, and other expenses get added to the basic child support obligation.

Step 5: Determine Each Parent's Proportionate Share of the Basic Child Support Obligation

It's time to split the basic child support obligation between the parents to determine the amount of child support each one owes. This happens by multiplying the obligation amount by the percentage each parent contributed to the combined adjusted income.

To make that a bit clearer, let's use an example. Pat's share of the combined income is $3,000, and Jordan's share is $1,000. Their combined income amount is $4,000. Pat pays 75% of the basic child support obligation ($3,000 is 75% of $4,000), and Jordan pays the other 25%.

Step 6: Apply Adjustments for Parenting Time and Deviations

The more time a noncustodial parent spends with their child, the less child support they must pay. Adjustments for parenting time and any deviations from the guidelines are applied to find the final child support payment amount.

Protections exist for parents with low income. If child support payments push a parent's income below the self-support (poverty) level, the court can deviate from the guidelines to a manageable minimum.

Child Support Payments and Modifications

The Arizona child support guidelines use income withholding as the default method of child support payment. Under this system, employers must deduct the child support payment amount from the parent's paycheck and send it to the DCSS. This reduces the chance of a parent going into arrears for nonpayment of child support.

For the self-employed, business owners, retired persons, and the unemployed, other methods of payment are available. FindLaw's Arizona Child Support Payments article comprehensively examines how the process works.

Child support orders are subject to review every two years. Parents can also file for modification if they prove a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. This is often gauged by at least a 15% change in their income. Either parent can petition the court for a hearing. Findlaw's Arizona Child Support Modification article explains what to do and what to expect.

Arizona Child Support Guidelines: Review

Arizona's child support guidelines give a framework for a fair agreement. The table below offers a recap of what you've learned from this article. It includes links for further research.

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

Arizona Child Support Guidelines: Related Resources

• Child Support Laws
• Child Support Enforcement
• Child Support Modification
• Arizona Division of Child Support Services (DCSS)
• AZCARES Child Support Portal (Arizona Department of Economic Security)
• Arizona Courts Locator

Need Help With Child Support Guidelines in Arizona? An Attorney Can Help

Arizona child support laws can get complicated. Whether you're the paying parent or the one receiving payments, it's a good idea to speak with an experienced family law attorney for legal advice. If your case ends up before the Arizona Supreme Court, your lawyer can represent you and fight for the best outcome possible.